Start a load on your top-load washer and hear the lid lock click over and over without the cycle ever beginning? A clicking lid lock is a common fault that stops the washer cold, since the machine will not run until it confirms the lid is locked.
Here is why the lid lock clicks and how to get your washer running again.
This article will teach you:
- Why the lid must lock to start
- What makes it click repeatedly
- How to check the lock and strike
- When the assembly has failed
Why the Lid Lock Keeps Clicking
Modern top-load washers lock the lid before spinning, and the machine listens for confirmation that the lock engaged. Repeated clicking usually means:
- A failing lid lock assembly that tries to latch but cannot confirm it locked.
- A worn or misaligned strike, the tab on the lid the lock grabs.
- Debris in the lock blocking the mechanism.
- A control board fault that keeps commanding the lock to retry.
What You’ll Need
- Your owner’s manual
- A screwdriver
- A multimeter
How to Fix a Clicking Lid Lock
Unplug the washer before inspecting the lock.
- Inspect the strike. Check the plastic tab on the lid that the lock catches; a broken or bent strike stops the lock from confirming.
- Clear debris. Look inside the lock opening for lint or a stray item jamming the mechanism.
- Watch the lock. Start a cycle and watch the lock try to engage; repeated clicking without latching points to the assembly.
- Test the assembly. With power off, check the lid lock assembly for continuity to confirm it has failed.
Pro Tip: A cheap, cracked strike tab is a common culprit that people overlook while blaming the lock motor. Inspect the tab on the lid first, since replacing it is far easier than the whole assembly.
When to Look a Little Deeper
Because the lock, the strike, and the control all play a part, it helps to isolate the failed piece, and stepping through a washer lid lock assembly replacement is the most direct fix. If the washer also struggles to run or spin, checking the washer drive belt or power cord rules out related faults.
If the lock or a related switch has failed, you can follow how to fix a lid that will not lock, or test and replace the lid switch.
When to Call a Pro
If the strike is intact and the lock assembly tests good but it still clicks, the control board may be misfiring the lock. A technician can confirm the board before you replace parts.
Wrapping Up
A clicking lid lock is usually the strike or the lock assembly. Here’s the recap:
- Inspect the lid strike tab first.
- Clear any debris in the lock.
- Watch the lock try to engage.
- Test the lock assembly for continuity.
Check the strike and lock, and your washer should start again. You’ve got this.