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My Kenmore washing machine won't drain or spin?

I have an older Kenmore top loading washer. In the past when it has had this problem I have removed the clothes, put some bleach in the water, and run a cycle without any clothes in it--and that usually fixes it. This time however that trick is not working. The motor is running and it will fill and agitate, but then it will not drain; the pump is going and I can sort of smell a "hot rubber" smell when it is trying to drain but the water just stays there. I have tried straightening the drain hose and pouring bleach into it--still nothing. The washer has been sitting for two days full of water (yecch!). The nearest laundromat is 12 miles away, too!

Anyone have any thoughts on this? Thanks!

Update:

It has done this periodically over the past couple of years and until now I have always been able to correct it. This time I: Took all the clothes out and ran another cycle without clothes; then put bleach in the water and ran another cycle; detached the drain hose and stuck a coathanger in it; poured bleach directly into the drain hose; ran a couple more cycles. If it was something serious like a bad solenoid or the pump breaking down, then wouldn't it have broken a long time ago? The troubleshooting guide on the inside of the lid says that when the machine doesn't drain or spin--and otherwise seems to be functioning normally--that something called "suds lock" has occurred. The instructions to clear that are to run another cycle without soap, which is the first thing I tried a year or so ago when it first happened--and that seemed to work, so I assumed when it happened after that, it was "suds lock".

Thanks everyone who has tried to answer this question.

Update 2:

I know already it's not the switch; I ruled that out fairly early on. I am betting that there's something like a sock or a bunch of fibers stuck in the filter.

Again, you guys are GREAT--these are all good answers and the links are bookmarked. :D

12 Answers

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  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    considering it is a kenmore that means it is either a GE washer or a Whirlpool washer as kenmore doesnot make appliances..they have them made for them and just put their name on them......now there is a few things could be wrong..1 their is a coupling between the motor and the pump and this has finally worn out...2 on some models the pump is belt driven and the belt could be bad...3 on some models the pump is seperate from the drive motor and has its own motor just for the pump...this could be running but the pump part could be bad....even if it worked somewhat before that still does not mean the pump or the coupling that connects the pump to the motor wasnt going bad.....nearly all machines will allow the water to drain out if you just lower the drain hose lower than the tub...try letting the water drain into a small bucket and then see if it wil spin...it should spin once the water is drained out but you will have to keep the drain hose in the bucket lower than the tub through the spin cycle....this should work and allow you to get all the water out of your machine....dont use it anymore once you do this as you could damge other parts by trying to make it work...the parts and labor to fix this shouldnt be over 100 dollars...

    Source(s): 40 years appliances repairs and parts sales
  • Anonymous
    6 years ago

    This Site Might Help You.

    RE:

    My Kenmore washing machine won't drain or spin?

    I have an older Kenmore top loading washer. In the past when it has had this problem I have removed the clothes, put some bleach in the water, and run a cycle without any clothes in it--and that usually fixes it. This time however that trick is not working. The motor is running and it will fill and...

    Source(s): kenmore washing machine won 39 drain spin: https://shortly.im/fOipO
  • ?
    Lv 4
    5 years ago

    Kenmore Washer Won T Drain

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    There is a "drain solenoid" which is on the line that allows the water to pump out. It has likely failed. Until it indicates the tub is empty, it will prevent the machine from spinning. If you lift it up and look underneath, you will see this device attached on one side to the drain hose and on the other to the tub. Use a pair of pliers to open the wire clamp on the tub side (all the water will drain out!!!!!), and if (when it is empty) it will spin, the solenoid is bad....if it still will not spin, the controller is bad & you need a new machine!

    If it is the solenoid, take it to Sears & they will sell you a new one.

    Don't make too much mess! (Put a LOT of old towel underneath and have a supply of buckets handy when you disconnect the hose!)...

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  • Anonymous
    5 years ago

    For the best answers, search on this site https://shorturl.im/D03jE

    bad cupling, cost you couple dollars, kenmores are direct driven, no belts, means the agitater is connected to the transmission, which is directly connected to the motor, which is a reversible motor, one direction it agitates the clothes and the other direction speed and drain. so answer to your question, is a broken motor cupling.

  • 1 decade ago

    You may want to check inside or around the pump for something clogging it. I had the same issue with my front-loader. Turns out my 2-yr-old had a ladder from a Matchbox firetruck in his pocket and it got lodged in the piping leading to the pump. Be ready with buckets and towels, just in case.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Why guess ? This is a simple one and you are on the wrong track. Like one fellow said - a door switch sometimes will make good contact and sometimes not. Go to http://appliancequickfix.com/ to find out how to find out.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    It is probably the belt but could be the pump or something else for that matter. Might want to consider buying new instead or repairing if it is that old.

  • Ret68
    Lv 6
    1 decade ago

    Check the following site and you may find some possibilities: http://www.repairclinic.com/0047_11.asp ...Good Luck...

  • 1 decade ago

    Check the door switch....? these tend to break just enough to lose contact...

    Source(s): just fixed this a week ago on my boss' kenmore washer. he needed a new timer too...grrr
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