For a Kenmore 110 front-loader whose door will not close and lock, Kenmore's guide says to close the door by pushing it firmly until the lock clicks, and that the door will remain locked during the wash cycle; the door should close easily when the washer is loaded, and a load that is too tight can stop it. Whirlpool's own front-load table for the builder gives F5 E2, the door not locking properly:
check that no items block the door and it closes completely, and press Pause or Cancel twice and Power once to clear it. The door does not lock for about 10 seconds after starting a cycle, which is normal, and soap build-up on the door area or lock can stop it. On the top-loader a flashing Lid Locked light or the lid left open more than 10 minutes are the lid cases.
Differential
Likely causes of “Kenmore 110-series front-load washer will not start because the door or lid will not lock”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
The door not pushed until the lock clicks
What separates it The washer will not start because the door was not pushed until the lock clicks
How to confirm Push it firmly until the lock clicks, and then press Start
- 2
A tightly packed load
What separates it The door will not close easily because the load is tightly packed
How to confirm Reduce the load; the door should close easily
- 3
Soap build-up or an item blocking the lock
What separates it F5 E2 shows because of soap build up or an item blocking the lock
How to confirm Clean the door area and remove anything blocking it
- 4
A confused control
What separates it F5 E2 repeats because the control is confused and needs a reset
How to confirm Unplug for 5 minutes and reconnect, and then try again
- 5
Top-loader (110-series HE, Water Level knob): the lid is not closed
What separates it The washer will not start or fill and the Lid Locked light flashes
How to confirm Close the lid completely and press START/PAUSE/Unlock Lid
- 6
Top-loader (110-series HE, Water Level knob): the lid was left open too long
What separates it The washer pumped out the water and cancelled the cycle
How to confirm Close the lid and start the cycle again; Kenmore says water pumps out after 10 minutes open
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Whether the lock clicks when you push the door
- Whether F5 E2 shows on the display
- Whether the load is packed tightly
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedPush the door shut
ReversiblePush the door shut, until the lock clicks, and then press Start, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Reduce the load
ReversibleReduce the load, since the door should close easily without force, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Wait 10 seconds
ReversibleWait 10 seconds, since after Start the door does not lock at once, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Clean the door area
ReversibleClean the door area, and remove soap build up and anything blocking the lock, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Clear F5 E2
ReversibleClear F5 E2, by pressing Pause or Cancel twice and Power once, and unplug for 5 minutes if needed.
Close the lid before starting
ReversibleKenmore says the lid must be closed before the washer basket fills with water and for the wash cycle to start. If the lid is open and filling stops, close it and press START to complete the cycle.
Check for a blocked lid
ReversibleMake sure no clothing or other item is caught under the lid. A lid that does not close fully keeps the Lid Locked light flashing and stops the washer from filling, spinning or starting the cycle.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Loading the front-loader
- Kenmore's guide says to open the door by pulling the handle, sort the laundry and load loosely; the washer door should close easily. Because the front-loader can wash larger loads than a top-loader with no agitator, the temptation is to overload, but a packed drum stops the door and lock working and unbalances the spin.
- Other F codes
- Whirlpool's table lists F7 E1 (motor speed sensing: check the shipping bolts were removed and the washer is not overloaded), F8 E1 or LO FL (low water flow), F9 E1 (slow draining, typically over eight minutes) and F8 E2 (dispenser system on some models). Other F# E# codes clear by unplugging the washer for 5 minutes, reselecting the cycle and pressing Start.
- Front-loader guide: F22 front door lock
- Kenmore's own 110.4996x guide lists F22 as a front door lock code. Press STOP twice to cancel, then check that the door is firmly shut, because it can look closed without being latched: open it and close it firmly. Check for laundry sticking out past the door opening, since an overloaded drum can keep the door from shutting completely, and leave room for the clothes to tumble freely. Then press POWER, re-select the cycle and press START. The guide also says the washer will not start unless the door is shut and that a cycle needs START held for 1 second.
- Lid rules
- The Lid Locked light tells you whether the lid can be opened. Opening the unlocked lid pauses the sensing and wash phases, and closing it resumes the cycle. If the lid is left open for more than 10 minutes the washer cancels the cycle and pumps out the water.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit the 110-series top-load washer.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If F5 E2 returns after cleaning and a 5 minute reset, call Kenmore on 1-800-4-MY-HOME
- !If the hinge is damaged, stop using the washer
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Kenmore's own guide for the 110 front-loader in full: the pages that carry the troubleshooting, care and cleaning sections are images, so they were read by text recognition and checked against the printed page.
Whirlpool's own table of front-load washer codes, used for the builder's front-load platform.
Exact questions
Common questions
What does F5 E2 mean on a Whirlpool-built front-loader?+
The door is not locking properly.
How long does the door take to lock?+
About 10 seconds after a cycle starts.
How do I close the door?+
Push it firmly until the lock clicks.
Can a packed load stop the door?+
Yes, a packed load can stop the door, since it should close easily.
What is the power reset?+
Disconnect power for 5 minutes and reconnect.
Will the washer fill with the lid open?+
No, it will not fill with the lid open.
What if I soak with the lid open?+
Soak with the lid closed; an open lid over 10 minutes drains the tub.