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 washing machine 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 fault where the drum is turning normally on wash and rinses but it’s just not doing the fast spinning at the end then continue with this article.
Not Spinning Because it can’t Drain the Water Properly
The first thing to check is has it pumped out the water properly?
A washing machine will not spin if it hasn't pumped out 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 hasn't drained the water out, and has left quite a lot inside. Don’t mix up the amount of water that will naturally be left inside from laundry if the washer hasn’t spun with the amount left if it’s failed to pump it away.
Try it on a spin cycle again. Can you hear the pump running? Can you hear water going down the drain or into the sink u-bend? If you suspect a pumping out fault follow this article – Washing machine won't empty water
Load Out Of Balance
If the water seems to have been pumped out but it just won’t do the spin then check 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 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 needs a signal from the pressure switch to tell it when the water has gone. A faulty pressure switch (or more commonly a blockage in the pressure bottle) can stop the signal being sent. So the washer refuses to spin. It will do the slow turning at the beginning where it distributes the laundry, pump out the water, but then after a few minutes just 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).
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Not spinning because motor is faulty
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 worn carbon brushes. Note that many washing machines don’t have carbon brushes any more. How can you tell? Open the door and spin the drum by hand. If it is virtually silent it’s probably a brushless motor. If it makes a whiny ratchety sound that’s probably the brushes running over the segments in the armature.
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 Slipping
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. This 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, more complex motor faults etc. It would be unwise to start buying parts speculatively, which could easily prove an expensive mistake.
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karen says
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
Andy Trigg (Whitegoodshelp) says
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.
Theo says
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
Andy Trigg (Whitegoodshelp) says
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.
Barrie says
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.
Andy Trigg (Whitegoodshelp) says
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.
Trev says
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.
Andy Trigg (Whitegoodshelp) says
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.
Dave says
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
Andy Trigg (Whitegoodshelp) says
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.