Washing machines are a vital part of every home, so when yours breaks down it can be extremely frustrating. If you find your LG washing machine not turning on, there are a few possible reasons why. This can be a very common problem, almost as common as a washer smelling bad. Let’s look at some of the most common causes and help you troubleshoot them so you can get your machine up and running again.
Why Is My LG Washing Machine Not Turning On?
When you notice your LG washing machine not turning on, there are a few things you can try to troubleshoot the issue. The first thing to do is make sure that the power source for your washer is working properly.
1: Issue with the LG Washer Power Source
Just like when your dryer won’t start, the power source is the first place to look when your LG washer won’t start.
- Check to see if the outlet the washer is plugged into has power and if the cord hasn’t become damaged.
- Next, check the breaker box to ensure that the circuit breaker for the washer hasn’t been tripped.
- If you’re using an extension cord, try to plug it directly in, since the power draw of the washer can sometimes be too high for a lower-gauge extension cord.
2: Problem with the Washer Door Switch
Another common reason why an LG washer turns on but won’t start is that the door isn’t shut properly. The door must be shut all the way in order for the washer to start.
- Look to see if the door is fully closed and make sure there’s nothing blocking it, if there is, remove it and close it firmly.
- In some cases, the door switch may be damaged and will need to be replaced. This will cause the washer to not start even if the door is shut all the way.
3: Wiring Issues in the LG Washer
If you’ve checked the power source and the door switch, and the washer still won’t turn on, there may be an issue with the wiring. Check any visible wiring connections to make sure they’re secure and not damaged. There may also be an issue with the control board or another electrical component in the washer. In this case, it’s best to call a qualified technician to diagnose and repair the issue.
4: LG Washing Machine Control Issues
In some cases, the issue may be with the washing machine controls themselves. If you find the LG washing machine start button not responding, there may be a problem with the control panel.
- You can try resetting the washing machine by unplugging it for a few minutes and then plugging it back in.
- Check out the child safety lock if your washing machine has one. This may be engaged and not allowing the washer to start. You can usually turn this off by holding the rinse and spin buttons together for 3 seconds.
- If your start delay feature is on, your washer won’t start until the selected time. Make sure this isn’t the case before moving on to other troubleshooting steps.
5: Defective LG Washer Motor
If none of the other troubleshooting steps have worked, the issue may be with the washing machine motor, or with another part of the drive system. This is a more serious issue that will require the help of a qualified technician.
These are some of the most common reasons for an LG washing machine not turning on. If you’ve tried all of these troubleshooting steps and your washer still won’t turn on, it may be time to get in touch with our team of expert washing machine repair technicians. Happy washing!
LG Washer Has Power But Won’t Start
There is an important difference between a washer that is completely dead and one that lights up but refuses to run. If your display works, the drum light comes on, or the machine beeps when you press a button, the power supply is fine, and the list above is not where your problem is. Something is stopping the cycle from beginning, and in our experience it is usually one of five things.
- Control Lock is on. The single most common cause, and not a fault at all. See below.
- The door is not fully latched. An LG washer will not start until the lock engages. A jammed strike, a worn latch, or laundry caught in the seal will all prevent it.
- A delay or time-set option is active. If Delay Wash was set, the machine sits silently until the timer runs down.
- The cycle was paused and never resumed. Pressing Start once pauses; pressing it again resumes. A paused machine looks identical to a stuck one.
- The water supply is off. The washer waits to fill before anything turns, so a closed tap or a kinked hose looks exactly like a washer that will not start.
Control Lock (CL): Check This First
If you see CL in the display, your machine is working perfectly. The controls are simply locked, usually because a child, a pet, or a stray elbow held the button down. Press and hold the Child Lock button (on most LG models it is above the Start button, and marked with a padlock) for about three seconds until CL clears. We are called out to this more often than any other “washer won’t start” complaint, and it costs nothing to rule out.
LG Washer Error Codes That Stop It From Starting
LG washers report faults as two-character codes. If yours is showing one, it is telling you exactly where to look:
| Code | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| CL | Control lock is on | Hold the Child Lock button ~3 seconds. Not a fault. |
| dE, dE1, dE2 | Door will not lock | Check for laundry in the seal; inspect the latch and strike. |
| PF | Power failed mid-cycle | Restart the cycle. Repeating PF points to the outlet or the board. |
| IE | Not filling with water in time | Check both taps are open and the inlet screens are not blocked. |
| LE | Motor locked or overloaded | Remove some laundry and restart. If it persists, the rotor or hall sensor needs attention. |
| PE | Water-level sensor fault | Needs a technician. The machine cannot tell how full it is. |
LG ThinQ and Smart Washers
On a ThinQ model, a washer that seems dead is sometimes just waiting on Remote Start. If Remote Start is enabled, the machine will not begin a cycle from the panel until it receives the command from the app, and if your Wi-Fi has changed or the app has been signed out, that command never arrives. Turn Remote Start off at the machine and try again. It is also worth running Smart Diagnosis from the LG ThinQ app before calling anyone; it reads the fault straight from the machine and will often name the failed part.
A 60-Second Check Before You Call
- Is the plug firmly in, and does another appliance work in that outlet?
- Has the breaker tripped? An LG washer often shares a circuit with the dryer.
- Is CL showing in the display?
- Does the door click firmly shut, with nothing caught in the seal?
- Are both water taps fully open, with no kinked hoses behind the machine?
- Is Delay Wash or Remote Start switched on?
- Try a hard reset: unplug for five minutes, then plug back in.
If none of that brings the machine back, the fault is most likely the door lock assembly, the main control board, or the motor, all of which need testing under power and are not safe to poke at yourself.
When to Call a Technician
If your LG washer still will not start after the checks above, our technicians repair LG washers and dryers across Oakland, Alameda County and Contra Costa County, usually the same or next business day. The diagnostic is $150, credited toward the cost of your repair (or $125 when you call or book today) and repairs are covered by a 90-day labor and 1-year parts warranty. Call (510) 520-7445 or book online.
More on this: LG washer & dryer repair • LG appliance repair • washer and dryer repair • LG dryer taking too long to dry
