How to check the water level sensor in an LG washing machine?

If the washing machine does not spin, does not fill completely, or threatens to flood the apartment, then the pressure switch is 80% to blame. You cannot start the problem - you need to call a technician for diagnosis or start repairs yourself. It is not difficult to check the water level sensor on an LG washing machine yourself: just find the device and perform a couple of steps. What exactly needs to be done?

Instructions for verification

There is no point in going into the machine without a reason. Before diagnosing the pressure switch in an LG washing machine, it is worth checking for certain signs of a faulty water level switch. A breakdown does not happen without consequences, so the unit will let the owner know about the problem with the following signals:

• The drum rotates or the heater turns on without water in the machine,
• Insufficient or excessive filling of the tank is noticed,
• In the rinse mode, the water is pumped out and refilled,
• There is a burning smell,
• The fuse on the heating element trips,
• The laundry does not spin.

Even one present symptom is a signal for diagnosing the pressure switch. But you cannot blame only the level relay for problems since other faulty parts can also lead to similar troubles. To eliminate the error, we take out the sensor and check its functionality.

• Unscrew the two screws from the back of the case that hold the top panel.
• Press the cover away from you and remove it.
• We find a round plastic box of black or white colour near the side wall - this is the pressure switch.
• Disconnect the connected wiring and pipes from the sensor.
• We loosen the fixing bolts and pull out the housing with a long tube going into the tank.

Having taken out the sensor, we begin the inspection. First, we assess the condition of the tube visually: there should be no damage or blockages, and the external lamellas on the connectors can only be clean and not oxidized. If problems, corrosion, oxidation, or contamination are noticeable, the relay is carefully cleaned and washed. Then we proceed to the actual verification:

• We find a hose or tube commensurate with the opening of the pressure switch fitting,
• Put the tube on the fitting,
• Bring the block to your ear and the end of the hose to your mouth,
• Blow into the hose and listen to see if there is a click. There are usually two or three clicks, but some models allow the contact to operate once. The main thing is that there is no silence, which signals a faulty pressure switch.

There is another way - connect an ohmmeter or multimeter to the sensor terminals. If you close and open the contacts, the device should detect a sharp change in resistance. In order not to make mistakes when connecting to the connectors, it is recommended to first study the electrical connection diagram in the factory instructions.

Setting up the operation of the pressure switch

You can try to reprogram a non-working pressure switch. To do this, we adjust two adjusting screws to a certain water level so that the one located in the center fixes the moment of closing the contacts, and the third one – their breaking. In this case, there are several contact pairs since different models of the machine require washing programs with different fullness of the tank. For example, with a standard or delicate cycle, a full drum is removed, and when choosing an economical mode, only half is removed.

Adjusting the position of the screws yourself is extremely problematic. Full setup is carried out by professionals at the factory, and the appropriate marks are applied to the tube. It is strongly not recommended to change the given position, since intervention threatens a serious imbalance. The situation is complicated by the fact that the average user of the machine does not know how many litters of water the unit takes at each stage when any of the available programs is turned on. The more options a washing machine offers for selecting modes, the more difficult it is to reprogram the pressure switch.

How to change a part?

If there is no doubt that the device is faulty, it must be replaced. It will not be possible to repair the pressure switch - the relay body is solid and attempts to penetrate inside the box will cause damage to the flimsy internal mechanism. Moreover, the price of the device is low, and most devices do not cost more than 500 rupees.

The choice of a new pressure switch must be approached thoroughly. It must be the same, match the brand of the washing machine, down to the presence of direct drive and considering the tank capacity. Ideally, the removed relay serves as a sample, after which the sensor is checked by serial number and manufacturer. It would not hurt to perform a preliminary test of the device’s performance using the method described above. The sensor unit is installed in the same way as dismantling, but in the reverse order.

• First, secure the relay with screws to the seat.
• Connect to the fitting by tightening the clamp.
• We connect the wiring and pipes.
• We return the lid to the washer.

Anyone can diagnose and replace the washing machine. The main thing is not to deviate from the instructions, be careful and, upon completion of the repair, check the operation with a test wash.