LG Washing Machine "The door is open. Please close the door completely."

Eric_Newsome

Hi all, getting this error message on an LG washing machine. The handle has no "trigger" to open the latch so I assume the latch is purely electric. After pressing "start" for a wash, there is the sound of the latch trying to engage, twice in succession, then the error message appears. Pushing the door in the hope it closes more effectively has no effect, but I can't pull it open either. Have tried disconnecting power for 20 minutes, still can't open it.

Would be grateful for any ideas.

Jeepers_Creepers

Which model?

Almost certainly it's the sensor and/or locking mech that has gone faulty, but the pita might be that to get access to it, you first need to open the door... It might be possible to gain access from underneath, but this will mean turning the W/M on its side or even up upside down.

Anyhoo, first try manipulating the door even more. Do this with the power on but with no prog being set (on some W/Ms I understand you cannot open the door even if the power is turned off IF there is water still in it.) Gently but firmly push the door inwards, and then try pulling it open. Repeat - push in, and then thumb the back of the hand doing the pushing - a push-and-jolt approach.

Does your machine have a door 'release' button, or does it just 'unlock' when the prog is finished? If the former, then have someone pressing that whilst you do your pushes.

Failing that, contact LG by email - they surely must have a procedure for releasing the door/getting to this mech as it must be something they've anticipated happening...

Alanp

When I used to work on the commercial LG washers, there was a door release cable at the bottom where the filter is, not sure if domestics are the same but worth a look, you might have to undo a couple of screws to get to it ( assuming it has a filter door) , sounds like you need a door lock, fairly easy to do, you can access it by just peeling back the gasket near the door, but obviously, you have to get the door open first...

Eric_Newsome

It's a "DirectDrive 11kg F1443 KDS" 
Thanks for the suggestions will try tomorrow

Jeepers_Creepers

How old is it? It likely has a 2-year warranty, possibly more.

Jeepers_Creepers

Can't really find anything to do with the doors on these specific machines, only a general 'give the door a firm thump with the pad of your palm':

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYDtm11NTlM

or use a credit card!:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ha_rQo0SI4

Worth asking LG themselves - they have good chat options here: https://www.lg.com/uk/support/smart-diagnosis

Eric_Newsome

Thanks, out of warranty, I have emailed LG

Jeepers_Creepers

Please let us know how you get on. This builds up a useful store of answers for such problems :-)