FIXED LG Washer WT5001CW UE Code

[ttx336]

Model Number

WT5001CW

I've got an LG Washer WT5001CW that keeps throwing a UE code, which is an out-of-balance error... it is clearly not out of balance, resetting the control board will often cure it, I've changed the Out-Of-Balance Sensor and since resetting the control board has been curing the problem when it occurs, I changed the control board but the problem persists. It will do it with or without an empty drum. This almost always occurs at 9 minutes remaining in the cycle. In other words, it has gone through multiple spins to get to this point, successfully, but fails on this final one.

I'm out of ideas... every other function seems normal. The new control board is a replacement by LG, they have (apparently) obsoleted the original part number, watching the cycle runs, it seems to have some modifications to the software; eg there is a little blue spray head that never did anything before but now it sprays water in the drum during the rinse cycle... that's just an aside, but, all that to say, it fills, agitates and spins fine until the 9 minute mark. It is level, and it ran fine for about a year...

 

[jeff1]

Hi,

I found these as well....

Verify the load is not unbalanced, causing vibration and noise.
~ Laundry is unbalanced.

The pulsator rotates initially, then the inner tub rotates.
~ Defective clutch.

Does the outer tub strike the top cover during a spin cycle when the washer is running empty?
~ Yes - One or more of the suspension rods is defective.

It is very important to determine the cause of any noise or defect in order to repair the problem correctly the first time.

I don't know much about these machines, hope this helps

Link->Clutch AEN73131403

Link->Suspension Rod 4902FA1665W

jeff.

 

[ttx336]

Hi,

The pulsator rotates initially, then the inner tub rotates.​

​

I don't know how to tell if the pulsator rotates initially; I don't even know what it is... all else is fine.

One things puzzles me about the frame though, the front feet are retracted as far as they will go and still, the front of the washer is very slightly high. It's as if the rear legs are somehow pushed up into the machine. It has a strange, somewhat elaborate, leveling system for the rear legs. However, I took the rear leg assembly apart and it all seems to be as designed, there are no signs of damage or wear.

The drum spins up to a good speed during the wash cycle, it just fails time and again at the 9 minute mark in the final rinse cycle.

-Gary

 

[jeff1]

K020 is the pulsator...



jeff.

 

[ttx336]

I thought it well to report back... I am loathe to just throw parts at machines in an effort to diagnose them but that is what I have resorted to in this case. So far I have changed the Overflow Sensor after being led to believe it was an Out-Of-Balance Sensor; The Main Control Board (actually, I was able to try two new boards in it); all four suspension rods and the Hall Sensor. I have checked all of the wiring that I can test and it runs through all of the diagnostics like filling, agitating, locking the lid, draining, bleach dispensing and even spinning perfectly yet it refuses to complete a cycle. Nearly every time it stops it is at 9 minutes to go. At this point it is going on Craig's List and we will never buy another LG washer. The only thing I have not changed in the machine that is related is the Display Board but I read in the Service Manual that the microprocessor is in the Main Control Board so I don't believe it is worth the $150 or so to try it. I've already spent like $250 so far... and I'm done now. This is really disappointing, it is unheard of for me to not be able to fix something mechanical but here I am.

 

[jeff1]

Gotta love LG....another two letters to stay away from....GE

Hope the next project goes better!

jeff.

 

[ttx336]

Thanks Jeff,

Along that line, what is/are your favorite brand(s)? For cars, I'm sold on Toyota but Hyundai - man, their repair documentation is stellar and free, they're easy to work on, really easy, parts are cheap... Toyota is really tight lipped about Service Repair manual and parts are pretty expensive.

Any good, easy to work on appliances with good documentation out there? Oh, and for computers, especially laptops, Dell is super for PC, I can tear apart a Dell laptop - all the way to the cooling fan, which is as far as it goes, there's nothing left after that because the heat sink is directly in the microprocessor - in about 10 minutes and only have to remove like maybe a dozen screws. HP - wow, it's at least an hour and a half, maybe 50 fasteners, 15 to 18 really PITA zero insertion force cables and so on...

Good Engineering makes all the difference, it really does. I found this LG really easy to work on, I wish I could've fixed it.

I'd like to find a reliable brand but, nothing last forever so, beginning with the end in mind, I'd like to have one that is mechanic AND user friendly.

-Gary

 

[jeff1]

Whirlpool ( KitchenAid, Roper, Maytag, Amana ) has probably the most info out there for their products.
*I* have no brand preference.

jeff.

 

[eesutton]

I've got an LG WT5001CW that keeps throwing a UE code, which is an out-of-balance error... it is clearly not out of balance, resetting the control board will often cure it, I've changed the Out-Of-Balance Sensor and since resetting the control board has been curing the problem when it occurs, I changed the control board but the problem persists. It will do it with or without an empty drum. This almost always occurs at 9 minutes remaining in the cycle. In other words, it has gone through multiple spins to get to this point, successfully, but fails on this final one.

I'm out of ideas... every other function seems normal. The new control board is a replacement by LG, they have (apparently) obsoleted the original part number, watching the cycle runs, it seems to have some modifications to the software; eg there is a little blue spray head that never did anything before but now it sprays water in the drum during the rinse cycle... that's just an aside, but, all that to say, it fills, agitates and spins fine until the 9 minute mark. It is level, and it ran fine for about a year...

You should *not* be able to rotate the pulsator plate by hand when machine is off.

Mine was spinning freely, removing the cap, and tightening the 10mm bolt worked for a couple days.
All the squealing stopped. Then the plate worked itself lose and it came floating to the top of the load.

The pulsator plate uses splines to grab onto the little drive shaft at the bottom. Inspect your pulsator plate to see if it has any splines ( grooves ) in the center of the pulsator plate that mates to the shaft. Mine has none and the hole is basically smooth.

LG should have put a metal insert with metal splines into the pulsator plate.

I think you can get the pulsator plate online for around $50

-Ed

 

[wildimaginations]

You need to call LG customer's service and have them send a technician to deal with the UE error code. There is a service bulletin to deal with this problem.

Since I have dealt with many of these UE error problems, the first thing to replace is the control board AND display board at the same time. If this still doesn't resolve the issue, replace the stator and rotor assembly together. If it still doesn't resolve the issue, we notify LG tech support of the problem and then they will tell us what to do next.

But you gotta call LG to have this problem resolved.

 

[eesutton]

You need to call LG customer's service and have them send a technician to deal with the UE error code. There is a service bulletin to deal with this problem.

Since I have dealt with many of these UE error problems, the first thing to replace is the control board AND display board at the same time. If this still doesn't resolve the issue, replace the stator and rotor assembly together. If it still doesn't resolve the issue, we notify LG tech support of the problem and then they will tell us what to do next.

But you gotta call LG to have this problem resolved.

Thanks!

My machine also had the UE error code. It sounds like the local appliance repair firm associated with LG is going to come back next week and either re-flash the control software or replace the control and pulsator. It sounded to me like the original control algorithm software might have been using too much force. Possibly causing the pulsator plate to strip the plastic splines off. I hope I don't have to get a new pulsator plate every two years.

Thanks again,

-Ed

 

[ipw1101]

UE Error fixed by LG technician

You need to call LG customer's service and have them send a technician to deal with the UE error code. There is a service bulletin to deal with this problem.

Since I have dealt with many of these UE error problems, the first thing to replace is the control board AND display board at the same time. If this still doesn't resolve the issue, replace the stator and rotor assembly together. If it still doesn't resolve the issue, we notify LG tech support of the problem and then they will tell us what to do next.

But you gotta call LG to have this problem resolved.

About 2 weeks ago, our seven (7) year-old LG WT5101HW Top Loading washer starting throwing the UE error. Would get to the rinse cycle and then stop after spinning at low RPMs and then the dreaded uE/UE error would pop up on the display. There was usually about 30 minutes left in the wash cycle. Also noticed intermittent grinding noise and hesitation of the wash plate to spin.

I called LG on their "Washer Recall" number and spoke to a customer service rep who set up an appointment for a local appliance repairman to replace what the recall notice said to replace. He replaced the control board the first visit which didn't fix the UE problem. Called the technician back and he came out a few days later replaced all the washer suspension rods without any success in fixing the UE error. The tub was never actually unbalanced while it was washing or spinning the load of clothes.

I called the LG Rep back on their toll-free number and they sent out one of their own LG technicians to our house the next day. After examining the washer and running a rinse/spin cycle with an empty tub and seeing the UE error, he looked underneath at the stator assembly and noticed that the main nut was very loose and the whole assembly was about an inch lower than it should have been. So he got his ratchet and tightened the nut, and the UE error didn't come back. The washer now functions the way it's suppose to, all the way through to the end of the wash cycle!

I know this is not the solution to everyone's LG washer UE error, but maybe it will help someone with a similar situation.

 

[fLeXaN_tExAn]

About 2 weeks ago, our seven (7) year-old LG WT5101HW Top Loading washer starting throwing the UE error. Would get to the rinse cycle and then stop after spinning at low RPMs and then the dreaded uE/UE error would pop up on the display. There was usually about 30 minutes left in the wash cycle. Also noticed intermittent grinding noise and hesitation of the wash plate to spin.

I called LG on their "Washer Recall" number and spoke to a customer service rep who set up an appointment for a local appliance repairman to replace what the recall notice said to replace. He replaced the control board the first visit which didn't fix the UE problem. Called the technician back and he came out a few days later replaced all the washer suspension rods without any success in fixing the UE error. The tub was never actually unbalanced while it was washing or spinning the load of clothes.

I called the LG Rep back on their toll-free number and they sent out one of their own LG technicians to our house the next day. After examining the washer and running a rinse/spin cycle with an empty tub and seeing the UE error, he looked underneath at the stator assembly and noticed that the main nut was very loose and the whole assembly was about an inch lower than it should have been. So he got his ratchet and tightened the nut, and the UE error didn't come back. The washer now functions the way it's suppose to, all the way through to the end of the wash cycle!

I know this is not the solution to everyone's LG washer UE error, but maybe it will help someone with a similar situation.

DUDE!!!! You saved my ass!! I went ahead and bought new suspension rods ahead of time but came across your post while I was waiting for them to arrive. The nut at the bottom of the stator (just lean the washer back carefully with the glass top door secured and you'll see a large nut right in the center. Mine was loose as hell and you are right, the entire motor assembly was hanging too low causing the rotor to loose contact to the hall sensor. I tightened it up with some Loctite and everything is working PERFECTLY!!! I created this account and wanted to log in personally to say "THANK YOU FOR SHARING!!!".

 

[Filco]

You need to call LG customer's service and have them send a technician to deal with the UE error code. There is a service bulletin to deal with this problem.

Since I have dealt with many of these UE error problems, the first thing to replace is the control board AND display board at the same time. If this still doesn't resolve the issue, replace the stator and rotor assembly together. If it still doesn't resolve the issue, we notify LG tech support of the problem and then they will tell us what to do next.

But you gotta call LG to have this problem resolved.

Man that sound ridiculous,lets just replace a bunch of expensive parts and if it fails,oh well,money down the drain!! Realistically, there SHOULD be a class action against LG this problem is wide spread and has caused many people to replace the machines.
If nothing is obvious,suchas loose rotor nut,bad loads,bouncy struts,etc...,its going to be difficult to find the actual problem. Sad that LG can't even come up with a fair solution in those cases,the new washers don't have that problem,what did they change?
Welcome to the marketing world of junk electronics!!

 

[Richlove]

I have this same problem with my LG WT1101CW clothes washer.
I get UE out of balance errors. My washer is 7 years old and this problem has been getting worse as time goes by.
I replaced the suspension rods but no help.
And I checked the large nut at the bottom of the motor assy because someone mentioned that could be a problem. But it is tight.

Today I did a test by doing a tub clean cycle with no clothes in the washer. It failed with a UE error with 9 minutes remaining.
What is the fix for this?

 

[Jake]

If you've already replaced the suspension rods, then it's either the main control board or stator.

Papa got them both replaced and that fixed his:

FIXED - LG Washer WT1101CW uE Errors

Our barely two-year-old LG washer is throwing frequent uE errors during the rinse and spin cycles. (Not UE error, these are different are are related to high speed spin balance.) This model gets horrible reviews - it seems that they have the uE problem all the time. (Where were these reviews...

www.applianceblog.com

You may want to contact LG per what @wildimaginations mentioned first, see if you can get them free of charge. Or at least the main control board free since the software update should of been free to begin with!

Jake

 

[Richlove]

After I replaced the suspension rods, it helped eliminate the UE errors for normal loads.
But light loads were still stopping with UE errors (for instance a few shirts and one pair of jeans)
The heavy jeans cause an unbalanced load.

But I found a simple solution.
I discovered that the UE errors were happening during the high speed spin.
If I set the spin to medium, those errors go away and the laundry finishes.
It will still get uE errors (lower case u) while it is spinning, but it does not stop.

So my solution is to always set the spin speed to medium every time you wash.

To set the spin speed to Medium, do this:
Turn the washer on and hit the Cycle button once to set it to Cotton/ Normal.
Then change the spin speed to medium.
Then press Start.

 

[Jake]

Thanks Rich, that's very good to know to help others.

Jake

 

[Filco]

So several times I have had success either changing the rotor not the stator, although its cheap to repl the RPS sensor while your there,the magnets can get weak and throw off the reading to the control. Even better,sometimes you can remove that rotor,reposition it on the spline and tighten it down good,and try it,might just work!!

I have seen many of these and that motor seems to fool the control, but most the time, if its not the struts,leaking basket ballast, uneven load of course,and especially when you spin it WITHOUT a load and still spits out UE or ue, its likely motor related.

Hope this helps somebody,LG has improved on that issue on newer models I have noticed.

 

[thanksalot]

UE Error fixed by LG technician

About 2 weeks ago, our seven (7) year-old LG WT5101HW Top Loading washer starting throwing the UE error. Would get to the rinse cycle and then stop after spinning at low RPMs and then the dreaded uE/UE error would pop up on the display. There was usually about 30 minutes left in the wash cycle. Also noticed intermittent grinding noise and hesitation of the wash plate to spin.

I called LG on their "Washer Recall" number and spoke to a customer service rep who set up an appointment for a local appliance repairman to replace what the recall notice said to replace. He replaced the control board the first visit which didn't fix the UE problem. Called the technician back and he came out a few days later replaced all the washer suspension rods without any success in fixing the UE error. The tub was never actually unbalanced while it was washing or spinning the load of clothes.

I called the LG Rep back on their toll-free number and they sent out one of their own LG technicians to our house the next day. After examining the washer and running a rinse/spin cycle with an empty tub and seeing the UE error, he looked underneath at the stator assembly and noticed that the main nut was very loose and the whole assembly was about an inch lower than it should have been. So he got his ratchet and tightened the nut, and the UE error didn't come back. The washer now functions the way it's suppose to, all the way through to the end of the wash cycle!

I know this is not the solution to everyone's LG washer UE error, but maybe it will help someone with a similar situation.

Tightening that nut fixed my UE problem!!! And it was so simple. Thanks!!