One of the things that can happen when you put your clothes in the washer is that the washer stops in the middle of the load.
This can be frustrating since you need all of your clothes cleaned completely. If you see that the washer stopped on the spin cycle, then it’s likely that your clothes are still soaking wet. Here’s how you fix a Whirlpool Cabrio washer that won’t go into the spin cycle.
What to Do If Washer Stops at Spin Cycle
There are a few things that could be done to fix the washer, but you’ll have to pinpoint the issue with the washer so you understand how to fix it. Here’s a few suggestions on what to do with your Whirlpool Cabrio washer.
Move Around the Load of Laundry
One of the things that might happen is that the load of laundry is off- balanced. This means that sometimes in the previous cycles, the clothing moves around and becomes stuck on one of the sides of the washer.
The clothes should be evenly distributed around the washer, which means that it should be in an even layer with the weight around all of the washer.
This is usually the issue if you threw your clothes in the washer quickly without spreading it out. This is something that we all do, so you don’t have to feel bad if you were in a rush.
Also, this could happen when you have a load with a lot of towels, comforters, or heavy coats, which could cause all of the weight to be too heavy on one side.
Some newer washers won’t begin the spin cycle because at high speeds, it needs to be balanced, and it won’t begin the cycle with an off- balance load.
If you think this is an issue, then it’s an easy fix. Stick your hand in the washer and move around the clothes.
Make sure that all the weighted clothes are spread out evenly and the bottom of the washer and you can move the lighter stuff, like the shirts and the leggings, up top where you can see how it’s spread out.
Then, run the spin cycle again after you close the washer. If there was a distribution issue, then the washer should start again.
To get around this, you can try to do the heavy things separate from the light clothing. This will allow you to put less clothes in your washer. It’s also easier to balance when all the clothes are equally heavy and you don’t have to try to deduce which clothes need to be on specific sides of the washer.
The heaviest items, like comforters and heavy coats, might need to be washed separately so you don’t overload your washer.
Plug your Washer Directly into an Outlet
Your washer requires a lot of energy to run. If you have it plugged into an extension cord, then this might be why your washer stops partway through the process of washing clothes. If there isn’t enough power for the washer to complete the cycle, then it’ll stop and your clothes will still be wet.
These extension cords are dangerous to use with your washer. They can’t conduct a lot of electricity and the washer’s motor will try to work harder. This will cause the washer motor to overheat, and it’ll shut itself off so it doesn’t set on fire.
The washer will work once the motor gets cooler, but this will continue to occur if you don’t attach the power cord to a working outlet.
This will shorten the life of your washer, so you don’t want to keep doing this. If you can’t reach an outlet, then a new outlet will have to be wired to plug in the washer. Also, make sure the outlet works well. If it lets out too little electricity, then the washer will have the same issue as it did with the extension cord.
If it lets out too much, then the washer motor will overheat and that’s a fire hazard. Be careful, and make sure the outlet works well enough to be a power source for the washer.
Make Sure your Washer is Level
Making sure you have a level washer is very important. This means that your washer should be set straight up and flat on the ground. Some washers are on even ground, but they have legs that might’ve weakened and become shorter, making the washer not level. This is an easy fix luckily.
Even if your washer is on uneven ground, you can look at which way the washer is leaning towards. Then, adjust the height of the legs so that the washer is no longer leaning to one side. It should be balanced after you play around with leveling it.
You might notice this happening when the washer is making loud noise and vibrating, all of which shouldn’t be happening when you’re washing a load.
Check the Spin Switch
This is only an issue on top loading washers. They have a part that sticks out on the underside of the lid that you want to make sure is working properly.
It’s on the underside of the lid, and this is used as a safety precaution to ensure that the lid is closed before starting the washing process.
If this part of the lid is bent, then what happens is that the top can’t sense that the top is closed, which means it won’t go on or continue.
Depending on how warped the spin switch is, it might work for most of the load. Then, it might be knocked out of place as the load continues and gets rougher. You’ll want to test if this is the issue by opening the lid and putting your washer on spin cycle by using the knob.
Then, place your finger on the switch and press down. The washer should begin spinning since this is the way it knows that the lid is closed and you tricked it.
Bend the switch in a way so that it works properly. You might need to place your finger on it a few times and figure out which way is necessary for it to work the way it’s supposed to. Be careful when you’re bending it into place because you don’t want to break it off.
It shouldn’t be too hard to ensure that it’s bent into place, but you’ll need more than just your finger to bend it. Try a tool or something to bend it, but be gentle so you don’t break it off.
Check for Blockage in the Drainage System
Have you ever left something in your pockets when you put it in the washer? You likely have, and it’s something common that everyone does. Whether it be pens, clips, or pennies, these things aren’t immediately harmful to your washer.
Things like this, however, pile up, and it’ll get stuck in the hoses of the washer that connect to the drain pump. The blockage stops the washer from spinning and it won’t be able to start the spin cycle.
What you’ll need to do is access the drain pump, which is usually located in the back of the washer. You can usually get to it without removing the back of the washer.
Some models, however, require you to detach the back of the washer. To detach this correctly, you’ll need to consult the manual for instructions about where your drain pump is and how to detach it.
What you’ll see are some clamps attaching it to your washer. Then, you need to keep the clamps and make sure you clear the drainage properly. Make sure you reattach the hoses correctly. Try to run the spin cycle after you properly reattach the hose. If the spin cycle works, then all you had was a blockage issue.
Check the Drive Belt
The drive belt is an important part of the washer. If it’s broken or it slips off, then it can make the washer get agitated. You’ll have to remove the back of the washer, which means you’ll need a screwdriver to do this.
Look at the belt, and if you need help locating it, you should reference the manual that came with the washer. If one doesn’t come with it, then you should go on the brand’s website and download one for your make and model.
The belt that you see should still be on a pulley. If it isn’t, then you’ll need to have the drive belt (view on Amazon) replaced. You’ll have to get one made for your Whirlpool Cabrio, and you can enter your model number at the link to make sure the belt is right for you.
Other Fixes
If none of the methods above worked, then there are other things that need to be looked into, but they require an expert. Things like a drain pump, motor coupler, or the motor itself needs to be looked at by a professional. This means that unless you’re skilled in repair, you shouldn’t attempt any of these fixes yourself.
The drain pumps need to be checked to see if they’re functioning, but all you can do is use a multimeter (View on Amazon) to check the continuity for the drain pump meter. The non- functioning pumps need to be replaced by a professional, so keep that in mind.
The motor coupler is a small rubber and plastic piece that connects the motor and the transmission. If it’s broken, you can find out if you set the dial to a wash cycle and turn it on so the washer fills.
Once it does, the agitation should begin as it reaches the fill level. The center agitator should move, so if it doesn’t then this means that the machine needs a coupler (View on Amazon). This replacement can be cheap, but the process of installing it is too much for someone who isn’t skilled in motor repair.
Either way, no matter what’s wrong, don’t use the washer until you figure out what’s wrong. You don’t want it to make the problem worse than it is.
