On the covered Kenmore 417 series laundry center washer, E44 -- 4 beeps, 4 beeps means Kenmore's service table lists this code as: lid lock communication failure. Unplug and look at the harness between the lid lock and the board.
Differential
Likely causes of “Kenmore 417 series laundry center washer showing E44 -- 4 beeps, 4 beeps”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
The lid lock is not communicating with the control board
What separates it The washer refuses to start or stops with the lid closed
How to confirm Unplug and look at the harness between the lid lock and the board
- 2
Broken or loose wires in the harness
What separates it The wires are chafed or a plug is loose
How to confirm Repair broken wires
- 3
A lid lock that has failed
What separates it The wiring is sound
How to confirm Replace the lid lock
- 4
A washer electronic control board fault
What separates it Lock and wiring are good
How to confirm Replace the board last
- 5
A lid that does not close squarely
What separates it The strike is bent
How to confirm Check the lid and strike
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- That the machine gave four beeps and then four again, which is the E44 pattern
- Whether the lid shuts squarely and the lock clicks
- Whether the harness at the lock shows chafing or burnt insulation
- The model number beginning 417, from the label
Try in this order
0 of 8 completedCorrect only the documented fault domain
ReversibleUnplug the laundry center and check the wire harness connections between the washer lid lock and the washer electronic control board. and repair any broken wires. If the wire harness connections are okay, replace the lid lock. If the problem continues, replace the washer electronic control board. Parts named: washer lid lock, washer electronic control board.
Unplug the laundry center
ReversibleDisconnect power at the outlet, and make sure the washer holds no water before you work on it.
Check the harness
ReversibleLook at the wires between the washer lid lock and the washer electronic control board for breaks, chafing and loose plugs, and repair any broken wires.
Reseat the connectors
ReversiblePush each plug fully home at the lock and at the board, since a poor connection looks like a communication failure.
Replace the lid lock
ReversibleIf the harness connections are fine, the table says to replace the lid lock.
Replace the control board if it continues
ReversibleIf E44 returns with a new lock and sound wiring, the washer electronic control board is the cause.
Test with a short cycle
ReversibleClose the lid, start a short wash and check that the lid locks and the cycle begins.
Wiggle the harness near the hinge
ReversibleWith the unit unplugged, flex the lock harness gently where it passes the lid hinge. Insulation that cracks or a wire that moves freely inside a sleeve is a likely break.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- The code on this page
- E44, a lid lock communication failure.
- Parts involved
- The lid lock, the harness and the washer control board.
- Beeps as a code
- A laundry center can signal a fault with a pattern of beeps as well as lights. Count the beeps carefully, because E44 is four beeps and a different count points to a different fault.
- The lid lock's job
- The lid lock holds the lid shut while the drum spins and reports back to the control. If the control cannot hear that report, it assumes the worst and stops the cycle, which is what E44 means.
- A beep code on a laundry center
- The 417 laundry center is a combination of a top-load washer and a dryer in one tall cabinet. It reports faults with beeps as well as lights, and the number of beeps in each group names the fault. E44 is four beeps, a pause and four more, so count both groups before you act on it.
- Communication, not just a switch
- The word communication in the name matters. The lid lock has a small circuit that talks to the control, not just a plain switch. A wire that has broken inside its insulation near the hinge is a typical cause, and wiggling the harness with the machine plugged in and a meter attached can find it.
- Washer side only
- A 417 laundry center is a washer on the bottom and a dryer on top, and the two sides have their own controls. A lid lock fault on the washer does not stop the dryer from working, so you can often keep drying clothes while you arrange the washer repair, which is handy if you have a pile of wet laundry.
- Keep a record of the beeps
- Because the machine reports faults with beeps, a repair person arriving a week later cannot hear what it said. Write down the count and the pause pattern as soon as it happens, and note it in your phone, so that the right part is brought to the visit.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !Replace the lid lock first and the washer control board last, in the order that the table gives
- !A laundry center combines a washer and a dryer in one cabinet, so ask whether the dryer side is unaffected before you plan the repair
- !Never run a spin cycle with a lock that has been disabled
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
What does E44 -- 4 beeps, 4 beeps mean on a Kenmore 417 series laundry center washer?+
Kenmore's service table lists this code as: lid lock communication failure.
What does 'communication failure' mean for E44?+
The control board and the lid lock are not exchanging signals, so the wiring is the first suspect, per the chart.
Is it the lock or the wiring?+
Check the wiring first, and replace the lock only if the wiring is sound.
Is the lid lock costly?+
It is a modest part.
Can I bypass the lock to finish a load?+
No, the lock is a safety device.
Do E45 and E46 mean the same thing?+
They belong to the same lid lock family and take the same checks.
Does E44 affect the dryer side of the laundry center?+
Usually not, since the dryer has its own control, but check the manual.
Is the lid lock the same part as on other Kenmore washers?+
No, laundry centers use a lock made for their cabinet, so order it by the 417 model number.
Can I keep using the dryer while the washer shows E44?+
Often yes, since the dryer has its own control, but check the manual for your model.
Why write down the beep pattern?+
The pattern identifies the fault, and it will not repeat on demand for the technician.