Whirlpool washing machine error codes
Whirlpool shows faults in two styles. Older machines display a short code such as LF or Sd; newer ones show a pair such as F8 E1 for the same condition. The same control boards run Maytag, Amana, KitchenAid and many Kenmore machines, so these codes and repairs usually apply to those too.
9codes confirmed
Stop the machine if you see these
F8 E3 means water or electrical trouble rather than a blockage. Turn the tap off, unplug the machine and read the page before running another cycle.
All 9 codes
| Code | Also shown as | What it means |
|---|---|---|
F9 E1 | The water is not leaving the machine in the time the cycle allows.Drn F9E1 F9 | |
F5 E2 | The door or lid will not lock, so the machine refuses to start the cycle.LdL F5E2 Ld | |
F8 E1 | Water is arriving too slowly, so the machine cannot fill in the time it allows.LF Lo FL F8E1 | |
Sd | Too much foam, so the machine has paused to deal with it before carrying on.SUD Sud 5d | |
F7 E1 | The motor cannot reach the speed the cycle asked for.F7E1 F7 F7 E5 | |
HC | The hot and cold hoses are connected the wrong way round.H C Hc | |
F8 E3 | There is more water or more foam in the machine than there should be.F8E3 F08 E03 F8 | |
F3 E1 | The machine cannot tell how much water is in the drum.F3E1 F03 E01 F3 | |
F8 E2 | The dispenser system is not delivering detergent the way it should.F8E2 F08 E02 |
Things that look like faults but are not
These stop people mid-wash and send them looking for a repair. None of them needs one.
oL
- The load is too large, not a breakdown. Take some laundry out and restart. Seeing it on every wash usually means the drum is being packed rather than filled: laundry needs room to move for the machine to clean it.
Of
- The load is unevenly distributed and the machine has paused rather than spin out of balance. Redistribute the laundry, and mix large and small items so a single heavy piece cannot ball up on one side.
CL
- A reminder that the machine wants its clean-washer cycle run, not a fault. Ignoring it long enough is how front loaders develop the smell people blame on the machine being broken.
PF
- Power failure: the electricity was interrupted mid-cycle. Press start to resume. If it appears repeatedly without any outage in the house, have the outlet checked rather than the machine.
Int
- The cycle was cancelled or paused, and the machine is draining what is left before it stops. Give it a couple of minutes to finish rather than pulling the door.
dET
- On machines with an automatic dispenser: the detergent cartridge is missing, empty or not seated. Push it in until it clicks. If you dose by hand into the drum instead, the machine still expects the cartridge to be in place.
- LOC or LC
- The control panel is locked, which is why the buttons do nothing. Hold the button marked with a padlock for three seconds. This is the child lock, not a breakdown.
rL
- Laundry was detected in the drum during the Clean Washer cycle. Take it out and restart: the cleaning cycle uses hot water and cleaner at a strength meant for an empty drum, not for clothes.