Door Lock Or Interlock
The door lock (also called the interlock) is a safety device employed on Amana front load washing machines and some Amana top-load washers. It stops the door or lid from being opened when the machine is running. The system is comprised of an opening catch that is mounted on the door and an internal door lock that sits at the rear of the door shroud/front panel or the top of the main. The lock mechanism consists of switches, and typically an unlock/lock or a solenoid of the wax motor. The washer control activates the lock solenoid/waxmotor in order to stop the lid or door from opening after the cycle starts. The control will either turn on the door unlock solenoid/wax motor or turn it off at the end of the cycle. The activation or deactivation of the wax motor solenoid generally takes around an hour. If the lid and door will not open at the end of the cycle the lock mechanism may be at fault. The majority of Amana washers come with an unlocking manual lever to open the mechanism, allowing you to unlock the door or the lid. You can usually find the release located at the door’s bottom lock or, on certain models in the soap dispenser’s housing.
- Disconnect the Amana washer’s power source prior to you begin.
- Locate and clean your door lock , removing any dirt or film that may have accumulated. It is located under the lid, within the frame of the washing machine.
- If washing it doesn’t fix the issue, you can remove the door lock from the Amana washing machine to examine it for damage, cracks or wear. If you want to take the switch off, you’ll need remove the entire or just a section of the cabinet.
- You’ll need to replace the switch if it exhibits any of the following symptoms.
Door Strike & Catch & Hook
The door strike (also called the hook, catch or catch) is a safety device that’s installed on front-loading Amana washers. It also acts as a lid switch for top-load washers. On Amana front load washers the door hook is utilized to engage the locking mechanism. If the door hook becomes damaged, it will not be able to activate the door lock assembly or it might not disengage quickly from the mechanism at the close of the cycle. The door’s hook is made from tough plastic, and may break when used in normal usage and abuse, or if someone has tried to open the door with pressure while the lock is activated. What is the best way to examine the door strike on an Amana washing machine:
- This is an easy inspection; no tools or disassembly is required.
- Locate your door strike. It is located in the door frame of your Amana washer.
- Visually examine the strike to make sure it connects to the door lock assembly appropriately and releases without issue. Also, examine the strike for indications of wear, cracks or damage.
- You will need a replacement Amana door strike if you discover any issues during these checks.
Lid Hinge & Pin
On top-loading Amana washing machines, there will be two hinges that attach the lid to the main top. The hinges are made of metal or plastic, and can eventually wear down due to regular use. If you’re experiencing difficulty opening the lid then the hinges may be the problem. How to inspect the lid hinge & pin on Amana washing machine:
- As you will be exposing electrical components as a part of this inspection, ensure that you unplug your Amana washer prior to starting.
- Start by lifting the lid. Next, look over the hinges and pins for wear, cracks or dirt.
- Remove or lift the top of the main lid in order to look at all sides of the hinges and pins.
- If you notice any issues when performing the tests above it is time to get the Amana replacement hinges on the lid..