Last updated on February 3rd, 2017
There are two completely different symptoms that many people confusingly report using the same language so it’s important to make sure you are looking at the right article. If when you say the washer is not spinning you mean (as many do) that the drum is not revolving on any part of the cycle then you need a different article – washing machine drum not turning. If you are investigating a washer where the drum is turning normally on wash and rinses but it’s just not doing the fast spin at the end of the cycle then continue with this article.
Not spinning at the end of cycle
The first thing to check is the wash load. Modern washing machines have built in out of balance protection and will refuse to spin out of balanced loads to protect against serious damage. The worst loads for this problem are single items which are heavy when wet, or small loads, particularly if they have a single heavy item amongst them.
Therefore there is always a possibility there isn’t an actual fault. A quick check would be to see if the washer spins with no load in, or with a totally different (fuller more balanced) load. If it does, check this article carefully to understand this problem – Washing machine wont spin just one item or very small loads
Not spinning because it can’t drain the water properly
Is it pumping out the water properly?
A washing machine will also refuse to do a fast spin if it isn't draining the water, either at all, or just not fully within the set time allowed due to a partial obstruction. However, don't start suspecting a pump problem unless it's obvious that the washing machine isn't draining the water out properly and leaving quite a lot inside. Don’t mix up the amount of water that will naturally be left inside because the washer hasn’t spun with the amount caused by not having pumped it out properly.
If you suspect a pumping out fault follow this article – Washing machine won't empty water
Not spinning due to pressure system fault
Maybe it just thinks it isn’t draining water because it’s not getting the “water has now gone” signal.
The washing machine knows water has been successfully pumped away when the pressure system tells it. A faulty pressure switch or (more commonly) a blockage, can stop the signal being sent, so the washer refuses to spin. It will often do the slow turning at the beginning where it distributes the laundry, then just click and stop.
To understand how a washing machine controls water levels and knows when the water has drained away see this article – How washing machines control water levels (there are links in the article to common pressure system faults and DIY repair help).
Not spinning because motor is faulty or belt slipping
It is possible for a worn motor (or more commonly worn carbon brushes) to cause it to struggle to get up to spin speed but manage to turn the drum on wash and rinse. Normally such a fault would also cause problems on wash and rinse so it’s not too likely. However, if when it gets to the spin cycle the motor appears to attempt a spin but makes a strange grating or crackling noise and sounds half hearted (maybe fluctuates up and down in speed) there could be a fault on the motor. If the motor is sparking a lot you can suspect the brushes but if it is not sparking excessively it could be an issue on the PCB or a connection fault – get an engineer in. The most common issue with motors is worn carbon brushes (How do I know if I need to fit new carbon brushes?).
Belt
If a drive belt is worn it could be slipping. It’s not so common these days but should be easily observed with the back panel off if this is what is happening.
Summary
If the water is being pumped out OK, and it doesn't appear to be an out of balanced load, then proper fault finding is necessary, which really needs the use of a continuity test meter and proper knowledge of washing machine repairs. If it isn’t caused by any of the faults described above it only really leaves faults on the main PCB (or module), connection faults, motor faults etc. It would be unwise to start buying parts speculatively, which could easily prove an expensive mistake.
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Comments Disabled
Sorry, comments on this topic have been closed. The article already contains all the advice I can think of or I’m comfortable publishing. If the article and any previous comments (below) don’t help, please consider contacting an appliance engineer
Think there is crap in filter its a beko washer just not taking all the water out of the items very little water comiing from the little pump next to the filter just can’t open filter please help
Hello Karen, there is a link in this article to a page to troubleshoot pump faults and on that page there is a section about what to do if the filter is stuck.
Hi,
I have a Bosch washing machine that does not spin at the end of a washing program. However, if I choose the spin only program, this works fine. Do you know what the issue could be?
Many thanks,
Theo
Hello Theo. It could be a fault with the pressure system, or depending on how much water gets pumped away a problem with the pump. The pressure system informs the washing machine when the water has drained away so if it is faulty or blocked the washing machine will not spin after draining because it thinks the water is still in the drum. Alternatively if the pump is faulty or blocked then once water has gone into the machine it will not be able to pump it out and will refuse to spin. However if the problem was with the pump I would expect you to report that at the end of a washing cycle it won’t spin and the water will not pump out. So if it does pump the water out, or at least most of it, but does not kick into a fast spin I would suspect the pressure system if it spins perfectly okay without any water in.
Hello,
I have a similar problem to Theo where the machine (Whirlpool 6th Sense 2006) will not spin after some cycles. a light comes on to clean pump but pump has no blockage. I have managed to get around this once by resetting the program, setting to drain and then just spin. I think it may be the pump is on its way out or as with Theo the Pressure System switch is suspect. Any though would be gratefully received. Thanks.
Hi Barrie, if there is no actual blockage but the clean pump light comes on it implies the machine thinks it’s not emptied the water when it has and isn’t getting the signal from the pressure system that the water has drained out successfully. A blockage in the pressure system is more likely than a fault the pressure switch but could be either (or neither). Read the section above at, “Not spinning due to pressure system fault” and follow the link explaining how the pressure system works. I don;t do complete technical guides only explain how things work so if you can’t work it out I’d get an engineer in.
Hi
I have an LG WM1480FHD, which refuses to count down the last few minutes of some spin cycles (either in a wash programme or spin alone). For example it will sit at 7 minutes left on a fast spin cycle setting, stopped and trying, it seems, to drain but never ends. If I set a low (400) spin setting it runs through to the end ok. I think it is draining ok as it happily goes through the wash and rinse cycles perfectly well. I have checked the pressure switch as much as I can but it appears to be a no-contact type, ie the diaphragm lifts a magnet in a tube rather than presses good old switch contacts. There are 3 wires on it but it doesn’t appear to operate as a NO/NC type switch when tested with a continuity tester. Any guidance on how to test and eliminate this switch or point at something else would be appreciated.
Hello Trev. There’s no reason why it should spin okay on 400 RPM but not on any other spin apart from balancing issues unless by any chance you meant that it just doesn’t stick on the 400 rpm but doesn’t going to spin either. If it spins okay on 400 but not on any other spin then out of balance faults are the first thing that spring to mind.
Many modern washing machines will stick for a long time trying to balance the load before going into a fast spin, they may have quite long timeouts although they should eventually give up and abort. It’s worth just double checking that it isn’t struggling to balance the load after checking this article Washing machine won’t spin just one item or very small load
See if it spins okay on a wash cycle with the fast spin selected but no laundry inside. That should at least discount any out of balance loads. If it isn’t an out of balance load (which of course should only be the odd load not every load) and maybe there is a fault on the out of balance system but that’s just a maybe.
hi there
I have a Hotpoint 1400 WMT03 , the machine turns and washes but doesn’t do the spin fast or slow . Water is draining away ok .
I removed the lid and when the machine is on spin ….. The drum doesn’t turn , the belt is turning but just slipping .
Any ideas ?
Dave
Hello Dave, I’m assuming from your description that the motor is spinning and the belt is slipping so not spinning the drum at proper speed. If the belt is slipping it must be too loose, check this article Belt Keeps Coming Off Washing Machine – How tight should the drive belt be on a washing machine?
The only other thing that causes a belt to slip is if something like water was getting onto it but that’s unlikely these days. If there’s no way to adjust the motor a new belt is needed.
Hi i have a hotpoint with a g.e motor the motor that i had was flashing non stop so i ordered a used motor cause my washer machine was not spinning the cycle and the timer work fine it fills up with water it drains fine just does not spin at all i havent put the belt on it i jus tested it without putting it on motor i dont know if i have to have the belt on for order it to spin so if u could help me out thanks
Hello
We have a Bosch excel Wvd245s3gb,washing machine which has worked very good for over the seven years, we usually use the easy care or mix load programe 40 degree 50 minutes
Recently it wash for 49 minute. The timer count down to 1 minute then countinuly wash the timer still remaining for 1 minute it won’t stop and goes on Rinse, Spain ect to 0.00 so I should pause then change the programe to the rinse to complete the washing, I tried different program but it’s a same problem,
Also I check the filter, pump, pipe but there is not any blockage or ect . Do you have any idea what is the problem.
Thanks
Hello Korous. Sorry I didn’t reply before, you’ve probably found the answer by now but you may be to confirm so that others can learn from your experience. It could be the heating element but not necessarily. I mention sticking on the last minute on my article here Washing machine stops mid cycle
Ruben, it could be possible that a motor would not spin fully without a load as I’ve seen systems in place to monitor loading which can stop it spinning because it would spin too fast without any load.
Thought I knew it all . . Didn’t know about the out of balance protection ! Had my machine in bits . .Won’t be throwing my eider down in again . Thanks Great Site
I have a John Lewis washing machine that’s just stopped spinning. The drum turns ok during the wash cycle but when it comes to spin the motor appears to be turning as you can hear it but the drum doesn’t move. It appears to be draining OK. I have tried the spin only at both max and min speeds and again the motor appears to be working but drum movement at all.
Any ideas please thanks
John
Cheers Bazz.
Hello John, if the motor is turning but the drum isn’t the belt must be off or slipping.
Thanks so much for this article – my Hoover wasn’t fast spinning. I checked the filter at the bottom which was blocked by plastic sticker or something – anyway clearing that out fixed it instantly – cheers
Thank you so much!
I cleaned the filter out as instructed and saved myself a hundred but for a service guy
Yale the Internet and you guys!!!
Thank you so much, problem sorted in less than 5 minutes! Machine wasn’t getting up to full spin, could hear water pump doing its thing… decided to check the u-bend before it goes into the house waste pipe for blockages first (as I hate cleaning the lower filter, plus the machine usually tells me when this is required), small bit of debris slightly blocking the outlet… removed this and the scummy build up in the u-bend, replaced, switched on machine to do a spin and warp speed factor 1200 we have lift off! Cheers Andy you’re a Saint to make this knowledge available!
Hi
i have a hoover front loading machine it will go through a full cycle without clothes even a spin but with clothes in it and it wont spin u can hear it working just the drum not going round when clothes are in it
please help?..
many thanks
Hello Charlie. If the drum will spin round without load in, but not when laundry is inside the possibilities are either the drive belt is loose and the motor pulley is slipping inside the belt with a load to turn, or the motor isn’t receiving full power and cannot cope with the extra power required to turn the drum with washing inside.
The latter could be caused by worn carbon brushes (which should create a sparking sound that is often described as a grating or crackling sound). Another more rare possibility is a fault on the main control board not supplying enough power to the motor. Some of these faults are described in detail on the sister article to this one here washing machine drum not turning
My Bosch excel is starting the final spin but not completing the fast spin. It goes round slowly for 3 minutes then the timer switches from 8 to 1 and stops. Its draining just not properly spinning so clothing very wet. Any advice greatly appreciated
Hi I have a servis-WP1249F2W.
Water is draining away but it’s just not spinning properly at all. It’s like it struggling with small/medium/large loads.
The filter is clean but clothes are still coming out soaking.
Arrrgh HELP !!
Thanks
Alice
Alice: It could be worn carbon brushes, I’ve added a new section to the article above called, “Not spinning because motor is faulty or belt slipping”.