The pump in the LG washing machine does not work

It is quite simple to understand that the drain pump in an LG washing machine is not working. The symptoms are so obvious that it is impossible not to notice them. The machine may either not pump out water at all and stop with a full tank, or it may not wring things out well, leaving them wet. In any case, the quality of the wash deteriorates. Let's figure out how to diagnose the washing machine and where to start checking.

Is the pump really broken?

An automatic machine can stop with a full tank of water for several reasons; the “pump module” is not always to blame. You can talk about problems with the pump if the washing machine “freezes” at the stage when the waste liquid should be removed from the system, while the pump is “silent”. The following “symptoms” also indicate that the drain is not functioning:

• the corresponding fault code displayed on the display (the self-diagnosis system of modern LG washing machines detects a breakdown and notifies the user about it. By deciphering the designation, you can judge which part has failed);
• stopping the machine before spinning;
• water is removed from the tank “every once”;
• the pump does not turn on at all or operates without stopping;
• The water leaves the tank very slowly, not 2-3 minutes, as expected, but only 10-15 minutes.

Diagnosis is complicated by the fact that the “symptoms” of many problems are similar. Some breakdowns manifest themselves in the same way - water leaves the system too slowly. To identify the cause of a malfunction in the “home assistant”, it is better to move from simple to complex, “sweeping aside” one probable cause of the malfunction after another.

The steps must be performed in this order:

• make sure that draining and spinning have been started.You may have selected a program that does not provide these functions, or the options may have been disabled by mistake;
• check what drum rotation speed was set during spinning. Probably the speed was reduced to a minimum;
• inspect the drain hose, it should not be crushed or kinked;
• feel the hose to make sure there is no blockage;
• disconnect the drain corrugation from the siphon or sewer pipe, direct the free end into the bathtub and start the spin cycle again. Perhaps the common riser is clogged, so water does not leave the machine;
• check the garbage filter. To do this, unscrew it, clean it from debris and dirt;
• check the impeller through the “trash can” hole, shine a flashlight inside and inspect the blades. Remove hair, lint and threads that have become entangled in them.

You also need to check the movement of the impeller. It should move intermittently, but freely. Therefore, without assembling the body, start the spin cycle and observe the part. If the blades remain motionless, we can talk about pump failure. The repair will involve replacing the pump.

We get to the “motor”

To check the pump more thoroughly, you need to get to it. The drain pump is located on washing machines LG below, under the tank. Therefore, you can “climb” to the part through the bottom of the machine.

Before disassembling the washing machine, be sure to turn off the power and disconnect it from communications.

Next you need to proceed as follows:

• drain the water from the machine by unscrewing the garbage filter;
• remove the laundry from the drum if the machine did not open the door due to water remaining in the tank;
• remove the detergent dispenser;
• cover the floor with a soft blanket or towel;
• Place the washer on its side.

If an automatic machine does not have a tray, you can immediately see the pump. For further diagnostics, you will have to remove the part from the housing. Disconnect the pipes and wires from the pump, unscrew the fixing bolt and remove the element.

Coil problems

Often, the pumps of LG washing machines burn out due to drops of water getting on the coil. Therefore, a short circuit occurs. The control module almost always recognizes such a breakdown and displays the corresponding fault code (OE) on the display.

You can tell that the coil is burnt out by external signs. Traces of soot remain on the body. In some cases, the plastic “shell” melts. If the problem is not visually determined, you will have to test the part with a multimeter.

It will not be possible to repair a burnt-out drain pump; the pump will need to be replaced.

Broken impeller

You can determine if the impeller is broken without even disassembling the body of the automatic machine. To do this, just look into the snail hole that appears after removing the garbage filter. Shine a flashlight inside and you will be able to identify the problem.

The main “symptom” of this breakdown is a loudly humming drain pump that periodically clicks. The pump will make noise and not pump water out of the tank, or remove liquid too slowly. It is possible to glue broken impeller blades into place with your own hands, but such repairs cannot be considered reliable - over time they may fall off again. The best option is to replace the unit.

LG SM snail is leaking

During diagnostics, it may turn out that the machine is also leaking from below. First, you should inspect the drain pipe connecting the tank and the pump.Check whether the joints are securely fixed, whether there are drops of water in those places, and whether there are cracks in the corrugation. If a defect is detected, you will have to replace the hose.

The further algorithm of actions is as follows:

• reset the wiring connected to the drain pump;
• deal with fasteners;
• remove the pump from the washing machine;
• inspect the pump impeller;
• remove the pump housing cover;
• take out the snail;
• clean the part from the inside.

Pump diagnostics are performed using a multimeter. The tester is switched to resistance measurement mode, then its probes are applied to the element contacts. If a malfunction is detected, replace the pump.

Why does the pump run continuously?

Sometimes the drain pump may run continuously. Usually the control module is the “culprit” of the failure. The microcontroller does not give the command to turn off. Therefore, it turns out that the washing machine endlessly pumps water. It’s not worth getting into the “brain” of the machine with your own hands without the necessary knowledge and experience; it’s better to entrust such work to specialists.

Continuous operation of the pump can be observed if the water level sensor is broken.

An incorrectly functioning pressure switch can transmit false information to the control module, reporting that the tank is full (when in fact it is empty). Then the pump will pump out air, working idle.

What to do in this case? You'll have to check the pressure switch. Look under the housing cover, find the level sensor, disconnect its tube and clean it. If it is clear that the device has burnt out, it will need to be replaced.

How not to damage the pump?

Although it is not difficult to replace the drain pump on an LG machine, it is even much easier to prevent it from breaking. The pump rarely fails, and mainly due to the owners violating the rules for operating the washing machine.You need to use the machine according to the following recommendations:

• do not overload the machine. If you systematically exceed the maximum permissible load weight, all parts of the washing machine will wear out;
• check the pockets of items before putting them in the drum. Forgotten pieces of paper, coins, nails fall into the drainage system, complicating the outflow of water;
• descale your washing machine about once every 2-3 months;
• Place a filter in front of the machine. Hard water containing many impurities significantly reduces the life of equipment.

You can clean the drain system and, if necessary, replace the pump yourself. The main thing is to follow all safety rules and not deviate from the instructions given.

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