In terms of washer problems, you might expect that someday your washer just won’t turn on and you will need to fix it. However, what you don’t expect is for your washer to turn on just fine, only to get to a cycle and just keep running that cycle until infinity. If you have waited for hours for your washer to finish only to find it still running on the same cycle, action needs to be taken. Not only to save your clothes from excess wear but to save your washer from excess wear as well.

What Happens When Your Washer Sticks on One Cycle?

If you have found that your washer won’t move on from any cycle, be it the wash, rinse, or spin cycle, then what you have is a problem with your timer. Unlike other appliances, a washer doesn’t sense when your clothes are clean, it runs each cycle on a pre-set timer. Once the timer for that set cycle is finished, it signals the washer to move onto the next cycle. However, if the timer has failed, it won’t send those signals out. As such, the cycle will run indefinitely on only one cycle. You may be able to bypass this by manually moving the timer to the next cycle, but it is still an issue that you want to address sooner rather than later especially from a safety standpoint.

How to Replace the Timer In Your Washer

Unlike some other repairs, replacing the timer in your washer is not as complicated as other repairs. In fact, you only really need to disassemble the control panel, which isn’t as complicated as you might expect.

Before you begin the repair, you will want to disconnect your washer from both the water and the power source for your safety. You may also want to pull out your washer so that you can have some room to maneuver around it. Although you are only taking off the control panel, you will still need some space to make sure you can reach every screw. These instructions can vary by model.

In many models, to access the timer, you simply need to remove three screws on the top of the control panel, lift that face of the panel up to disconnect the locking tabs and lay it forward. However, this is only true on top-load washers. If you have a front-load model, you will need to remove the top panel via screws found in the back. If neither of these options seems to fit your specific make and model of the washer, consult your owner’s manual for instructions.

Once you have access to the control panel, you will need to remove the cycle knob in order to reach and remove the timer. In some models, you can pull the knob right off. In others, you need to push the knob in and twist it counterclockwise to unscrew it. You will also need to remove the indicator cover behind the knob as well. When that is done, all that will be left is a metal prong that is attached to the timer behind the knob.

To remove the timer, you need to access the back of the control panel and unscrew the screws that secure the timer to it. With the knobs and the indicator cover removed, only the screws and the wire harness need to be removed to remove the timer box located behind the knob. You will need to replace the whole box. Be sure to order a timer specifically made for your make and model of washer. This part is not a one size fits all affair and ordering a timer randomly may result in it not functioning properly.