Maytag Washer Unresponsive Controls

Modern Maytag washing machines are by and large great appliances to have in your home. Maytag washing machines come with tons of great features that can make laundry time easier and more efficient. However, like all modern appliances, there’s a chance you may encounter issues with your washing machine at some point.

Let’s go over some of the more common reasons why your Maytag washing machine control panel might not be working normally and show you how you can deal with these issues.

Reasons Your Maytag Washing Machine Control Panel Isn’t Working – Component Failures

First, let’s take a look at some of the control panel issues caused by a defective component. Modern washing machines are considerably more complicated than washing machines from decades prior, and while this means that modern washing machines have a greater degree of functionality than old ones, it also means they have more stuff that can potentially break.

Broken Timer

Your washing machine contains a timer, the purpose of which is to make sure that all of your washing machine’s functions are activated at the right time.

During the washing process, the machine has to perform a few different actions (like pumping water into the machine and spinning the drum) and the timer ensures that all of these actions are performed at the right time.

A broken timer can affect many parts of a washing machine aside from just the control panel. A washing machine with a broken timer may stop in the middle of a cycle, or skip certain cycles entirely during washing.

It’s common to misdiagnose the timer as a source of many issues when it comes to washing machines, so make sure you thoroughly test the timer and the machine’s other components before replacing the timer.

Testing the continuity of the timer with a multimeter can help you determine if the timer is in fact the cause of your issues.

Faulty User Interface And Display Board

The user control and display board in your washing machine is a circuit board that connects to the main interface of the washing machine.

When you use your machine’s buttons to make any kind of input, the user control and display board is what processes those inputs.

This board can fail if it comes into contact with too much heat or moisture, or it may also fail thanks to a manufacturing defect. If your user control and display board fails, all or some of the buttons on your control panel may stop working.

If some of the buttons on your control panel work but some don’t, this could indicate a problem with the user control and display board.

Another test you can perform is to check whether or not this control board is receiving power. If it is receiving power but it still isn’t working, it probably needs to be replaced.

Faulty Main Control Board

The main control board is also a circuit board, like the user control and display board we just mentioned. However, while the user control and display board only serves the washing machine’s user interface, the main control board is what connects all of the machine’s components together and allows the machine to work as a cohesive unit.

The main control board can fail for the same reasons as the user control and display board, but if the main control board fails it can potentially affect a wider range of other components.

In any case, failure of either board can severely compromise your washing machine’s functionality.

It’s not too common for the main control board to fail, though, so make sure you test your machine’s other components before determining that the main control board is the issue.

Blown Line Fuse

Your washing machine contains a few different fuses, one of which is the line fuse. The purpose of the line fuse is to prevent the circuits inside the washing machine from being overloaded with current.

If the current gets too high, the fuse will blow, which breaks the circuit and stops the washing machine.

You can determine if your line fuse has blown by testing it for continuity. If it displays no continuity, the fuse will have to be replaced.

You should also try and find out what exactly caused the fuse to blow in the first place; if you don’t, the new fuse you install will inevitably end up blowing too.

Blown Thermal Fuse

A thermal fuse is pretty similar to a line fuse in terms of function. The difference is that a line fuse blows when the current in the circuit gets too high, while the thermal fuse blows when the machine starts overheating.

In either case, both fuses are used to prevent the washing machine from causing damage to itself. Also like the line fuse, if the thermal fuse blows then the machine will be entirely unable to start.

Once again, you can use a multimeter to test your thermal fuse for continuity and replace it if it displays none. You should also determine the cause of the blown fuse and have it fixed to prevent any replacement fuses from blowing also.

Broken Door Lock/Door Switch

Your washing machine contains a door lock, the purpose of which should be pretty obvious. Opening the door while the washing machine is running and full of water is a surefire way to make a huge mess.

The lock exists to prevent this from happening, accidentally or otherwise.

Within the door lock assembly, there is a door switch that prevents the machine from being started when the door is open.

If the door is left slightly open by accident or the door lock is broken and unable to keep the door closed, the door switch will stop the machine from running.

It’s possible for the door lock to fail either mechanically or electronically. When diagnosing a broken door lock, first inspect the lock to see if it’s visibly damaged.

If it’s not, test the door lock switches with a multimeter and see if they still have any continuity.

Power Supply Issues

If your machine’s control panel is not responding to any inputs, it could very well be that your machine is receiving no power.

This may be due to a problem with the outlet the machine is plugged into, or it may be that the machine’s power cord has become damaged.

It’s pretty rare for this to happen to a power cord, but the possibility still exists. To test your power cord, just use a multimeter to determine if the cord is capable of transmitting power. If it isn’t, you’ll have to replace it.

Reasons Your Maytag Washing Machine Control Panel Isn’t Working – Other Reasons

Broken parts aren’t the only reason your washing machine’s control panel might be unresponsive; it’s also possible that one of the machine’s own features is interfering with the control panel. Here are some of the other reasons why your control panel might not be working:

Control Lock Is Active

Many modern Maytag washing machines come with a “control lock” feature. When the control lock feature is active, none of the buttons on the control panel can be used.

This is to prevent the machine from being used when it’s not supposed to (for instance, if you have a young child who is a little too fond of pushing any buttons they see).

If the control lock is active, there should be a “Control Lock” light visible somewhere on the control panel. To deactivate the control lock, simply find the “Control Lock” button and hold it down for three seconds.

Lid/Door Is Not Locked

We’re already touched on this when we talked about faulty door locks, but let’s quickly reiterate. Within your washing machine door, there is a switch that prevents the machine from starting when the door is open. If the door is open, the machine might totally fail to start, depending on the model you have.

Make sure the door to your machine is properly closed and latched before you go looking for any other possible problems.

Drainage/Filling Issues

If you’re attempting to start a wash but the control panel hits you with either an “LF” or “F8E1” error code, this indicates that the machine is having problems filling itself with water. It could be either that filling is happening too slowly, or that the machine is draining at the same time as it is filling.

If you see either of these error codes, check both the inlet and drain hoses and make sure that they’re attached to the machine correctly. You should also make sure that both the hot and cold water supplies are fully turned on, as the machine will not run if it’s not receiving both water supplies.