Whirlpool Duet Front-Load Washing Machine Repair Guide.

Duet Washing Machine Troubleshooting

So your Duet washer has a gremlin?! Well that happens, a little too frequently if you ask me...
The good news is Whirlpool Duet washing machines have a diagnostic mode to help troubleshoot what's the problem with your washer.

Here's the tricky part… There have been several washing machines that Whirlpool has chosen to name Duet. The Whirlpool think tank must be music lovers or something… This Duet washer repair guide is for the latest direct drive version.

This Duet Washer repair guide is for the following core washer models
WFW70HE, WFW80HE, WFW81HE, WFW94HE, WFW95HE, WFW96HE, WFW97HE (Non Steam)
WFW8640, WFW86HE, WFW8740, WFW87HE, WFW88HE (Steam)

Troubleshooting Common Duet Washer Problems

Duet Washer Won't Turn On
Unplug the washer for 30 seconds to attempt to reset the Duet washer control.
Attempt a Duet Washer Quick Diagnostic Test
Check the power supply at the wall with some other device. If the wall plug has power...
Check the Duet Line power filter
Check power at the control.

Duet Washer Won't Start

Unplug the washer for 30 seconds to attempt to reset the Duet washer control.
Attempt a Duet Washer Quick Diagnostic Test
Does The Washer Have Power? => No Look at "Duet washer wont turn on" (one up)

Duet Washer's Door Won't Lock
Duet Washer Wont Unlock
Unplug the washer for 30 seconds to attempt to reset the Duet washer control.
Attempt a Duet Washer Quick Diagnostic Test
Check the Duet door lock. (Duet Door Lock Check)

Duet Washer's Door Won't Unlock
Unplug the washer for 30 seconds to attempt to reset the Duet washer control.
Attempt a Duet Washer Quick Diagnostic Test => Washer will not do a Duet Washer Quick Diagnostic Test
You can manually unlock the washer by removing the top (remove screws on the back of the top panel and slide the top panel back to lift off. then with the washer unplugged reach down and pull a small ring on the top of the door lock to manually open the door lock.
Check the Duet door lock (Duet Door Lock Check)

Duet Washer Won't Fill
Start with the easy stuff…
Duet Washer Wont Fill fish
Unplug the washer for 30 seconds to attempt to reset the Duet washer control.
Check your home water valves
if your fill hoses have a flood stop check valve turn the water off, disconnect the hoses and run a little water into a bucket. Then reconnect the hoses to your washer and do a Duet Washer Quick Diagnostic Test.
Check the Duet water valves (Duet Washer Valve Check)

Duet Washer's Drum Won't Rotate
Unplug the washer for 30 seconds to attempt to reset the Duet washer control.
Attempt a Duet Washer Quick Diagnostic Test
Check the Duet Motor and motor control unit (Duet Motor Check)

Duet Washer Leaking
The most common cause of a Duet washer leaking is a hole in the washers door boot / bellows. However, a leak can come from many of the washer's parts. the best way is to narrow your problem down… is it leaking all the time, even when the washer is off? (valve or water supply) or only when the washer is running? (hose, drain pump, door boot / bellows) Visually inspect the washer for the source of the leak… be careful of moving parts that may remove your parts!
Duet Washer Vibration
Make sure your Duet washer is on solid footing… can you rock the washer by pressing on one of the corners.(adjust the washer legs)
Does the washer go out of balance EMPTY during a Duet Washer Quick Diagnostic Test? No => What if you have a heavy load of like items (all towels) on a short normal cycle? If it can balance an all towel load, your problem is probably load related. (Read the users manual) If it is off balance empty or the all towel load went off balance move to step #3.
Press down on the inner drum and feel for a popping movement (The inner drum support may be broken… this is bad) Try rotating the drum a few degrees and try several times… the inner and outer drums should move together as a unit. Sometimes the three point support that suspends the inner drum inside the outer drum can crack. If there is movement you may need a new inner wash drum.
Unplug the washer and remove the back panel to check the tub shocks. They should all be attached.
If all that checks out your probably safe to replace the washer's shocks.

Duet Washer Not Cleaning Well
Duet Washing MAchine Cleaner
Your washer can get extremely nasty inside in places you can't see. Try leaving the door open a crack when the washer is not in use and make sure to use the Clean washer cycle from time to time. Run a Duet Washer Quick Diagnostic Test and make sure that the washer is mechanically working correctly. If it is then you may want to try a different detergent.

Stinky Duet Washer
Duet Washer Stink
Whirlpool has made big improvements with the new Duet washers to reduce odors with an improved venting system. Hoverer, the clean washer cycle is there for a reason! Your washer can get extremely nasty inside in places you can't see. Try leaving the door open a crack when the washer is not in use and make sure to use the Clean washer cycle from time to time.

Duet Washer Won't Drain
The most common Duet washer problem
Duet Washer Wont Drain
Unplug the washer for 30 seconds to attempt to reset the Duet washer control.
Enter the Duet Washer Diagnostic Mode and check for error codes.
If your Duet washer has an F9E1 or SUDS error code (long drain) you may want to skip passed all the fill steps to step C07 (to test the drain pump.) This will hopefully keep your beloved Duet washer from filling with more water that it can't drain. You can't skip C00 (Door Lock) and C03 (Dispensing System) and go strait to testing the drain pump.
Whirlpool Duet Washer Drain Pump
The best way I have found to deal with the water when your washer's drain pump isn't working is to use a shop-vac and pull from the drain hose. If that works the your pump is highly suspect. If it doesn't work then you almost certainly have a clog in your Duet washer's drain system and the pump may be fine.

If you can hear that the pump is trying to drain, you know it's getting power from the Duet control like it should. Remove the pump and check for blockages. If the drain pump is not even trying to run you will need to check power supply to the pump for 120VAC when it should be draining. at the Duet control's DP2 connection and at the drain pump.

Source: Appliance Repair Service