Washer Doesn't Agitate

Before you make the phone call for help, try these tips:

1) Verify a circuit breaker isn't tripped

2) Advance the timer control dial slowly 360 degrees-

• If the washer starts spinning, then we know the motor and drive belt are fine but that there is something wrong with either the timer control dial or the agitator solenoid. Call in a professional for this.

• If the washer doesn't budge, then verify that the drive belt(s) is attached and not broken by removing the back panel. If the belt is broken, replace it. If it is loose, then tighten it by loosening up the bolt holding the motor and moving it on its swingarm (much like a car alternator) until there is a 1/2 to 3/4 inch deflection in the belt.
  Some washers use reversing motors. It's possible the motor works on the spin cycle but not on the wash cycle. If so, call a pro.

3) Visually inspect the lid safety switch- Is it loose or cracked? If so, the washer might work intermittently, stopping at different cycles.

4) Check motor and drive belt- Remove the main access panel (usually in the back). Is the motor spinning, but the drive belt isn't? If so, then you have a drive belt problem. Go here.
If the motor isn't spinning, then go here for washer motor troubleshooting.

If none of these tips resolve the problem, then there's probably a more serious problem with either the motor, the transmission or the agitator itself. If this is is the case, call in a pro.

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Add to: Comments (19) agitation failure My Whirlpool won't agitate, actually it "buzzes" at me when it goes to that cycle. It fills fine, but won't empty without the buzzing. The machine is 15 yrs. old. Is there anything I can do or do I have to buy a new washer? #19 - Lauren - 08/30/2010 - 05:32 Kenmore spins, but will not fill or agitate!!! HELP!!! #18 - Reinheimer - 08/02/2010 - 11:27 Dial won't work My dial on the GE Select washer must be manually turned to every cycle after it wash. How can I fix it? #17 - franki - 07/21/2010 - 09:39 My GE washer just won't agitate, it does everything else. what do I do? #16 - Renee - 06/15/2010 - 19:30 GE TOP LOAD WASHER DOES ALL BUT AGITATE. HOW DO I KNOW IF IT\'S THE AGITATOR DOGS OR THE TIMER. I WAS TOLD IT COULD BE EITHER #15 - TERESA - 06/15/2010 - 16:54 My ge top load suddenly wont fill or agitate. Will fill on rinse cycle just wont do anything on wsh cycle. any ideas #14 - Anna - 05/19/2010 - 16:38 agitator problem I need help. I have a kenmore model # 20632990 super capacity 2 speed motor. It worked fine the other day and it is 10 year old but out of warranty. It turns on fine, fills with water, but very slowly it agitates with weird sound. Once it\\\'s time to rinse it releases the water, refills and fails to spin. Please advice..better to buy a new washer or get professional help #13 - anjala - 04/26/2010 - 08:04 My washer wont agitate. I understand it could be Dog cluches but i checked them already and they are fine. Not sure what is the issue it spins and all only thin it does not agitatek WIll appreciate your help. Pls resond to jainajitk@gmail.com #12 - Ajit Jain - 04/26/2010 - 00:44 washing machine washer fills up and then it doesn't agitate and makes a noise like it is stuck. #11 - kelly - 03/27/2010 - 14:53 hello Hey guys i have a maytag washing machine . the dial know doesnt work on its main wash but it will work on the other dials. I looked inside and all the electrical work looks in tac, So i can only think that the computer that sets the dialer into th wash went bad the teeth look good as well. Thanks for your help guys #10 - Kostantinos N Katsilis - 03/09/2010 - 19:29 Washer will not agitate My washer is not agitating... It will fill up with water, and release the water... it will not agitate... What could be the problem??? Help.. Thank you, S. Larke #9 - Shirley Larke - 02/19/2010 - 13:54 HELP!!! washer won't spin or agitate I need help. I have a GE Super Capacity ,8 cycle washer, model # WCSR208B0WW. It worked fine the other day and it is only 1 1/2 old but out of warranty. It turns on fine, fills with water, but fails to agitate. Once it's time to rinse it releases the water, refills and fails to spin. Sometimes I can hear a faint noise but sometimes I can't. I opened the front panel and everything looked shiny and new. The hose is intact and doesn't appear loose or worn. All the bolts are in place along with wires and connections. I took a look a the electrical panel ad it looked fine. Of course I'm no electrician, just a single mom. I'm not sure about fuses, I can't tell where they are even with the manual. I don't want to have to call a service tech nor spend the money on a new machine if I don't have to. If someone could please give me some sound advice as to what to do to fix this problem. Thank you. #8 - cj - 01/20/2010 - 21:16 Don't forget to check the fuse! "If the washer starts spinning, then we know the motor and drive belt are fine but that there is something wrong with either the timer control dial or the agitator solenoid. Call in a professional for this." I had these symptoms and was about to mess with the dial and solenoid but found it was a little 1A 250V fuse. Popped over to Walmart and got a fuse !@#$$ortment with one in there. That fixed it right up! #7 - The Margret - 12/23/2009 - 22:00 once i read works like a car altenator ,it was fixed in 5 minutes ! thanks #6 - trob - 12/19/2009 - 17:37 Agitator on Apartment Sized Kenmore Wasger you saved me a service call and 4 days waiting time for a repair man snipped the water level/air hose, slid them back on and voila, agitator works! $200 used for the pair, $750 plus tax in the store. #5 - Brady - 08/29/2009 - 17:01 Frustrated guy I bought an inepensive moffat (mabe GE) washer a year a half ago, and now it often won't start agitating. It makes a nois like it is trying, three or four times, then stops trying. Sometimes it works. I don't want a repair person, because that will cost as much as a new machine I bet. I am tempted to purchase a new machine, but that is a terrible waste of resources. Thoughts on fixing? I am pretty handy and understand electricity. #4 - Stephen - 05/14/2009 - 17:23 It could be the agitator dog clutches If you can hear the motor running, and the water is moving a little bit, but not like normal where the clothes are being worked around you might just have worn out agitator dogs. This is a really easy 15 minute do it yourself fix, and the parts are less than $10 and widely available. Here is a how to article - http://zenfixit.com/repairs/appliance-repair/washing-machine-agitator-clutch-repair/ #3 - David LaFerney - 01/15/2009 - 09:32 washing machine issues can a faulty capacitor cause a machine to not agitate? #2 - reuben - 03/18/2008 - 19:21 :-D Thanks for the "quick fix" support. Now I need to figure out how to find and replace the agitator solenoid. #1 - Lori Lamb - 12/08/2007 - 22:05 Name E-mail (Will not appear online) Title Comment To prevent automated Bots form spamming, please enter the text you see in the image below in the appropriate input box. 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