Brand: Samsung
Model Number: WF461ABPXAA01
Main Symptom: Hums and won’t start the wash cycle
What happens & when: 120v at the electrical receptacle.
When the washer is turned on the main display will show the scheduled time in minutes, a “T-shirt with a plus sign” next to an hourglass, the 4 icons and 3 arrows for Wash thru Spin, the location light for the selector dial and the corresponding light for the Temp, Spin, Soil Level and Signal setting. All these lights remain on until the Start/Pause button is selected.
Pressing the Start/Pause button will immediately sound a musical tone and loud hum, like a motor trying to start, and start the Wash light will begin flashing. All other lights remain on. After a second or so the hum will stop for about five seconds. Then there is a loud click with the immediate illumination of the Lock icon and a return of the hum which remains continuous. Water will not enter into the tub. There are no error codes. With the top and back cover off the hum seems to be coming from under the tub but it is difficult to tell. There is 5v AC at the water inlet valve.
Error Code (if any): No error codes
Parts or tests already tried:
Photos / video link:
That leans me towards either the drain pump or the motor, if the washer cannot verify the drain pump or the motor at the beginning of the cycle it isn’t going to put in water.
I’m attaching the info on running quick test mode and service mode below, that should let you test the drain and motor, as well as the valves and check for codes.
Thanks but I can not seem to get the washer to enter the Quick Test Mode. After simultaneously pushing Spin, Soil Level, and Power the washer displays the same as in my description but does not display the software version, Model information or EEEE. It matters not if I press all three simultaneously and release them or continue to hold them down.
When I try to enter it into the Service Mode by pressing Signal and Extra Rinse with the Power already on I get a tone and all lights go out and the display is 0000. The only test that gets a response is the Fault Code Test by pressing the Spin button I get alternating flashing display of 09 and 90. FWIW there is no “Extra Wash” button on mine so I used the “PreWash” button. My control display is the same as the one you provided.
Suggestions?
Update. Opened the water drain at the pump filter and had 1qt and a cup of water drain. Washer set on Rinse/Spin filled with water for a 19 minute cycle, the drum rotated left then right for eight minutes and then all action stopped.
Second update, replaced the water drain pump and no change. When it gets to the spin cycle all action in the drum stops and there is the loud hum. What would be the next thing to check? Thanks.
And FWIW I noticed when the tub was full of water for the Rinse and Spin cycle that the back of the tub is maybe an inch lower than the front of the tub. Is that normal on this model? The outside of the tub has a forward and rear half with the top suspension springs mounted on the front half just forward of where the two halves join. I’d think this would put a tilt on the tub with the rear being lower than the front.
Also, I noticed on both the old and new drain pumps the propeller would freely turn either direction for half a turn, have resistance for a quarter turn and then spin freely. While both behaved the same the new pump was a bit stiffer for the quarter turn.
What should I test next? Is there a relay for the drain pump?
Bump. Any suggestions? Thanks.
If you’ve replaced the drain pump then it is most likely an issue with the motor or the control board. That loud hum means it is trying to activate something, either the drain pump is being activated and the motor isn’t or the motor is being activated and not doing anything, you might try disconnecting the harness from the motor to see if you are still getting that hum. If not that would point towards the motor.
Thanks, that makes sense. On both Normal setting and the Rinse and Spin, the tub will fill with water and rotate back and forth but stops and hums at the point it should be spinning. Can the motor be bad and still move left and right but not spin?
The agitation or tumble doesn’t put it under much load, spin does, so you may see a little bit of back and forth but then failure under full load when trying to spin. If you’re getting some back and forth motion but no spin and no water I would make sure the tub spins relatively easily by hand as well.
