If the Amana NTW4516 will not run or fill, or the Wash light stays on (which the guide says means the washer was unable to fill appropriately), check the water supply first: both hoses attached and both faucets on, inlet valve screens not clogged, no kinks in the inlet hoses. Then check the power: a grounded three-prong outlet, no extension cord, breaker reset, fuse replaced. Amana's Product Help adds that these washers use less water than older ones, that most cycles use a spray rinse, and that Deep Water Wash and the Bulky cycle fill more slowly.
Differential
Likely causes of “Amana NTW4516 top-load washer will not fill with water or fills too slowly”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
Faucets off or hoses kinked
What separates it The washer hums but no water arrives because the faucets are off or the hoses are kinked
How to confirm Turn on both faucets and straighten the hoses
- 2
Clogged inlet valve screens
What separates it The fill is slow and the Wash light stays on because the inlet valve screens are clogged
How to confirm Clean the screens at the hose ends and valve
- 3
Anti-flood devices on the hoses
What separates it The valve opens but the flow stops because of anti flood devices on the hoses
How to confirm Connect the hoses directly; Amana recommends direct connection
- 4
A cycle that uses less water by design
What separates it The tub looks nearly empty because the cycle uses less water by design
How to confirm Compare with Bulky or Deep Water Wash, which fill more
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Whether the Wash light stays on
- Which faucets are on and whether hoses are kinked
- The Water Level setting and cycle used
Try in this order
0 of 5 completedCheck the hoses
ReversibleBoth hoses attached and water flowing to the inlet valve, both faucets on, no kinks.
Clean the screens
ReversibleClean the screens, and check that the inlet valve screens are not clogged, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Check the power
ReversibleCheck the power, using a grounded outlet, with no extension cord, and the breaker and fuse in order.
Understand the cycle
ReversibleUnderstand the cycle, since most cycles use a spray rinse, and Bulky or Deep Water Wash fills longer.
Restart
ReversibleRestart the washer, by closing the lid, and pressing Start, Stop, Pause or Unlock Lid, to complete the cycle.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Both hoses, both faucets
- For the NTW4516 to fill, both hoses must be attached to the washer and the faucets and have water flowing to the inlet valve, and both hot and cold faucets must be on. If hoses were reversed, the washer can rinse or wash at the wrong temperature; the inlet valve screens are the other usual cause of a slow fill.
- Sensing before the fill
- When you press Start/Stop/Pause/Unlock Lid with the Water Level knob on Auto Sensing, the washer fills and begins sensing to determine load size and balance, then fills to the level for the detected load and begins the wash. Certain cycles agitate during the fill to boost cleaning, so a pause of several seconds between agitations is part of that design and does not mean the fill has stalled.
- Parts for this problem on the NTW4516 (RepairClinic, 2026-09-21)
- water inlet valve, part number W11210459, at $66.77; package of two 5-foot-long industrial braid hose, part number 8212487RP, at $44.22.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit the NFW5800 front-load washer.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If the Wash light stays on after cleaning the screens and confirming supply, call Amana service
- !If hoses leak or hammer, shut water off and call a plumber
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Amana's own table of top-load washer codes and resolutions.
Amana's own symptom articles for top-load washers, each.
A dealer listing giving the NTW4516FW's capacity, cabinet size and feature list.
Parts and list prices as shown on RepairClinic's parts search for this model number on 2026-09-21.
Exact questions
Common questions
Why does the tub look empty in the rinse?+
Select cycles default to a spray rinse.
What if the lid was open?+
If the lid is open and filling stops, close it and press Start/Stop/Pause/Unlock Lid.
Should I use anti-flood devices?+
Amana recommends a direct connection, so do not use anti flood devices on the hoses.
How long can Bulky take to fill?+
Up to 10 to 12 minutes.
Does Deep Water Wash lengthen the fill?+
Yes; it fills to the maximum water level.