On the covered Kenmore laundry center, Fabric Softener, Rinse, Spin and Lid Locked lights ON means Kenmore's service table lists this code as: lid lock won't work. Unplug the laundry center before you check the harness, and have the model and serial number ready if the lid still will not lock.
Differential
Likely causes of “Kenmore laundry center showing Fabric Softener, Rinse, Spin and Lid Locked lights ON”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
The lid lock does not work (Fabric Softener light combination)
What separates it The lid will not lock or unlock
How to confirm Unplug and check the harness
- 2
Loose wires between the control board and the lid lock
What separates it Plugs are loose
How to confirm Reseat them
- 3
A damaged harness
What separates it Wires are chafed
How to confirm Replace it
- 4
A failed lid lock assembly
What separates it The wiring is good
How to confirm Replace the lock
- 5
A control board fault
What separates it Lock and wiring are good
How to confirm Replace the board
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Which of the three light patterns is showing, since Kenmore gives the lid lock fault its own combination
- Whether the lid locks when the machine begins to spin
- Whether the harness near the lid shows damage
- The model number 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 electronic control board and the lid lock. If the wire harness is okay, replace the lid lock assembly. If the problem persists, replace the electronic control board. Parts named: lid lock assembly, Electronic control board, Wire harness.
Unplug the laundry center
ReversibleDisconnect power at the outlet before you touch any wiring, and make sure that the washer is empty of water.
Check the harness to the lid lock
ReversibleLook at the wires between the electronic control board and the lid lock for breaks, chafed insulation or plugs that have loosened, and repair what you find.
Reseat the connectors
ReversiblePush each connector fully home at the lock and at the control board, since a plug that is only partly in can mimic a failed lock.
Replace the lid lock assembly
ReversibleIf the harness is sound, the table says to replace the lid lock assembly, which is a plug-in part on this machine.
Replace the control board if the problem persists
ReversibleIf the fault returns with a new lid lock, the electronic control board is the next part named.
Test with a short cycle
ReversibleClose the lid, start a short wash and check that the lock engages and the cycle begins.
Photograph the lights before unplugging
ReversibleTake a clear picture of the lit cycle indicators, since the combination identifies the fault and disappears when the machine is reset.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- The lights on this page
- Fabric Softener lights, for a lid lock that will not work.
- Parts involved
- The lid lock assembly, the harness and the electronic control board.
- Source
- Sears PartsDirect's table for Kenmore laundry centers.
- How the lid lock works
- The lid lock holds the lid shut while the drum spins and tells the control board that it has done so. If the control cannot see that signal, it refuses to run the spin, so the machine either stops with a light pattern or never begins the cycle.
- Reading the lights
- A laundry center shows faults with a pattern of lights because it has no text display. Note exactly which lights are on, since the same hardware shows different faults with different patterns, and a mistake in reading the pattern sends you to the wrong part.
- Reading three lights at once
- A laundry center with no text display shows faults as combinations of its cycle lights. Fabric Softener, Rinse, Spin and Lid Locked together tell the story of a lid lock that will not work. Photographing the lights before you power-cycle the machine makes sure that you describe the pattern accurately.
- The lock and the strike
- The lid lock assembly sits under the top, with a strike on the lid. A broken plastic strike, or one that has worn smooth, stops the lock gripping, and replacing it is cheaper than the lock. Check the strike by eye before you order parts.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !Replace the lid lock assembly if the harness proves sound, and the board only if a new lock does not cure it
- !Laundry centers vary between generations, so match the part to the model number
- !Keep the lid unlatched cycles out of use, since they are a safety bypass
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
What does Fabric Softener, Rinse, Spin and Lid Locked lights ON mean on a Kenmore laundry center?+
Kenmore's service table lists this code as: lid lock won't work.
What does the Fabric Softener light pattern mean on a Kenmore laundry center?+
The lid lock will not work, so the washer cannot confirm that the lid is shut and locked.
Is it the lock or the wiring?+
Check the wiring first, and replace the lock only if the harness is sound.
Is the lid lock an expensive part?+
It is a modest part, and many owners fit it themselves with the unit unplugged.
Can I bypass the lock to finish a load?+
No, the lock is a safety device that stops the drum spinning with the lid open.
What if a new lock does not help?+
Then the electronic control board is not reading the lock correctly and is the next part to replace.
How do I photograph the lights safely?+
Use your phone, and take the picture before you unplug the machine so the pattern is recorded.
Are other light patterns the same fault?+
Kenmore lists other patterns for different faults, so match yours to the table.