The door does not open after washing in the LG washing machine

Imagine the situation: an LG machine finishes washing and signals the user about it. The housewife approaches the machine to remove the laundry but cannot do this because the door remains locked. That’s the trick, the machine doesn’t return the laundry, “it would be funny if it weren’t so sad.” For what reason does the door of an LG washing machine not open after washing? Let's all figure it out together.

Why won't the door open?

If this is your first time encountering a similar problem, do not rush to panic. The fact is that some delay in unlocking the hatch door after the LG washing machine has finished washing is normal.

UBL is responsible for blocking the hatch door, as well as unlocking it. The locking device inside has a plate made of a special alloy. Heating up when voltage is applied, the plate blocks the lock hook, and with it the hatch door. As soon as the machine finishes working, the voltage stops supplying and the plate gradually cools down. Once cooled, the plate unlocks the hook, and it becomes possible to open the hatch door. The cooling rate of the plate will depend on a number of factors:

• Ambient temperature,
• Temperature of the washing machine body,
• Location of the washing machine.

The last factor is very important. Users often install washing machines in the kitchen next to the stove. Heat from the hot plate is transferred to the SM body, prolonging the cooling process of the plate. Hence the problem. One way or another, if the UBL is working properly, the door should unlock sooner or later. What to do?

• At the end of washing, unplug the machine from the power supply.
• We wait a maximum of 15-20 minutes.
• We try to open it, if the door still remains locked, we need to take emergency measures to open it.

How to open the machine correctly?

If, despite your expectations, the hatch of the LG washing machine does not open, you will have to urgently open the door and take out the laundry. Of course, we won’t break the lock using a nail puller or sledgehammer; there are much more humane methods.

• First, we check whether the machine is de-energized.
• If the length of the hoses allows, push the washing machine towards you to gain access to the top cover. The inlet and drain hoses may need to be disconnected; in this case, be sure to turn off the water supply.
• Next you need to remove the top cover of the washing machine.
• Through the hole formed at the top, we put our hand down and move the UBL flag. The device is located approximately at the level of the door handle, so to quickly detect the emergency opening flag, shine a flashlight there.
• While moving the flag with one hand, you must open the hatch door with the fingers of the other hand.

That's all, we managed to open the door this time, but the fact is that during the next wash the fault will manifest itself again. In order not to disassemble the LG washing machine after each wash, you need to determine the causes of the malfunction and carry out the repair yourself.

Troubleshooting

First, we need to remove the front wall of the LG washing machine, test the UBL, make sure that the device is broken. Next, we need to either repair the UBL or replace it, most likely the latter, but so far this is far from the case.

After opening the hatch door, carefully inspect the hook. The hooks of the locking devices of LG washing machines are quite strong and they break infrequently, but the springs that ensure the mobility of the hooks often fly out. If the door did not open due to impaired mobility of the hook, it is worth disassembling the door, putting the spring in place and completing the repair. Such a breakdown is a matter of 5 minutes even for the average person who does not know which side to take the screwdriver from.

If the door is working properly, and the breakdown occurred due to problems with the UBL, you will have to once again climb into the body of the washing machine. Check to see if the machine is plugged in and then proceed.

• To the right of the washing machine hatch we see the UBL hole and two screws next to it, one screw on top and the other on the bottom. Both screws need to be removed.
• Open the hatch door as wide as possible, then take a flathead screwdriver, bend the edge of the hatch cuff and try to find the clamp that holds it in place.
• There is a spring on the bottom or top of the clamp; pry it up with a screwdriver, bend it down and remove the clamp.
• Insert the hatch cuff inside the drum so that it does not interfere with operation. On the right you will see a gap between the front wall of the LG machine body and the edge of the drum; carefully remove the UBL through it.
• We take a multimeter and call the supply wiring, and then the UBL. If the part turns out to be faulty, disconnect the wiring, remove the old device, and install a new one in its place.
• We push the new UBL into place, having previously connected the wiring to it, and screw the UBL to the front wall of the case.

That's all, all that remains is to check how the new UBL will work. In rare cases, the cause of a breakdown is not the UBL or the lock, but the control module of the LG washing machine. In such a situation, you will have to call a technician for help, who will identify the problem and repair the electronics of the machine. You shouldn’t go to the control module yourself. We wish you a successful renovation!