If a Kenmore 110 washer will not start or turn on, the first checks are the ones in Kenmore's troubleshooting and the builder's own guidance: plug the washer into a grounded three-prong outlet with no extension cord, check a tripped breaker or blown fuse, and make sure the door or lid is closed, since the washer will not start or fill with the lid open. On the front-loader the display powers down automatically 60 minutes after a cycle, shuts off if START is not selected within 5 minutes of choosing a cycle, and needs START held for about 1 second to begin.
A Control Lock (LOC) may be on, cleared by touching the Control Lock button or, on some models, pressing and holding it; other F# E# codes clear by unplugging for 5 minutes.
Differential
Likely causes of “Kenmore 110-series front-load washer has no power or a blank control panel”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A loose plug or extension cord
What separates it There is no display because of a loose plug or an extension cord
How to confirm Plug into a grounded three prong outlet directly, without an extension cord
- 2
A tripped breaker or blown fuse
What separates it The outlet is dead because of a tripped breaker or a blown fuse
How to confirm Reset the breaker once, or replace the fuse
- 3
The washer powered down
What separates it There are no lights after 60 minutes idle because the washer powered down
How to confirm Select POWER again, and the washer wakes up
- 4
Control Lock is on
What separates it LOC shows on the display because Control Lock is on
How to confirm Touch or hold the Control Lock button, until LOC clears
- 5
Top-loader (110-series HE, Water Level knob): the plug or circuit is the problem
What separates it The washer is dead and no light comes on
How to confirm Plug the power cord into a grounded 3-prong outlet, reset a tripped breaker and replace blown fuses
- 6
Top-loader (110-series HE, Water Level knob): the washer stops and the wash light stays on
What separates it The wash light indicates the washer could not fill and the cycle stops
How to confirm Check that both faucets are on and the inlet valve screens are not clogged
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Whether any light or display appears
- Whether the outlet works for other appliances
- Whether LOC shows on the display
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedCheck the cord
ReversibleCheck the cord, which needs a grounded three prong outlet and no extension cord, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Check the breaker
ReversibleCheck the breaker, and reset it once, and see whether the washer comes on, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Press POWER
ReversiblePress POWER, since the washer powers down automatically after 60 minutes idle, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Hold START
ReversibleHold START, by selecting and holding START for about 1 second to begin at once.
Reset
ReversibleReset, by unplugging for 5 minutes and reconnecting the washer, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Check power
ReversibleKenmore's guide lists proper electrical supply: plug the power cord into a grounded 3-prong outlet, do not use an extension cord, make sure the outlet has power, reset a tripped breaker and replace blown fuses. If problems continue, contact an electrician.
Check water supply
ReversibleIf the washer will not run or fill, both hoses must be attached with water flowing to the inlet valve and both hot and cold faucets on. Check that inlet valve screens have not clogged and that the inlet hoses have no kinks that restrict water flow.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Electrical requirements
- Kenmore's installation section for the front-loader says to check the electrical requirements and the recommended grounding method, to plug into a grounded 3-prong outlet, and never to remove the ground prong or use an adapter or extension cord; failure to follow these instructions can result in death, fire or electric shock. It also asks you to test and clean the new washer by running a Normal/Casual cycle with half the recommended detergent before the first load.
- First run
- Before the first load Kenmore has you measure 1/2 of the manufacturer's recommended amount of HE detergent for a medium load, pour it into the dispenser, select NORMAL/CASUAL and START, and let the washer complete one whole cycle. A new washer that misbehaves at first use may simply have skipped this test cycle.
- Sears and service
- Kenmore's guides direct service to 1-800-4-MY-HOME and offer Master Protection Agreements covering parts and labor beyond the warranty. The warranty itself does not pay for a technician to instruct you in operation or to clean or maintain the washer, so a washer that will not start because of a tripped breaker or a Control Lock is a free check you can do yourself before booking anyone.
- Front-loader guide: when the washer will not start
- Kenmore's own 110.4996x guide lists the checks for a washer that will not start: the power cord is in a grounded three-prong outlet, the door is firmly shut, a cycle has been selected and START pressed and held for 1 second, and the door was not left open after the last cycle. For a washer that stops, it adds power at the plug, a blown household fuse or tripped breaker (replace the fuse or reset the breaker, and call an electrician if it continues) and the rule against using an extension cord.
- Lid and cycle notes
- The lid must be closed for the washer to run, and the washer pauses during certain phases of the cycle, which is normal operation. Do not interrupt the cycle, and if several items are removed or added after starting, rearrange the load evenly and press START/PAUSE/Unlock Lid.
- Parts for this problem on the FRONT (RepairClinic, 2026-09-21)
- cord/8ft/18-2sj, part number 330072-98, at $17.07.
- 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 the washer stays dead on a good outlet, call Kenmore on 1-800-4-MY-HOME
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.
Parts and list prices as shown on RepairClinic's parts search for this model number on 2026-09-21.
Exact questions
Common questions
Why won't my Kenmore 110 turn on?+
Check the plug, breaker, POWER and Control Lock.
Does it switch itself off?+
Yes; 60 minutes after a cycle, or 5 minutes after choosing a cycle without START.
What if the light shows the washer could not fill?+
Check both faucets, hoses and inlet screens.