Sometimes, you may need to bypass the door lock on your Amana washing machine for various reasons.
For example, the door lock may be defective, broken, or jammed. Or you may want to run the washer without closing the lid. Or you may need to access the clothes inside the washer in an emergency.
Whatever the reason, there are some methods that you can use to bypass the door lock on your Amana washing machine safely and easily.
In this article, we will explain these methods in detail and also show you how to reset the door lock after bypassing it.
Understanding the Amana Washing Machine Door Lock
Before we get into the methods of bypassing the door lock, let’s first understand what the door lock is and how it works.
The door lock is a safety feature that prevents the washer from running when the lid or door is open. It also prevents you from opening the lid or door when the washer is running or when there is water inside the tub.
The door lock consists of a switch that detects whether the lid or door is closed or open and a solenoid that locks or unlocks the lid or door. The switch and the solenoid are connected by wires to the control board of the washer.
Some common problems that you may encounter with the door lock are:
- The switch may be faulty or damaged, causing the washer to not start or stop mid-cycle.
- The solenoid may be stuck or burned out, causing the lid or door to not lock or unlock properly.
- The wires may be loose or broken, causing a short circuit or a loss of power to the door lock.
If you face any of these problems, you may need to bypass the door lock temporarily until you can fix or replace it.
Methods for Bypassing the Amana Washing Machine Door Lock
There are three main methods that you can use to bypass the door lock on your Amana washing machine. These are:
- Use of the Control Lock Button
- Use of a Magnet
- Cutting and Joining of Lock Switch Wires
1. Use of the Control Lock Button
Some models of Amana washing machines have a control lock button that you can use to disable the door lock. This button is usually located on the control panel of the washer and has a symbol of a lock with a line through it.
To use this method, follow these steps:
- Unplug the washer from the power outlet.
- Press and hold the control lock button for 3 seconds or until you hear a beep sound.
- Plug the washer back into the power outlet.
- The door lock should be disabled and you should be able to open the lid or door.
To enable the door lock again, repeat the same steps.
2. Use of a Magnet
Another method that you can use to bypass the door lock is to use a magnet to trick the switch into thinking that the lid or door is closed. This method works for models that have a magnetic switch that is activated by a magnet on the lid or door.
To use this method, follow these steps:
- Unplug the washer from the power outlet.
- Locate the switch on the washer frame. It is usually near the hinge of the lid or door.
- Find a strong magnet that can fit on the switch. You can use a refrigerator magnet or a neodymium magnet for this purpose.
- Place the magnet on the switch and make sure it sticks firmly.
- Plug the washer back into the power outlet.
- The door lock should be bypassed and you should be able to run the washer without closing the lid or door.
To remove the magnet, simply pull it off from the switch.
3. Cutting and Joining of Lock Switch Wires
The third method that you can use to bypass the door lock is to cut and join the wires that connect the switch to the control board. This method works for models that have a mechanical switch that is operated by a lever on the lid or door.
To use this method, follow these steps:
- Unplug the washer from the power outlet.
- Remove the back panel of the washer by unscrewing or snapping off the tabs that hold it in place.
- Locate the connector that connects the switch to the control board. It is usually a white plastic piece with three wires: red, white, and blue.
- Cut off the connector and strip off about half an inch of insulation from the ends of the wires.
- Join the red and blue wires together by twisting them or using a wire nut. Leave the white wire alone.
- Wrap the exposed wires with electrical tape to prevent them from touching each other or any metal parts.
- Replace the back panel of the washer and secure it with screws or tabs.
- Plug the washer back into the power outlet.
- The door lock should be bypassed and you should be able to run the washer without closing the lid or door.
To restore the door lock, you will need to reconnect the connector or replace it with a new one.
How to Safely Reset the Amana Washing Machine Door Lock?
After you have bypassed the door lock and finished using the washer, you may want to reset the door lock to its normal function. This is important for your safety and for the proper operation of the washer.
There are two ways that you can reset the door lock on your Amana washing machine. These are:
- Resetting the Door Lock Using the End or Signal Cycle Button
- Turning off and Unplugging the Machine
1. Resetting the Door Lock Using the End or Signal Cycle Button
Some models of Amana washing machines have an end or signal cycle button that you can use to reset the door lock. This button is usually located on the control panel of the washer and has a symbol of a bell or a musical note.
To use this method, follow these steps:
- Press and hold the end or signal cycle button for 3 seconds or until you hear a beep sound.
- The door lock should be reset and you should be able to lock or unlock the lid or door normally.
2. Turning off and Unplugging the Machine
Another way that you can reset the door lock is to turn it off and unplug the washer from the power outlet. This will reset the control board and clear any errors or glitches that may have affected the door lock.
To use this method, follow these steps:
- Turn off the washer by pressing the power button or turning the knob to the off position.
- Unplug the washer from the power outlet and wait for at least 10 minutes.
- Plug the washer back into the power outlet and turn it on.
- The door lock should be reset and you should be able to lock or unlock the lid or door normally.
Conclusion
In this article, we have explained how to bypass the door lock on an Amana washing machine using three different methods: the control lock button, a magnet, and the cutting and joining of lock switch wires.
We have also shown you how to reset the door lock after bypassing it using two different methods: the end or signal cycle button and turning off and unplugging the machine.
