An Amana NTW4516 that stops partway is often doing what its guide describes: pausing during certain phases (do not interrupt the cycle), pausing automatically when you open the unlocked lid during agitation, waiting because the lid is open (after 10 minutes it cancels and pumps out the water), or holding because the load is tightly packed. A Lid Locked light that is flashing means it is paused. Codes such as Ofb, OL, Sud and PF in Amana's Product Help explain the rest.
Differential
Likely causes of “Amana NTW4516 top-load washer stops, pauses or powers off mid-cycle”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A normal pause phase
What separates it The washer stops briefly and then resumes because of a normal pause phase
How to confirm Do not interrupt the cycle, and let the washer finish the pause
- 2
The lid was opened or left open
What separates it Lid Locked flashes and the cycle waits because the lid was opened or left open
How to confirm Close the lid; after 10 minutes open the washer pumps out the water
- 3
A tightly packed load
What separates it The washer stalls and rebalances because the load is tightly packed
How to confirm Remove several items, rearrange evenly and press Start/Stop/Pause/Unlock Lid
- 4
A power interruption
What separates it The display shows PF because of a power interruption
How to confirm Touch and hold Start or press Power to clear
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The state of the Lid Locked light
- The stage of the cycle where it stopped
- Any code that the display shows
Try in this order
0 of 5 completedCheck the Lid Locked light
ReversibleCheck the Lid Locked light, since blinking means paused, and off means that the lid can be opened.
Close the lid
ReversibleClose the lid, since the washer will not fill or wash with the lid open.
Rearrange the load
ReversibleRearrange the load by removing several items, spreading the load evenly, closing the lid and pressing Start, Stop, Pause or Unlock Lid.
Do not add more than 1 or 2 garments
ReversibleDo not add more than one or two garments, since late additions can tightly pack or unbalance the load.
Finish after a power failure
ReversibleFinish after a power failure, by using Rinse and Spin or Drain and Spin, to complete a load.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Rinse & Spin and Drain & Spin
- Rinse & Spin combines a rinse and a high-speed spin for loads needing another rinse or for completing a load after a power interruption; Drain & Spin drains the washer after a cancelled cycle or a power failure, using a spin to shorten drying times. Either one gets a stopped load finished without rewashing it.
- Pausing, unlocking and cancelling
- Press Start/Stop/Pause/Unlock Lid once to pause a cycle; the lid unlocks after washer movement stops, which may take several minutes after a fast spin. Press and hold the button for 3 seconds to cancel. When the cycle is paused during the wash, the guide describes a manual soak: leave the lid closed and the soak can be longer than 10 minutes, while an open lid for more than 10 minutes makes the washer pump out its water.
- Parts for this problem on the NTW4516 (RepairClinic, 2026-09-21)
- $60.00 cash back central control unit (ccu) with, part number W11603811, at $299.16; washing machine drain pump assembly, part number WPW10661045, at $53.20.
- 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 washer stops repeatedly with a balanced, unpacked load, call Amana service
- !If a system code returns after clearing it, 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 did my Amana NTW4516 stop?+
It may be paused, the lid may be open, the load may be tightly packed, or power was interrupted.
What does a flashing Lid Locked light mean?+
A flashing Lid Locked light means that the washer is paused, so wait or press Start.
How do I finish a load after a power cut?+
Use Rinse & Spin or Drain & Spin.
What is Ofb?+
The load is out of balance and the washer is correcting.
How many items can I add mid-cycle?+
No more than 1 or 2.