What Does F5 E3 Mean On A Whirlpool Washer? Know All Fixes!

Stuck with an F5 E3 error in your Whirlpool washer? Before troubleshooting the issue it’s crucial to know what does F5 E3 mean on a whirlpool washer.

Generally, F5 E3 in the Whirlpool washer indicates that the automatic lid lock system in the washer’s door is malfunctioning. As a result, the door becomes locked and fails to open automatically before or after completing the wash cycle.

Thus, before calling a mechanic out of panic you might want to try troubleshooting the Ef E3 error and save a lot of money and time.

What Is The F5 E3 Error Code On A Whirlpool Washer?

After doing a routine laundry suddenly the washer displays an F5 E3 error along with a stuck door is a common phenomenon with Whirlpool washers.

This error code means that the lid-lock mechanism of the washer’s door is not locking nominally.

The error code pops up when your Whirlpool control board detects that the lid lock is not engaging properly during the wash cycle.

Similarly, the door gets stuck shut when the lid lock fails to disengage for some reason.

The lid-lock mechanism is a safety feature to keep the washer’s door shut until the wash cycle is completed properly to avoid any accidents.

It works automatically accompanied by the control board of the washer and sensors of the lid-lock system.

Probable Causes For F5 E3 Error Code

Before attempting to know the F5 E3, you should acknowledge the proper causes behind the issue. Thus it becomes easier to troubleshoot the error code without the help of any professional if possible.

• Faulty lid lock sensor
• Physical obstruction inside the lid lock system
• Corrosion & Accumulated debris in the lid lock sensor
• Control board & electrical issues

How To Troubleshoot F5 E3 On A Whirlpool Washer?

Now that you know what does F5 E3 mean on a whirlpool washer and all the probable causes, it’s time to look for the solutions.

1. Attempt Warm or Cold Reset

The Whirlpool washer control board sometimes fails to communicate with the lid lock sensor. Hence, it cannot detect if the door lock is engaged or not resulting in displaying the F5 E3 error code.

It’s a common phenomenon in most top and front-load whirlpool washers. To solve this start simply by removing loads from the top of the washer (for top-load washer).

Check if there are any obstructions between the door and drum chamber of the washer such as stuck clothes. Press the Power Button first to cancel the existing wash cycle and wait for a while to completely drain it.

Press the power button again and check if the lid opens. After that, firmly close the door. Start a new cycle and check if the lock engages.

If not, power down the unit completely, unplug it, and wait for 5 minutes before turning it ON. This results in a warm reboot of the washer unit.

2. Clean Lid Lock Sensor & Remove Corrosion

The lid lock device includes a sensor responsible for detecting whether the door latch is secured or not. This sensor sends common to the control board for engaging or disengaging the door lock.

Hence, if the sensor gets attacked with dirt and corrosion due to overuse and humidity, it fails to work properly. As a result, the device cannot lock the lid and displays an F5 E3 error code.

Firstly, remove the silicone water seal from around the door and unscrew it to retrieve the device from inside the washer. Unclip the plastic housing from the device and get the lid lock sensor unexposed.

Now remove the metal strip that slides on the sensor to engage or disengage the lock. You can use a Q-tip and ethanol to clean the sensor metal contacts.

Slightly bend the two metal strips to make sufficient vertical force on the sensor and slide along the trace effectively.

Be sure to use dielectric grease to avoid corrosion on the sensor contacts before putting it back inside. Lastly, reassemble everything and check if the error code disappears and the door locks perfectly by starting a cycle.

3. Repair Physical Obstructions Inside Lid-Lock Device

There are some movable parts such as springs and metal strips inside the lid lock of Whirlpool washers. These parts move to engage the lock inside the groove of the door when the sensor gets activated.

Sometimes rough handling of the door such as slamming it damages or loosens the small parts inside the lid lock device. As a result, it fails to lock the door even after the sensor detects the door shut.

All you need is to take apart the lid lock from the inside door. Carefully remove the metal spring ring and silicone seal to get access to the lid-lock.

Unscrew and remove two wiring harnesses from the control board of the washer as well. Now unclip four points in the plastic housing. Inspect the spring that has been moved apart from its groove.

Put it back in the right place and apply some dielectric grease on the moving parts. Finally, reassemble everything and reboot the washer to check if it clears the F5 E3 error code.

4. Replace Entire Lid Lock System

The lid lock assembly in your Whirlpool washer can get damaged due to various reasons such as aging, rough handling, etc. Users have complained about the cheap build quality of the locking mechanism.

Hence, a damaged lid-lock can trigger the F5 E3 error code in the Whirlpool washer as it fails to engage and disengage the locking mechanism.

To solve you need to replace the entire system by taking it apart. For this, you can seek help from a certified repair person or try it out yourself provided you have the necessary tools.

All you need is to remove the lid lock from the washer by disconnecting the electrical connections from the main control board.

The OEM door latch replacement part can cost you around $100-$150 which varies depending on the washer type and model. Replace the faulty lock assembly with the new one and restart your washer.

Preventive Measures & Tricks To Avoid F5 E3

You can avoid the F5 E3 error from occurring in your Whirlpool washer by following some basic yet useful preventive tricks.

• Always open and close the washer door gently.
• Try to store your washer in a dry place and away from humidity.
• Apply dielectric grease to the lid lock sensor to avoid corrosion.
• Do not put heavy objects on top of the door.
• Keep the door and seal area clear from obstructions.
• Always clean the washer from dirt and debris.

FAQs

Check out the following frequently asked questions from regular Whirlpool washer users to know more about the F5 E3 error and code.

Final Words

We hope by this time you have a clear knowledge of what does F5 E3 mean on a whirlpool washer.

You can refer to the above-mentioned fixes to get your Whirlpool washer free from the F5 E3 code easily without spending much.

However, if you are new to tools, it is highly recommended to seek help from a professional.