An Amana NTW4516 that does not spin is either paused, unbalanced, waterlogged or plugged: the Spin light staying on means it could not pump out within 10 minutes; a tightly packed or unbalanced load spins poorly; cycles with lower spin speeds leave loads wetter; and the drain hose position and suds matter. The washer also spins at high speed, and the guide says dry spots near the top of the load after the final spin are normal because of airflow. Use Drain & Spin to remove extra water after rearranging the load.
Differential
Likely causes of “Amana NTW4516 top-load washer will not spin or leaves clothes soaking wet”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
An unbalanced or tightly packed load
What separates it The clothes are wet and the spin is slow because the load is unbalanced or tightly packed
How to confirm Rearrange loose heaps evenly and run Drain & Spin
- 2
A low-spin cycle
What separates it The clothes are wetter than expected because a low spin cycle was used
How to confirm Pick the recommended spin speed or Drain & Spin
- 3
A drain fault or suds
What separates it The Spin light stays on because of a drain fault or suds
How to confirm Check the drain hose and select Rinse & Spin to clear suds
- 4
Extra garments added after sensing
What separates it The spin is poor because extra garments were added after the sensing
How to confirm Add only 1 or 2 garments after the washer has started
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Whether the Spin light is on
- The cycle and the spin speed that you chose
- How the load was arranged in the basket
Try in this order
0 of 5 completedRearrange the load
ReversibleRearrange the load, by arranging the wet load evenly, for a balanced spin, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Select Drain & Spin
ReversibleSelect Drain and Spin, which removes excess water and uses a spin to shorten the drying times.
Check the drain hose
ReversibleNo more than 4.5 in in the standpipe, end no higher than 96 in, not clogged.
Reduce suds
ReversibleReduce the suds, by selecting Rinse and Spin, and do not add detergent, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Empty pockets
ReversibleEmpty pockets, since small items can catch in the pump, and stop the drain, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Dry spots and high-speed spins
- The guide notes that high-speed spins extract more moisture than earlier washers and that the airflow during the final spin can leave dry spots on items near the top of the load; this is normal. It also says the washer is less efficient at rinsing and cleaning when tightly packed, and that Rinse & Spin is the choice for sand, pet hair and lint.
- Late garments and pausing
- Amana's Product Help says to add clothing only while the Add a Garment indicator is on where a model has one, and that pausing later in the cycle can limit the washer's ability to reach maximum spin speed. On the NTW4516 the guide says to add no more than 1 or 2 items after the cycle has started, because more can tightly pack or unbalance the load and leave it wet.
- Parts for this problem on the NTW4516 (RepairClinic, 2026-09-21)
- drive belt, part number W11239857, at $47.40; $60.00 cash back central control unit (ccu) with, part number W11603811, at $299.16.
- 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 basket will not spin at all after the drain checks, call Amana service
- !If the Spin light stays on repeatedly, call service
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 are my clothes wet after the cycle?+
A tightly packed load, low-spin cycle, unbalanced load, suds, or a drain fault.
What is Drain & Spin for?+
It drains the washer and spins to shorten drying times.
What does the Spin light on mean?+
The washer could not pump out within 10 minutes.
Are dry spots on the load normal?+
Yes, from high-speed spins with airflow.
Can I spin a single item?+
Avoid washing single items; they unbalance the load.
How many items can I add late?+
Only 1 or 2 after the washer has started.