There's water on the floor — drain hose, dispenser
Water is left standing in the drum — drain pump, drain hose
It won't fill, or fills very slowly — water inlet valve
The drum won't turn at all — drive belt, capacitor, speed sensor
The wash water never gets warm — thermistor
Detergent is left in the drawer — dispenser
It's making a grinding or rumbling noise — drain pump
The display is dead or buttons don't respond — control board
The lid won't lock — lid lock
It won't agitate — agitator, transmission, drive belt
Codes on the display
Code
What it means
Evidence
60-64
—
a repair video for this brand and appliance, not confirmed on this model
E4B
—
a repair video for this brand and appliance, not confirmed on this model
38
—
a repair video for this brand and appliance, not confirmed on this model
39
—
a repair video for this brand and appliance, not confirmed on this model
40
—
a repair video for this brand and appliance, not confirmed on this model
84
—
a repair video for this brand and appliance, not confirmed on this model
Documented failures
Agitator
Usually DIYVendor replaces this part if it's missing or broken
DIY. If the agitator's own splines are fine but it still won't turn, the fault is in the transmission or belt below it, not the agitator.
Try this first — it costs nothing. Check nothing is jammed in the agitator's base or dogs before assuming it's broken — a jammed agitator can look sheared when it isn't.
Check, in this order
TOP-LOAD only — front-load washers tumble the drum itself and have no agitator to inspect.
With the lid open, grab the agitator and try to rock it side to side and lift it — genuine play or a cracked base confirms the part rather than a drive problem underneath it.
Run a short cycle and watch whether the agitator moves at all: no movement while the tub fills points at the transmission or belt instead, covered separately.
Before you open anything
Unplug the washer.
The retaining bolt is under a plastic cap at the top of the agitator — pry gently, the cap cracks easily.
Tools
#2 Phillips screwdriver ($6) — Panel and bracket screws.
Thin putty knife ($5) — Releasing clips without marking the cabinet.
10 mm socket + ratchet ($10) — Shock absorber and stator fasteners.
Phone camera ($0) — Photograph connector positions before unplugging anything.
The repair, in order
Pry the cap off the top of the agitator with a putty knife to reach the retaining bolt.
Remove the retaining bolt and lift the agitator straight up off its shaft — it can be a tight fit.
Inspect the base and any internal dogs/cam for cracks or stripped splines before fitting the replacement.
Seat the new agitator fully on the shaft, refit the retaining bolt, and press the cap back on.
How you know it worked. The agitator strokes back and forth through a normal wash fill with no play at the base.
In your manual:the manual — checked; its troubleshooting section does not cover this part.
Prices are a snapshot taken on the date shown and are not monitored. Check the retailer before buying.
Worth fixing? Repair - the part is a small fraction of a new machine. Part $53.03–$58.72 against $899.00 for a new machine (6.5%).Part cost only. A service call adds a regional diagnostic fee plus labour.
Drive belt
Usually DIYVendor replaces this part if it's missing or broken
DIY on a top-load belt-drive washer. If a pulley is seized or the belt keeps coming off after a correct fit, the transmission or motor mount is the underlying fault, not the belt.
Try this first — it costs nothing. Rule out an overloaded or badly unbalanced load first — repeated imbalance shutdowns can throw a belt off its pulleys with nothing actually broken; rebalance the load and retry before ordering a part.
Check, in this order
First confirm which half: if this is the DRYER side of a stacked laundry center or washer/dryer combo — drum won't turn, motor hums, no water involved — that's the dryer's own belt and pulleys, a separate part from the washer belt covered here.
On the washer side, spin the drum by hand with power off — a belt-drive top-load washer's drum should turn with resistance from the motor; spinning completely free means the belt is off or broken.
Listen during a spin attempt: the motor running while the drum stays still points at the belt, not the motor.
Look under the cabinet for a belt that's visibly frayed, glazed, or off its pulleys.
Before you open anything
Unplug the washer.
The motor and pulleys can coast briefly after power is cut — wait for them to stop before reaching in.
Tools
5/16" nut driver ($8) — Cabinet and bracket screws on most front-load machines are 5/16" hex.
#2 Phillips screwdriver ($6) — Panel and bracket screws.
10 mm socket + ratchet ($10) — Shock absorber and stator fasteners.
Flashlight ($0) — Boot, sump and pump housings are dark.
Phone camera ($0) — Photograph connector positions before unplugging anything.
The repair, in order
Unplug the washer and reach the underside pulleys per the model's service position — top-load belt-drive washers route the belt between the motor and the transmission pulley.
Photograph the belt's routing around both pulleys before removing anything; a belt fitted the wrong way round chews itself up again.
Remove the old belt and check both pulleys spin freely by hand — a seized pulley is why the belt failed and will strip the new one too.
Fit the new belt around the motor pulley first, then work it onto the transmission pulley by hand, keeping it centered and untwisted.
Spin the pulleys by hand to seat the belt fully in both grooves before restoring power.
How you know it worked. The drum turns immediately with the motor on a Spin cycle, with no slipping sound and no drum lag.
In your manual:the manual — checked; its troubleshooting section does not cover this part.
Prices are a snapshot taken on the date shown and are not monitored. Check the retailer before buying.
Worth fixing? Repair - the part is a small fraction of a new machine. Part $8.39–$49.99 against $899.00 for a new machine (5.6%).Part cost only. A service call adds a regional diagnostic fee plus labour.
Transmission
Usually DIYVendor replaces this part if it's missing or broken
Price this one before starting — a top-load transmission is one of the most expensive individual parts on the machine; weigh it against a replacement washer first.
Try this first — it costs nothing. Rule out the belt before anything else — see drive belt above; a slipped or broken belt produces the identical 'motor runs, nothing moves' symptom.
Check, in this order
TOP-LOAD only — front-load washers have a direct-drive motor bolted to the drum and no separate transmission.
Confirm the belt is intact and seated first (see drive belt above) — a slipped belt mimics a dead transmission exactly and costs nothing to rule out.
With the belt confirmed good, listen during agitate and spin: grinding or a burning smell from underneath points at the transmission's own gears or clutch.
Before you open anything
Unplug the washer.
This is a heavy, multi-hour teardown on most top-load platforms — read the repair-vs-replace numbers before starting.
Support the tub/cabinet before releasing the transmission mount.
Tools
10 mm socket + ratchet ($10) — Shock absorber and stator fasteners.
5/16" nut driver ($8) — Cabinet and bracket screws on most front-load machines are 5/16" hex.
#2 Phillips screwdriver ($6) — Panel and bracket screws.
Flashlight ($0) — Boot, sump and pump housings are dark.
Phone camera ($0) — Photograph connector positions before unplugging anything.
The repair, in order
Remove the agitator and the outer tub cover to expose the transmission mount.
Photograph the belt routing and every wiring connector near the transmission before disturbing anything.
Disconnect the drive belt from the transmission pulley and unbolt the transmission from its mount.
Fit the replacement transmission and reconnect the belt in the photographed routing.
Reinstall the agitator and confirm nothing binds before restoring power.
How you know it worked. The machine agitates and spins normally through a full cycle with no grinding and no burning smell.
In your manual:the manual — checked; its troubleshooting section does not cover this part.
Prices are a snapshot taken on the date shown and are not monitored. Check the retailer before buying.
Worth fixing? Weigh it - this part is a meaningful share of a new machine. Part $25.98–$216.96 against $899.00 for a new machine (24.1%).Part cost only. A service call adds a regional diagnostic fee plus labour.
Lid lock
Usually DIYVendor replaces this part if it's missing or broken
DIY. If a new lock still won't register closed, check the wiring harness for a chafe point near the hinge before condemning a second part.
Try this first — it costs nothing. Clean the strike and switch area of detergent residue and lint first — a gummed-up striker often won't seat even though the lock itself is fine.
Check, in this order
TOP-LOAD only — front-load washers use the door lock on the boot, covered separately above.
Confirm the lid actually closes flush and nothing is holding it open — the switch can't sense a lid that isn't fully down.
Listen for a click as the lid closes; no click at all points at the switch/lock assembly rather than its wiring.
With power off, test the switch's continuity with the lid held shut versus open before ordering a new assembly.
Before you open anything
Unplug the washer.
If the drum still holds water, drain it through the pump filter first.
Tools
#2 Phillips screwdriver ($6) — Panel and bracket screws.
Phone camera ($0) — Photograph connector positions before unplugging anything.
Multimeter ($25) — Confirm continuity before replacing an electrical part.
The repair, in order
Unplug the washer and remove the console or lid-hinge trim to reach the lock/switch assembly — this varies by brand, so photograph screws and clips as you go.
Photograph the wiring harness plug before disconnecting it.
Unscrew the lid lock/switch assembly from the tub flange or console.
Fit the replacement, reconnect the photographed harness, and reinstall the trim.
How you know it worked. The lid locks (or the switch registers closed) at the start of a Spin cycle, and the cycle completes without stopping for a lid fault.
In your manual:the manual — checked; its troubleshooting section does not cover this part.
Prices are a snapshot taken on the date shown and are not monitored. Check the retailer before buying.
Worth fixing? Repair - the part is a small fraction of a new machine. Part $12.92–$31.37 against $899.00 for a new machine (3.5%).Part cost only. A service call adds a regional diagnostic fee plus labour.
Drain pump
Usually DIYVendor replaces this part if it's missing or broken
DIY. Escalate only if the pump is fine and the drain error persists, which points at the control board or wiring.
Try this first — it costs nothing. Clean the drain filter - manual: MAINTENANCE.
Check, in this order
Clean the drain filter behind the lower access panel FIRST - a coin or lint clog mimics a dead pump exactly and costs nothing.
Confirm the drain hose is not kinked and its end is below 96 in (2.4 m) - the manual lists both as the drain error causes.
With power off, spin the pump impeller by hand; if it is seized or noisy, replace the pump.
Before you open anything
Unplug the washer.
Drain the residual water through the filter first — several litres will still be in the sump.
Tools
5/16" nut driver ($8) — Cabinet and bracket screws on most front-load machines are 5/16" hex.
#2 Phillips screwdriver ($6) — Panel and bracket screws.
Shallow pan and towels ($0) — Residual water always comes out, even after draining.
Slip-joint pliers ($12) — Hose clamps and inlet filter screens.
Flashlight ($0) — Boot, sump and pump housings are dark.
Phone camera ($0) — Photograph connector positions before unplugging anything.
The repair, in order
Open the lower access panel and drain through the filter hose into a shallow pan.
Remove and inspect the pump filter — coins, hair clips and lint clog it and mimic a dead pump exactly.
If the filter was clean, photograph the pump's wiring connectors, then unplug them.
Release the hose clamps to the sump and the drain hose; expect more water.
Unscrew the pump from its mount, fit the replacement, and reconnect clamps and connectors in the photographed order.
Run a Rinse+Spin with the panel still off and watch for leaks before closing up.
How you know it worked. Run Rinse+Spin. A good repair drains fully within the drain step with no drain error and no drip at either clamp.
In your manual:the manual — checked; its troubleshooting section does not cover this part.
Prices are a snapshot taken on the date shown and are not monitored. Check the retailer before buying.
Worth fixing? Repair - the part is a small fraction of a new machine. Part $7.03–$64.97 against $899.00 for a new machine (7.2%).Part cost only. A service call adds a regional diagnostic fee plus labour.
Speed sensor
Usually DIYVendor replaces this part if it's missing or broken
DIY. If spin still won't stabilize with a known-good, balanced load and a new sensor, the motor or control board is the next suspect.
Try this first — it costs nothing. Rebalance the load and rerun Spin before assuming the sensor — an unbalanced load aborting spin is by far the more common cause.
Check, in this order
The symptom is usually a spin that won't reach full speed, stalls partway, or repeatedly aborts — not a total no-spin.
Rule out an overloaded or badly unbalanced load first — the control deliberately slows or aborts spin when it can't get a stable read, which looks identical to a failed sensor.
Inspect the sensor and its mount near the motor rotor for a cracked bracket or a connector worked loose — a loose connector produces the same symptom as a dead sensor.
Before you open anything
Unplug the washer.
Tools
#2 Phillips screwdriver ($6) — Panel and bracket screws.
Phone camera ($0) — Photograph connector positions before unplugging anything.
Multimeter ($25) — Confirm continuity before replacing an electrical part.
Flashlight ($0) — Boot, sump and pump housings are dark.
The repair, in order
Access the sensor near the motor/rotor assembly, usually reached from underneath or behind the cabinet.
Photograph the connector before unplugging it.
Unclip the sensor from its mount and fit the replacement in the same position and orientation.
Reconnect the connector exactly as photographed.
How you know it worked. Spin reaches and holds full speed on a normal, balanced load without aborting.
In your manual:the manual — checked; its troubleshooting section does not cover this part.
Prices are a snapshot taken on the date shown and are not monitored. Check the retailer before buying.
Worth fixing? Repair - the part is a small fraction of a new machine. Part $9.99–$13.59 against $899.00 for a new machine (1.5%).Part cost only. A service call adds a regional diagnostic fee plus labour.
Drain hose
Usually DIYVendor replaces this part if it's missing or broken
DIY.
Try this first — it costs nothing. No no-part fix for this one - go straight to the checks.
Check, in this order
Inspect the full run of hose for kinks, crushing behind the machine, and splits at both clamps.
Verify the standpipe height against the manual's 24-96 in (61-244 cm) window; too high causes the drain error, too low siphons.
Confirm there is no airtight seal at the standpipe - the manual warns this siphons water out of the drum.
Before you open anything
Unplug the washer.
Have the pan ready — the hose holds water.
Tools
Slip-joint pliers ($12) — Hose clamps and inlet filter screens.
Shallow pan and towels ($0) — Residual water always comes out, even after draining.
Flashlight ($0) — Boot, sump and pump housings are dark.
The repair, in order
Pull the machine out far enough to see the whole hose run.
Check for kinks, crushing behind the cabinet and splits at both clamps.
Confirm the standpipe height sits inside the manual's 24–96 in (61–244 cm) window.
Make sure the connection is NOT airtight — the manual warns a sealed joint siphons the drum.
Replace the hose if split, reseating both clamps.
How you know it worked. A full drain step with no pooling behind the machine and no drain error.
In your manual:the manual — checked; its troubleshooting section does not cover this part.
Prices are a snapshot taken on the date shown and are not monitored. Check the retailer before buying.
Worth fixing? Repair - the part is a small fraction of a new machine. Part $7.03–$59.07 against $899.00 for a new machine (6.6%).Part cost only. A service call adds a regional diagnostic fee plus labour.
Water inlet valve
Usually DIYVendor replaces this part if it's missing or broken
Replacing the valve is DIY. BUT if the machine keeps filling when it should not, close the faucets, unplug it and call for service - do not attempt that one.
Try this first — it costs nothing. Clean the inlet filter screens - manual: Cleaning the Water Inlet Filters.
Check, in this order
Check both faucets are fully open and the hoses are not kinked - the manual's first two the fill error causes.
Clean the inlet filter screens (manual: MAINTENANCE > Cleaning the Water Inlet Filters); hard-water scale is a common cause and needs no parts.
If the machine fills with the power off, the valve is stuck open and must be replaced.
Before you open anything
Unplug the washer.
Close BOTH faucets before removing either hose.
Tools
5/16" nut driver ($8) — Cabinet and bracket screws on most front-load machines are 5/16" hex.
Slip-joint pliers ($12) — Hose clamps and inlet filter screens.
Shallow pan and towels ($0) — Residual water always comes out, even after draining.
#2 Phillips screwdriver ($6) — Panel and bracket screws.
Phone camera ($0) — Photograph connector positions before unplugging anything.
The repair, in order
Close both faucets and unscrew the inlet hoses from the back of the machine.
Pull the filter screens out with pliers and soak them in white vinegar (manual: Cleaning the Water Inlet Filters) — scale here causes the fill error with no part needed.
If the screens were clean, remove the top panel to reach the valve body.
Photograph the wiring and hose positions — hot and cold are not interchangeable.
Swap the valve, reconnect in the photographed order, and reattach the hoses.
Open the faucets and check for weeping at both couplings before running a cycle.
How you know it worked. Machine fills at a normal rate on a cold and a warm cycle, and does NOT fill when powered off.
In your manual:the manual — checked; its troubleshooting section does not cover this part.
Prices are a snapshot taken on the date shown and are not monitored. Check the retailer before buying.
Worth fixing? Repair - the part is a small fraction of a new machine. Part $22.99–$75.89 against $899.00 for a new machine (8.4%).Part cost only. A service call adds a regional diagnostic fee plus labour.
Control board
Usually DIYVendor replaces this part if it's missing or broken
Borderline. The board is the most expensive part on this machine and is commonly misdiagnosed - get a technician to confirm before buying one.
Try this first — it costs nothing. No no-part fix for this one - go straight to the checks.
Check, in this order
Confirm power at the outlet and that PF (power failure) is not simply latched - press Start/Pause first.
Rule out the cheaper failures the board gets blamed for (pump, valve, door lock) before buying a board.
Look for visible scorching or swollen capacitors on the board.
Before you open anything
Unplug the washer.
Photograph EVERY connector before removing any.
Tools
5/16" nut driver ($8) — Cabinet and bracket screws on most front-load machines are 5/16" hex.
Phone camera ($0) — Photograph connector positions before unplugging anything.
Multimeter ($25) — Confirm continuity before replacing an electrical part.
The repair, in order
Rule out the cheap failures the board gets blamed for — pump, valve, door lock — first.
Check for PF (power failure) simply latched: press Start/Pause.
Inspect the board for scorching or swollen capacitors.
If replacing, transfer connectors one at a time against your photographs.
How you know it worked. Normal start-up and a completed cycle.
In your manual:the manual — checked; its troubleshooting section does not cover this part.
Prices are a snapshot taken on the date shown and are not monitored. Check the retailer before buying.
Worth fixing? Repair - the part is a small fraction of a new machine. Part $118.00–$119.92 against $899.00 for a new machine (13.3%).Part cost only. A service call adds a regional diagnostic fee plus labour.
Capacitor
Usually DIYVendor replaces this part if it's missing or broken
DIY. If a new capacitor still hums without turning the drum, the motor windings or the belt/transmission are the next suspects, not a second capacitor.
Try this first — it costs nothing. Nothing free here — a failed start capacitor is a part swap, but it's cheap, so confirm the hum-with-no-turn symptom before assuming a bigger motor fault.
Check, in this order
Applies to belt-drive washers with a separate motor start/run capacitor — many direct-drive washers don't use one at all, so confirm the platform has one before ordering.
The classic symptom is the motor humming loudly on Spin or Agitate but never actually turning — hum with no movement is the capacitor's signature.
Check the capacitor's mounting bracket for bulging, leaking, or a burst top — a visibly swollen capacitor confirms it without testing.
Before you open anything
Unplug the washer.
A capacitor can hold a charge after power is cut — do not touch its terminals bare-handed even with the machine unplugged.
Tools
#2 Phillips screwdriver ($6) — Panel and bracket screws.
Multimeter ($25) — Confirm continuity before replacing an electrical part.
Phone camera ($0) — Photograph connector positions before unplugging anything.
5/16" nut driver ($8) — Cabinet and bracket screws on most front-load machines are 5/16" hex.
The repair, in order
Locate the capacitor and its bracket, usually near the motor at the back or underside of the cabinet.
Photograph the wiring before disconnecting the two leads from the old capacitor.
Unscrew the bracket and remove the old capacitor.
Fit the replacement in the same bracket and reconnect the leads exactly as photographed.
How you know it worked. The motor starts turning immediately on Spin and Agitate with no prolonged hum.
In your manual:the manual — checked; its troubleshooting section does not cover this part.
Prices are a snapshot taken on the date shown and are not monitored. Check the retailer before buying.
Worth fixing? Repair - the part is a small fraction of a new machine. Part $24.89 against $899.00 for a new machine (2.8%).Part cost only. A service call adds a regional diagnostic fee plus labour.
Thermistor
Usually DIYVendor replaces this part if it's missing or broken
DIY once tested. If resistance is correct but temperature is still wrong, the control board's reading of it — not the sensor — is the next suspect.
Try this first — it costs nothing. Confirm you're actually on a heat-selected cycle and the water supply is working — neither is a thermistor fault.
Check, in this order
On a stacked laundry center or washer/dryer combo, a thermistor complaint about drying time or temperature belongs to the DRYER half's air-temperature sensor — a different part from the washer's own water-temperature thermistor described here.
Confirm the symptom is temperature-related and not a total no-heat fault — see heating element above for a cycle that never warms at all.
Test the thermistor's resistance with a multimeter against the manual's service value before replacing it — a good thermistor rules this part out entirely.
Before you open anything
Unplug the washer.
Tools
Multimeter ($25) — Confirm continuity before replacing an electrical part.
#2 Phillips screwdriver ($6) — Panel and bracket screws.
Phone camera ($0) — Photograph connector positions before unplugging anything.
Flashlight ($0) — Boot, sump and pump housings are dark.
The repair, in order
Locate the thermistor, typically clipped to the tub or in the water path near the heating element.
Photograph the connector before unplugging it.
Unclip the old thermistor and fit the replacement in the same position.
Reconnect the connector exactly as photographed.
How you know it worked. Wash water temperature matches the selected cycle across a full wash, checked by hand or thermometer at the fill.
In your manual:the manual — checked; its troubleshooting section does not cover this part.
Prices are a snapshot taken on the date shown and are not monitored. Check the retailer before buying.
Worth fixing? Repair - the part is a small fraction of a new machine. Part $26.80 against $899.00 for a new machine (3.0%).Part cost only. A service call adds a regional diagnostic fee plus labour.
Dispenser
Usually DIYVendor replaces this part if it's missing or broken
DIY.
Try this first — it costs nothing. No no-part fix for this one - go straight to the checks.
Check, in this order
Confirm the leak is the housing and not the drawer seal or the inlet hose above it.
Before you open anything
Unplug the washer.
Close both faucets.
Tools
#2 Phillips screwdriver ($6) — Panel and bracket screws.
Slip-joint pliers ($12) — Hose clamps and inlet filter screens.
Shallow pan and towels ($0) — Residual water always comes out, even after draining.
Phone camera ($0) — Photograph connector positions before unplugging anything.
The repair, in order
Confirm the leak is the housing and not the drawer seal or the feed hose above it.
Remove the top panel to reach the housing and its hoses.
Photograph hose positions, swap the housing, reseat every clamp.
How you know it worked. No water escaping around the drawer on a fill.
In your manual:the manual — checked; its troubleshooting section does not cover this part.
Prices are a snapshot taken on the date shown and are not monitored. Check the retailer before buying.
Worth fixing? Repair - the part is a small fraction of a new machine. Part $16.95–$18.75 against $899.00 for a new machine (2.1%).Part cost only. A service call adds a regional diagnostic fee plus labour.
If you replace it instead
Configuration-matched to this machine (top, ~4.5 cu ft). Prices are UPC-verified Amazon listings, not estimates. Like-for-like replacement rarely pays for itself on energy alone — replace for fit and features, or because the repair maths above says so.
Model
Capacity
Energy cost
Price
Price checked
Samsung WA50R52**A* Digits marked * vary by colour/finish; any model in this series matches.
A candidate must match this machine's configuration (style, fuel and defrost class) before price or efficiency is considered. Prices are a snapshot from the date shown; availability is not monitored — check the retailer before buying.
Or see the whole class
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