On the covered Amana top-load washer, F5 E1 means the lid switch reads an open lid while the lock says the lid is locked First, close the lid firmly and try the cycle again. Then: check the lid lock and switch wiring, and replace the lid lock and switch assembly if the wiring is sound.
Differential
Likely causes of “Amana top-load washer code F5 E1”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
The lid switch reads open while the lock says closed
What separates it The washer refuses to start or stops mid-cycle with the lid down
How to confirm Close the lid firmly and listen for the click
- 2
A bent or worn lid strike
What separates it The lid closes but does not fully catch
How to confirm Look at the plastic strike on the lid
- 3
Detergent build-up or lint in the lock
What separates it The lock does not seat
How to confirm Wipe the lock area with a damp cloth
- 4
Wiring to the lid switch loose
What separates it The code comes and goes with lid movement
How to confirm Check the connector at the lock
- 5
A failed lid lock or switch assembly
What separates it The lock clicks but the control still sees the lid as open
How to confirm The assembly is replaced
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- That the code is F5 E1
- Whether the lid clicks shut
- Whether a strike or hinge looks bent
- The model number
Try in this order
0 of 10 completedWhat to do first
Reversibleclose the lid firmly and try the cycle again.
Correct only the documented fault domain
ReversibleCheck the lid lock and switch wiring, and replace the lid lock and switch assembly if the wiring is sound. Amana documents one check for this code — cycle power to the control to reset the washer — so confirm that before treating anything else as the cause.
Close the lid firmly
ReversiblePress it down and try again.
Look at the strike
ReversibleCheck the plastic piece that engages the lock for cracks or bends.
Clean the lock area
ReversibleWipe away detergent film and lint.
Cycle the power
ReversibleUnplug for a minute and run a short wash.
Test the lid
ReversibleDoes the washer pause when you lift the lid, and resume when you lower it?
Book service
ReversibleThe lid lock and switch assembly is replaced if the wiring is sound.
Compare the lid with its neighbors
ReversibleClose the lid and look at its edges. A lid that sits a little lower on one side than on the other has a worn hinge or strike, which is what the control is complaining about.
Verify once, then respect the service boundary
ReversibleAmana specifies a 5 minutes power interruption for this code, not an arbitrary one.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- The code on this page
- F5 E1, a lid lock and switch disagreement.
- Parts involved
- The lid lock and switch assembly, the strike and the wiring.
- Related codes
- F5 E2 and F5 E3 cover a lid that could not lock or unlock.
- Why the lid matters
- A top-loader spins a heavy basket, so the control will not spin unless the lid switch confirms that the lid is closed and locked. F5 E1 is the control pointing out a disagreement between the two, and it is a safety feature, not a nuisance.
- Check before you call
- Cycle the power, close the lid firmly and run a short rinse. Many F5 E1 codes clear at this point, and a lid that needs a hard push each time to close points to a worn strike that is cheap to replace.
- A lid switch that works in two stages
- On this top-loader the lid has a lock and a switch. The lock holds the lid down while the basket spins, and the switch tells the control that the lid is closed. F5 E1 appears when the switch says that the lid is open while the lock says that it is locked, so the two disagree. A bent or worn strike, which is the small plastic piece the lock grips, is the commonest reason.
- When a new strike is enough
- Before you buy a whole lid lock assembly, look at the strike. It is cheap, and a worn or cracked strike can make a good lock fail. Replace it if the lid has to be pressed hard to close, and keep the old lock for later if the code returns.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If F5 E1 returns after a power cycle, book Amana service with the model number
- !Never defeat the lid switch to keep a washer running
- !Unplug the washer before touching the lock wiring
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
What does F5 E1 mean on a Amana top-load washer?+
the lid switch reads an open lid while the lock says the lid is locked
Is it dangerous to bypass the switch?+
Yes; the switch stops a spinning basket from hurting anyone.
Can a clean fix it?+
Sometimes, if detergent film stops the lock seating.
Why does it happen mid-cycle?+
A lid that shifts as the washer shakes can break the circuit.
Do I replace the whole lock?+
Usually the lock and switch are one assembly.
Is a worn lid strike the usual cause?+
It is a common one, since the plastic strike wears with use and stops the lock seating fully.
Can I spin a load by holding the lid down?+
No, that defeats the switch, which is there to stop the basket spinning with the lid open.
How do I find the strike?+
It is on the underside of the lid, where the lock engages, and it looks like a small plastic hook or tab.