A Samsung washer stuck on the wash cycle may display an error code, which you can use to understand and troubleshoot the problem. However, Samsung washers not displaying an error code require a different approach. So, why is your Samsung washer stuck on the wash cycle?
A Samsung washer stuck on wash cycle may be due to a clogged water supply or drain line, an unclean mesh or debris filter, a faulty motor, a bad control knob, or a main board defect. Other possible problems are overloading, a broken pressure switch, power issues, etc.
Assuming that your Samsung washer is leveled and the door is fully closed and locked, these issues should prevent the appliance from working normally. You should also calibrate a new washer before loading it for a wash cycle. Read on to diagnose and fix a Samsung washer stuck on the wash cycle.
1. The Water Line Is Clogged
A Samsung washer can get stuck due to a water supply issue. The most common problem is a clogged water line. Your washer may display an error code implying the same, like the following:
4C: water supply check.
4C2: the water is too hot.
4E: water pressure issue.
The codes 4C and 4E are for the same error on different Samsung washer models. Check your manual to verify any code you might see on the washer. Otherwise, you must inspect the parts in the water supply lines or hoses.
How To Fix
Here are the typical reasons for a clogged water line and how you can fix them:
There’s no water supply: turn on the valves for the hot and cold lines.
The hoses are clogged: clean the water supply or inlet lines.
The mesh filters are dirty: remove the screens from the ports and clean them.
Ensure the water supply lines aren’t kinked, bent, or deformed to the extent that they would stop the flow. You may need to clean the mesh filters more frequently than others if you have hard or well water due to relatively faster sediment buildup.
2. The Drain Line Is Blocked
Like the problem with water supply hoses or inlet valves, your Samsung washer may get stuck mid-cycle if the drain line is blocked. Check if you have an error code on display, usually 5C.
A drain hose and its port may have a lot of lint buildup. Samsung washers have a debris filter that needs routine cleaning for optimum efficiency and functioning. Also, inspect the drain hose to ensure that the line isn’t clogged, kinked, or structurally deformed to block the wastewater.
How To Fix
Review your drain line and clean the spout. Also, remove the debris filter from your Samsung washer and clean it thoroughly using a soft-bristled brush. Some models have this debris filter inside a chamber near the bottom of the front panel. Check your manual for the exact location.
You can remove the debris filter by rotating it anticlockwise, but get a tray or container before you take it out of the washer. The filter chamber may have some water that will drip out, so use the tray to contain the spill.
3. The Washer Is Overloaded
An overloaded Samsung washer may get stuck during the wash cycle. Sometimes, the washer may not work in the spin cycle due to overloading. This problem isn’t always a user error. If the washer is not calibrated properly, it may wrongly sense an overload for the wash or spin cycle.
How To Fix
Check if you have a UB or UE error code on display, implying an unbalanced load. Redistribute or reduce the load. Also, consider recalibrating your Samsung washer if it wrongly detects an overload. Samsung washers operate flawlessly if the load is balanced, neither a lot nor too little.
A Samsung washer may get stuck if the pressure switch is bad. The usual symptom of a bad pressure switch is overfilling or no fill. This switch senses the water level inside the washer and activates the agitating phase. So, your washer may not proceed through the wash cycle.
How To Fix
Replace the pressure switch if it fails a thorough continuity test. You can access this switch using the video guide below. Here’s how you can test the pressure switch assembly with a multimeter:
Use alligator clips to hook the multimeter probes to the 2 outer terminals of the switch.
The multimeter should read nothing, implying an open loop or circuit at this stage.
Blow air into the hose connected to the switch to exert some pressure, as water does.
Block the hose tip to sustain the pressure as you observe the multimeter reading.
If you don’t get any reading, the pressure switch is broken, and you must replace it.
If you get a reading, take the 2nd multimeter probe off the outer terminal to the right.
Place this probe on the central terminal of the Samsung washer’s pressure switch.
The 1st probe should still be on the outer terminal to the left of the switch assembly.
Testing the left and central terminals should show a reading on the multimeter.
If these 2 terminals have an open loop without any pressure, the switch is bad.
Blow some air into the hose, and the multimeter should show an open loop or circuit.
If you still get a reading when pressure is on, the switch is bad, and you need a new one.
Here’s how you can access and replace a Samsung washer pressure switch:
5. The Washer Motor Is Failing
A failing motor won’t let your Samsung washer go through the wash cycle. Look for the following error codes:
3C: washer motor.
PC: clutch motor.
PC1: clutch sensor.
How To Fix
Unplug the washer and wait for 2 to 3 minutes to power cycle the appliance. If the motor still doesn’t work, replace it or get a new clutch sensor, depending on the problem in your case. Also, the motor may be shorted, or it might not operate expectedly if the parts are worn-out.
6. The Control Knob Is Broken
A defective control knob won’t start a wash cycle when you select a specific mode. The control knobs don’t necessarily malfunction completely. Some loose or frayed wirings or bad terminals may prevent the control knob from activating specific modes or cycles, which could be only one.
How To Fix
You can get a new control knob if repairing doesn’t solve the problem. Savvy users disassemble the control knob to clean the terminals if they are corroded. In contrast, replacing frayed wires or fixing loose connections is much easier. If these fixes don’t work, you need to replace the part.
7. The Control Board Is Faulty
Like the knob, the main control board doesn’t necessarily die completely. If there’s a glitch in the control board pertaining to the wash cycle function, your Samsung washer is likely to get stuck. However, zero in on the control board and knob only after ruling out the other probable causes.
How To Fix
Generally, system check failures (SF) and communication errors are due to bad sensors or a faulty main control board. If there’s a bad relay switch or another replaceable component, you can get a new part and solder it to replace the defective fixture. Else, you need a new board.
Final Thoughts
Samsung washers may temporarily stop working if there’s a major voltage fluctuation or power surge. Reset the circuit breaker and power cycle the washer before trying a wash cycle.
Also, excessive sud or foam can affect a wash. Use the self-clean mode or manually clear the drum before you try another wash or continue with the current load.
