Washing Machine Has No Power? No Lights? 5 Things To Check

When you have dirty clothes that need to be washed, you have a big problem when your washing machine has no power and no lights.

In most cases, this is an easy problem to troubleshoot by yourself without calling a repairman. How you fix the washer will depend on what the problem is.

The following guide will explain the most common reasons and how to fix them.

Problems With the Circuit – Washing Machine Has No Power, No Lights

1. Power Cord Unplugged or loose

Before you begin to panic, the first thing you should check is the power supply. Sometimes the cord can get moved and dislodged from the wall a bit.

This may seem too obvious, but sometimes the power cord is not completely plugged in, even though it appears to be. Make sure it is firmly and fully inserted into the receptacle outlet.

2. Tripped Circuit Breaker

Next, check the power circuit breaker that controls your washer.

To do this, you’ll simply locate the main breaker panel for your home, and find the breaker that controls your washer. In most cases, the electrical panel will be located in the garage.

If your panel breakers are not labeled clearly and accurately, it may take some trial and error to find the correct breaker for the washer.

You should be able to tell by just looking at it if it has been tripped. The breaker handle will either be in the OFF position, or midway between ON and OFF. On many breakers, a red or orange color will indicate a tripped breaker, as in the image above. Flip the handle fully off… and then back on.

Even if it is already in the ON position, it’s a good idea to go ahead and flip it fully off and back on again. This may help reset the washer and allow it to power up.

3. Tripped GFCI

Once you’ve checked the cord and the breaker, you’ll want to find out if the washer outlet has power. Plug another appliance into the outlet to test it. A lamp or small kitchen appliance works well for this. If it has power, move on to step #4.

If the outlet has no power, see if the washer is plugged into a circuit that is protected by a GFCI (Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter). Ever since 2014, washers have been required by the National Electrical Code to have GFCI protection. If your house is older, your washer may not have this extra protection.

GFCI protection can happen in a few different places: a receptacle, the breaker, or a dead front device. If it’s at the breaker, resetting it (in step #2) will have already ruled out the issue. So the next likely place would be at a receptacle.

First, check the outlet that the washer is plugged into. If you see two buttons (Reset and Test), that is a GFCI receptacle. Press the reset button firmly in. Usually, you will hear and feel a click when it resets. Check for power again.

If the washer outlet is not a GFCI outlet, there could be another outlet ‘upstream’ that controls the washer outlet. If this is the case, that other outlet will probably be in the laundry room – perhaps by the laundry sink.

If you can’t find a GFCI outlet in the laundry room, check in nearby rooms (especially the garage). If your house has had any substantial remodeling, the GFCI could be located in an unusual and non-intuitive place.

A dead front device is quite rare and is very unlikely to be your issue, so we won’t go into that in this article.

If you still have no power, you may want to call a professional to check out your circuit. If you do have power at the outlet, proceed to step #4.

Problems With The Washing Machine Itself – No Power

1. A Fuse on the Main Control Board is Blown

A blown fuse is a common issue for Samsung, Whirlpool, and LG models. It generally happens following electrical power surges.

To check this problem you’ll have to access the main control board. Here’s the easiest way to do that:

1. Unplug the machine from the wall to give you access to the back of it.
2. You may also need to close and remove the water supply hoses to pull it out enough to reach the back.
3. Remove all screws holding the metal plate in place on the back of the washing machine.
4. Keep in mind that some machines (especially Samsung) have two memory boards. If this is the case, look for the smaller one with a fuse on it.
5. Locate the fuse. It may not be see-through allowing you to easily see if it’s blown.
6. You’ll need to use a multimeter to check for continuity in the fuse.
7. If you find it has none, replace the fuse.
8. If your fuse was good, it’s time to check the main control board itself.

Related: Washer Error Code

2. Main Control Board Malfunction

As we mentioned, if you checked the fuse and it was good, you may have a main control board that’s bad.

You’ll access the main control board the same way we did above. Here are the steps:

1. Unplug the machine and pull it out enough so you can access the back panel.
2. Depending on how much space you have it may be necessary to shut-off the water supply and disconnect the water hoses.
3. Locate and remove all screws holding the back access panel in place.
4. Some machines have two control boards. One is a power supply board and the other is the main control board.
5. Visually inspect the board(s) for visible damage such as burn marks.
6. If you find no signs of damage, plug the washer back in to test for power to the board(s).
7. BE CAREFUL as making the wrong move can result in electric shock when dealing with high voltage appliances.
8. Look at the main board, is there an LED light indicating it’s getting power?
9. Check the voltage coming into the main board. You’ll want to use the owner’s manual for your specific model to complete this step.
10. Also, check that the voltage coming out of the board is correct. Again, you’ll need to refer to the owner’s manual to complete this step.
11. If you find that the voltage is not correct on tests #9 and #10 above, you’ll need to purchase a main control board and replace it.

Read: Maytag Washer Control Panel Problems

3. User Interface Board Malfunction

If you’ve checked your fuse and main control board, the user interface board may have malfunctioned. This is the control board that’s behind your washing machine control buttons.

Here’s how to troubleshoot this problem.

1. Disconnect the power cord for your machine.
2. You may also want to close the water supply valves.
3. You’ll have to determine how to reach the user interface board on your specific washer model.
4. On some LG machines, you do this by removing the knob and then opening the door of the machine. You’ll then find this board located behind an access panel on the top inside of the door.
5. On other models you may need to remove the top of the washer to access the board.
6. Once you’ve located the board, go ahead and visually inspect it for signs of damage such as burn marks.
7. If there is no visible damage present, you’ll need to test that the board is getting power.
8. If you determine the board is faulty, you’ll need to simply swap it out with a new one.

Related: Washing Machine Won’t Spin

4. Blown Noise Filter Assembly

A blown noise filter assembly can also cause your washing machine to show no lights or signs of power. This is especially true for LG washers.

This part helps reduce electromagnetic noise created by the machine.

The good news is that this is an easy repair that shouldn’t take you long.

Here’s the step-by-step process you’ll need to follow:

1. As usual, you’ll need to unplug the washer from the wall to prevent injury.
2. Turn off the water supply to the machine.
3. Access the back of the machine, and begin by removing the top of the washer.
4. With the top removed, locate the noise filter assembly inside. It should be somewhere on the side of the machine, near the back.
5. Using a screwdriver, remove the screw so you can take the old part off the machine.
6. Press the locking tabs to disconnect the two wiring harness plugs.
7. Connect the two wiring harnesses to the new noise filter assembly.
8. Reattach to the side of the machine and reassemble the washer.

The issues discussed above are the most common reasons a washing machine will have no power or lights.

Did you have this problem with your washer? What type of machine do you have, and what was the final fix? Comment below and let us know!

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