A Kenmore 110 washer that stops mid-cycle is either paused or reporting a code. On the front-loader the door can be opened only via STOP while the ADD CLOTHES light glows or after cancelling, and a paused or cancelled cycle can show Int, meaning the washer may take 20 to 30 minutes to stop spinning and drain; press Pause or Cancel twice and Power once to clear it. Whirlpool's own table for the builder lists F7 E1 (motor speed), F5 E2 (door), F8 E1 (low flow), F9 E1 (slow drain), Sud or Sd (suds: the washer pauses tumbling and adds water several times) and other F# E# codes cleared by a 5 minute unplug.
The top-loader stops if the lid is left open more than 10 minutes, pumping out the water.
Differential
Likely causes of “Kenmore 110-series front-load washer stops, pauses or powers off mid-cycle”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A code on the display
What separates it F5 E2, F7 E1, F8 E1, F9 E1, Sud or Int
How to confirm Match it to the table, and follow its action
- 2
A paused or cancelled cycle
What separates it Int shows because the cycle was paused or cancelled
How to confirm Wait, or press Pause or Cancel twice and Power once
- 3
Suds
What separates it The washer pauses and adds extra rinses because of suds
How to confirm Use HE detergent only and let it continue
- 4
The top-loader lid left open
What separates it The washer pumps out the water after 10 minutes
How to confirm Close the lid before starting, on the top loader
- 5
Top-loader (110-series HE, Water Level knob): the washer pauses during certain cycle phases
What separates it The washer stops for a while and then continues
How to confirm Do not interrupt the cycle; this is normal operation
- 6
Top-loader (110-series HE, Water Level knob): the lid was opened or the cycle paused
What separates it The washer stopped after START/PAUSE or with the lid open
How to confirm Close the lid and press START/PAUSE/Unlock Lid to resume
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The code that shows and the stage of the cycle
- Whether the washer restarts after waiting
- Whether the lid was open on the top loader
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedRead the code
ReversibleRead the code, and match it to the table in the guide, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Clear it
ReversibleClear it, by pressing Pause or Cancel twice and Power once, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Reset power
ReversibleReset power, by unplugging the washer for 5 minutes and reconnecting it, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Fix the cause
ReversibleFix the cause, which may be the door, the water, the drain, suds or the bolts.
Call service
ReversibleCall service, if the code returns after a reset of the power, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Let it pause normally
ReversibleKenmore says the washer will pause during certain phases of the cycle and you should not interrupt the cycle. Sensing, soaking and load settling phases can look like a stop but the washer resumes on its own.
Resume after a manual pause
ReversibleIf a cycle was stopped or paused with the START/PAUSE/Unlock Lid button, press it again to resume after closing the lid. If the lid is left open for more than 10 minutes the washer pumps out the water, and the cycle must be restarted.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- The front-loader stop button
- On the front-loader STOP can be selected while the ADD CLOTHES light glows to open the door and add garments during the first 8 minutes of options that allow it, and after any wash cycle the door must be opened and closed before a new cycle can begin. A cycle that will not restart after finishing may simply be waiting for that door cycle.
- Sud and Sd
- With Sud or Sd and the Rinse light on the washer is removing suds and you should let it continue; with Cycle Complete lit the washer detected too many suds, the load may not be rinsed and Whirlpool suggests a Rinse/Spin. The washer pauses tumbling and adds water so the bubbles can break, and it may repeat that several times.
- Front-loader guide: a washer that stops
- Kenmore's own 110.4996x guide lists, for a washer that stops, the grounded three-prong outlet, power at the plug, a blown household fuse or tripped breaker and any extension cord. For any other F code than F20, F21 and F22 it says to press STOP twice to cancel the cycle, select DRAIN & SPIN if there is excessive water in the drum, re-select the cycle and press START, and call for service if the code remains. A SUD routine or an imbalance routine can pause the displayed time without being a fault.
- If the cycle stops
- Check for proper water supply if the wash light stays on, confirm the power supply, and make sure the lid is closed. If several items were removed, rearrange the load evenly and close the lid before pressing START/PAUSE/Unlock Lid.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If an F# E# code persists after the 5 minute reset, call Kenmore on 1-800-4-MY-HOME
- !If F7 E1 persists after removing bolts and reducing the load, call service
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
Why did my Kenmore 110 stop?+
A code, a pause, suds or the lid left open.
What if the lid is open on the top-loader?+
After 10 minutes the washer pumps out the water.
How do I clear codes?+
Clear it, by pressing Pause or Cancel twice and Power once, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Should I open the lid during a pause?+
Only if needed; open lids pause sensing and wash.
What if the washer pumped the water out?+
The lid was open over 10 minutes; restart the cycle.