When your washer’s control panel doesn’t work, it can’t do the one thing it’s meant to do—wash your clothes. With a mountain of laundry waiting, it can be tempting to keep tapping away at the buttons, hoping they magically get fixed, but they never do.
Not to worry, there are a few quick fixes that you can handle on your own. Some might be more intimidating to perform, but are totally worth the effort, especially if you can save hundreds of dollars in service fees.
Here, we’ll help you figure out why your Maytag washer’s control panel won’t work. We’ll also walk you through all the steps to fix it.
Why is my Maytag washer control panel not working?
A Maytag washer control panel that isn’t working might just be locked. The Control Lock function, also called Child Lock, could be activated, preventing unintentional changes to the settings.
If the indicator lights don’t light up, the UI control panel or main control board could be defective.
Before making any repairs, here are a few steps that might help you troubleshoot your washer.
- Confirm that the washer is connected to power.
Perhaps you just forgot to plug the washer into the outlet, which does happen even to the best of us. So, check if it’s plugged in and on.
- Reset the washer.
Power interruptions can cause the washer to malfunction. Most of the time it can be resolved by resetting the washer.
You can either unplug the power cord or turn it off at the circuit breaker. Give it a few minutes to reset, then reconnect it to power.
- Wipe the control panel.
Use a damp cloth to wipe the control panel thoroughly before wiping it dry with a clean cloth. Often, dust and grime build up on the buttons, preventing them from responding to your touch.
If none of these worked, you might want to look into other possible causes like component failure. Just keep reading our guide to learn more about them.
How to Fix a Maytag Washer Control Panel That Isn’t Working
If a Maytag washer’s control panel lights up but doesn’t work, check if the Control Lock is on. Press and hold down the Control Lock button for three seconds to deactivate it.
However, if the panel isn’t lit, do a continuity test. Then, replace the component with a new one if it lacks continuity.
Here’s a quick overview of the potential causes of a non-responsive control panel and easy-to-follow solutions that’ll get them fixed.
Causes | Solutions |
Activated Control Lock | Press and hold down the Control Lock button for three seconds. The display should start counting down from three and then display the Loc or LC code. If the countdown doesn’t start, press the Power button first to turn off the appliance. Then, turn it back on and push the Control Lock for three seconds. If the washer won’t start, reset it by unplugging its power cord or turning off the power at the circuit breaker. After a minute or two, restore power to the washer. Press and hold down the Control Lock button for three seconds. |
Faulty User Interface Control Panel | Unplug the power cord, and turn off the water supply to the washer. Disconnect the hot and cold inlet hoses. Then, unplug the drain hose. Carefully move the washer away from the wall to access the back panel. Use a ¼” nut driver to unfasten the screws on the small metal plate behind the washer, then set them aside. After, remove the remaining screws on the UI panel. Tape the lid shut to the main top. Pull the washer’s main top toward the front. Gently lift it, push it back, and raise it. Use Channellock pliers to squeeze the clips on both sides of the washer to release the UI panel. Lift the UI panel and unplug the wires that connect it to the control board. Get your new UI panel. Plug in the wire harnesses to the panel and the control board. Install the new panel on the washer’s main top. Reattach the screws to secure the panel. Reconnect all the hoses, and turn on the water supply. Plug the power cord, and turn on the washer. Finally, run a test cycle to check if it responds to your commands. |
Faulty Control Board | Disconnect your washer from its power source. Turn off the water supply, then disconnect both inlet hoses. Carefully pull the washer away from the wall to access the back panel. Unfasten the bolts mounting the panel using a ¼” nut driver. Pry the front control panel housing open with a flathead screwdriver. Then, unplug the wire harness and set the control panel aside. Take a photo of the wires connected to the main control board. Refer to it during the reassembly process. Pull out the switch wire connectors and power wire on the control board. Next, remove the bracket and retainer using a flathead screwdriver. Disconnect the air pressure tube. Remove the screws securing the control board using a ¼” nut driver. Next, detach the center knob and remove the control board. Get your new control board, and transfer the wire retaining bracket from the old assembly to the new one. Align the control board with the slots on the panel. Reinstall the screws securing the board, and reattach the control knob. Use your reference photo to reconnect all the wires to the correct terminals on the control board. Secure the wires on the bracket and retainer. Then, reattach the air pressure tube. Align the control panel with the rear panel, and push down until it snaps into place. After, reinstall the screws on the panel to keep it secure. Reconnect all the hoses. Turn on the water supply and restore power to the washer. |
Activated Control Lock
The Control Lock function automatically locks the washer’s control panel, preventing curious hands (or paws) from making accidental changes to the settings.
If it is activated, then the good news is that there’s nothing wrong with your washer! All you have to do is disengage the function to get the control panel to respond to your touch again.
Solution: To turn off the Control Lock function on a Maytag washer, follow these steps:
- Step 1: Press and hold the Control Lock button for 3 seconds. A countdown timer should appear on the washer’s display once the button has been engaged.
- Step 2: If the timer doesn’t appear, click on the Power button to turn off the washer. Click it again to turn on the appliance, then repeat Step 1.
- Step 3: If the washer still won’t start, reset it by unplugging its power cord or turning off the power at the circuit breaker.
After a minute or two, restore power to the washer. Repeat Step 1.
- Step 4: Once unlocked, push the Start button to pause the cycle, or press the power button to turn off the washer.
Faulty User Interface Control Panel
Is your control panel not lighting up? It’s probably defective, which means you can no longer repair the faulty component, but you can replace it to get your washer back up and running.
Depending on your model, the cost of a new user interface control panel can range from $100 to over $300. You can perform the repair yourself to save hundreds of dollars in service fees.
However, if your washer is at least a decade old, you might as well get a new one because it will only cost as much as the replacement component.
What you’ll need:
- Tape
- ¼” nut driver
- Multimeter
- Channellock pliers
- New UI Panel
Solution: First, isolate the Maytag washer’s control panel from the washer and test it for continuity using a multimeter. If it lacks continuity, follow the steps below to replace the component with a new one.
- Step 1: Unplug the power cord and turn off the water supply to the washer.
- Step 2: Disconnect the drain and inlet hoses.
- Step 3: Carefully move the washer away from the wall to access the back panel.
- Step 4: Use a ¼” nut driver to remove the bolts on the small metal plate behind the washer. Then, set it aside.
- Step 5: Unfasten the remaining screws on the UI panel.
- Step 6: Tape the lid shut to the main top.
- Step 7: Pull the washer’s main top toward the front. Gently lift then push it back before raising it up.
- Step 8: Use Channellock pliers to squeeze the clips on both sides of the washer to release the UI panel.
- Step 9: Lift up the UI panel. Unplug the wire connectors from the panel to the main control board.
- Step 10: Flip the UI panel over and inspect the area around the terminal for dirt. If needed, gently wipe it clean using a cotton swab dipped in alcohol.
Reconnect the wires to check if the panel lights up and turns on. If the panel doesn’t light up, you most likely need a replacement.
Another way to confirm that it is damaged is through a continuity test.
- Step 11: Get your multimeter and select the lowest setting for ohms of resistance.
- Step 12: Touch each probe to a terminal on the connector. Then, repeat the step for the other connector.
If the multimeter shows no change, the UI panel lacks continuity and requires replacement.
To replace a defective user interface panel on a Maytag washer, follow these steps:
- Step 1: Unplug the power cord and turn off the water supply to the washer.
- Step 2: Disconnect the hot and cold inlet hoses. Then, unplug the drain hose.
- Step 3: Carefully move the washer away from the wall to access the back panel.
- Step 4: Use a ¼” nut driver to unfasten the screws on the small metal plate behind the washer. Then, set them aside.
- Step 5: Remove the remaining screws on the UI panel.
- Step 6: Tape the lid shut to the main top.
- Step 7: Pull the washer’s main top toward the front. Gently lift it, push it back, and raise it.
- Step 8: Use Channellock pliers to squeeze the clips on both sides of the washer to release the UI panel.
- Step 9: Lift the UI panel and unplug the wires that connect it to the control board.
- Step 10: Get your new UI panel. Plug in the wire harnesses to the panel and the control board.
- Step 11: Install the new panel on the washer’s main top.
- Step 12: Reattach the screws to secure the panel.
- Step 13: Reconnect all the hoses and turn on the water supply.
- Step 14:. Plug the power cord and turn on the washer.
- Step 15: Run a test cycle to check if it responds to your commands.
Faulty Control Board
If the control panel isn’t defective, you’re most likely dealing with a damaged main control board.
This component functions as the brain of the washing machine, which oversees a wide range of functions like spinning, draining, and filling. It can also make your control panel unresponsive to your inputs.
The best way to verify damage is through a continuity check. Once the component is non-functional, it can’t be repaired, but it can be replaced with a new one.
Take note that a control board can easily cost hundreds of dollars. If you have an older model, you might want to consider buying a new washer instead of spending a lot of money to replace the component.
What you’ll need:
- Pliers
- Multimeter
- ¼” nut driver
- Flathead screwdriver
- New main control board
Solutions: To confirm a faulty control board, use a multimeter to check for continuity. If there is no continuity, it is defective and needs a replacement.
- Step 1: Unplug the power cord and turn off the water supply to the washer.
- Step 2: Disconnect the drain and inlet hoses from the washer.
- Step 3: Carefully move the washer away from the wall to access the back panel.
- Step 4: Use a ¼” nut driver to unfasten the bolts on the panel.
- Step 5: Pry open the front control panel housing using a flathead screwdriver
- Step 6: Disconnect the wire harness and set the control panel aside.
- Step 7: Detach the switch wire connectors on the control board, including the power wire. Use a flathead screwdriver to release the bracket and retainer.
- Step 8: Disconnect the air pressure tube.
- Step 9: Unfasten the screws mounting the control board using a ¼” nut driver.
- Step 10: Pull out the washer’s center knob, then remove the control board.
- Step 11: Inspect the control board for burn marks and discoloration. If present, these are clear indications of damage.
- Step 12: Use a multimeter to check for continuity.
- Step 13: Rotate the dial to the Continuity Test mode. Then, place the prongs on each side of the control board’s fuse.
If you hear a beep, the fuse is good and the control board is functioning well. However, if you hear nothing, your control board needs a replacement.
To replace a Maytag top-load washer’s main control board, follow these steps:
- Step 1: Unplug the power cord and turn off the water supply to the washer.
- Step 2: Disconnect the drain and inlet hoses from the washer.
- Step 3: Carefully pull the washer away from the wall to access the back panel.
- Step 4: Unfasten the bolts mounting the panel using a ¼” nut driver.
- Step 5: Pry the front control panel housing open with a flathead screwdriver.
- Step 6: Unplug the wire harness and set the control panel aside.
- Step 7: Take a photo of the wires connected to the main control board. Refer to it during the reassembly process.
- Step 8: Pull out the switch wire connectors and power wire on the control board. Next, remove the bracket and retainer using a flathead screwdriver.
- Step 9: Disconnect the air pressure tube.
- Step 10: Remove the screws securing the control board using a ¼” nut driver.
- Step 11: Detach the center knob and remove the control board.
- Step 12: Get your new control board, and transfer the wire retaining bracket from the old assembly to the new one.
- Step 13: Align the control board with the slots on the panel.
- Step 14: Reinstall the screws securing the board and reattach the control knob.
- Step 15: Use your reference photo to reconnect all the wires to the correct terminals on the control board.
- Step 16: Secure the wires on the bracket and retainer. Then, reattach the air pressure tube.
- Step 17: Align the control panel with the rear panel and push down until it snaps into place.
- Step 18: Reinstall the screws on the rear panel.
- Step 19: Reconnect all the hoses.
- Step 20: Turn on the water supply and restore power to the washer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What precautions should be taken while fixing a washing machine?
Before performing any repairs, always unplug the washing machine or turn it off at the circuit breaker to prevent electrical shocks.
If you are disassembling the unit to isolate components, close the water supply to the washer and disconnect the hoses to prevent leaks. You should also wear gloves to protect your hands from getting scratched by sharp parts.
When do you call a professional to fix a Maytag washer?
Troubleshooting a Maytag washing machine is easier than you think, but repairs can still be intimidating when you have to disassemble parts. You can opt to call repair services if it is too overwhelming but be prepared for the costs.
If the damage is covered by the warranty, you should call Maytag because you might be entitled to free professional repairs.