Washer Won't Agitate and the Parts That Usually Cause It

Quick answer: three versions of a washer that will not agitate

The symptom decides where to look. A washer that will not agitate shows up in three ways:

• The tub fills and nothing moves.
• The washer spins and drains but never agitates.
• The agitator twitches without gripping.

Asurion covers the second case for top load washers. It lists ten parts, from a jammed object to the transmission.

One limit up front: front load washers and impeller top loaders have no center agitator. This guide fits traditional agitator models. This guide fits traditional agitator models. ENERGY STAR separates agitator washers from impeller ones.

Most likely causes, ranked from the simplest to check to the most involved

This order puts free checks first. Parts that need a meter or the panel off come later.

Top load washer not agitating: an object or the lid switch

Start with the cheap causes. Asurion says an item wedged at the agitator base can block it. A broken lid switch also stops the motor. That plastic tab tells the motor to run when the lid closes. Paradise Appliance Service adds that a switch with no click when pressed may be faulty.

Washer agitator dogs: the plastic ratchet that grips

Agitator dogs are small plastic parts inside the top of the agitator assembly. They help it grip and turn, per Paradise Appliance Service. Sears Home Services says worn dogs let the agitator top move both ways. It should ratchet one way only. Reaching them means removing the agitator, so know your model first.

The motor coupling: the link between motor and transmission

The coupling sits between the motor and the transmission. Paradise Appliance Service says wear or breakage can stop agitation. Asurion names the plastic tines or rubber disc of a direct drive coupling as the wear points. Home Depot's Whirlpool guide says to check the motor coupler on transmission models.

Drive belt, timer, motor and transmission

On belt drive washers, Asurion says a belt that moves more than about half an inch needs its mounting nut tightened. A cracked or worn belt gets replaced. A cracked or worn belt gets replaced. A timer or motor takes continuity tests with a meter. Home Depot's Whirlpool guide adds a clue. If the motor turns but the washer neither spins nor agitates, suspect the transmission.

Newer electronic models: lock, actuator and control board

The parts list changes on newer machines. Sears Home Services gives these failure shares for a Maytag that will not agitate:

• Electronic control board: 68 percent.
• Actuator: 12 percent.
• Door lock assembly: 11 percent.
• Something else: 9 percent.

On a newer model, a washer agitator not working may need meter readings, not a hand tool.

Safe checks you can do before you call

1. Unplug the washer and keep it unplugged for every step.
2. Open the lid and remove wet laundry. Look for socks, straps or small items at the agitator base.
3. Press the lid switch tab by hand and listen for a click.
4. Grip the agitator and check whether it is loose, cracked or wobbly.
5. Look at the base for a loose rubber piece or plastic fragment.
6. If your manual shows how, remove the cap, the softener dispenser and the bolt. Then lift the agitator and inspect the dogs.
7. Plug the washer in and close the lid. Run a short cycle to see if the agitator moves.

Never open the lid mid-cycle to watch the agitator. Never bypass a lid switch.

Signs you should stop and call a technician

• A burning smell or a motor that feels hot.
• A grinding sound from under the tub. Our loud washer guide maps it.
• The motor runs, yet the washer agitator not moving also means no spin.
• The lid switch clicks and the washer still will not agitate.
• Any step that needs a meter or live voltage.

Appliance Parts Pros warns that some Maytag test steps involve live power. They may not match your model. Skip those and phone (575) 266-8348.

What a technician checks, and how the cheap parts get ruled out

A technician rules out the simple causes first, then works inward. That means the lid switch, the agitator and its dogs, then the coupling and belt. Meter tests on the timer, motor or board come after that. A transmission comes last, after everything else is eliminated, as Asurion advises.

On a newer machine, the same process starts with the lock and the main control. You pay for answers, not guesses.

Repair or replace a washer that will not agitate

A top load washer not agitating is usually a small part, such as a switch, dogs, a coupling or a belt. Those are repairs. A bad transmission on an old machine is a closer call. Asurion says to consult an appliance expert once other parts are ruled out. Then you can weigh repair against replacement.

A fair technician says so plainly when the machine is not worth fixing.

Keep the agitator turning: pockets, loads and a calm lid

Check pockets and sleeves for items that wedge at the agitator base. Asurion lists a jammed object first. Keep loads inside the washer's rated capacity. Close the lid fully every time so the switch does its job.

When the agitator stays still, Washer Repair Las Cruces in Las Cruces NM can look at it

Washer Repair Las Cruces is a local appliance repair company serving Las Cruces NM. If the safe checks did not get it moving, our local washer repair page explains how a call works. A person answers at (575) 266-8348, and the estimate is free. Tell us the model number and what the washer does at fill, wash and drain.

Sources and further reading

• homedepot.com: 9ba683603be9fa5395fab901059fe712
• energystar.gov: Clothes washers
• archive.seattletimes.com: Washing machine safety scrutinized