Whirlpool codes come in two styles: F# E# codes on front-loaders (F5 E2 door lock, F7 E1 motor speed, F8 E1 low water flow, F9 E1 slow drain) and short word codes like Sud, LF, drn, Ofb and OL on top-load HE washers. Many are not faults at all — LOC is just the control lock and Sud means too many suds. The reset Whirlpool recommends for most of them is to press Pause/Cancel twice and Power once, or unplug for five minutes.
Front-load washer codes
| Code | What Whirlpool says | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| LOC or LC | Control lock is on | Touch the Control Lock button; some models need a press-and-hold |
| dET | Detergent cartridge not detected | Re-seat the cartridge and shut the drawer completely |
| Int | Cycle was paused or canceled | Press pause or cancel twice and power once; unplug 5 minutes if it persists |
| rL or F34 | Items detected during the Clean Washer cycle | Empty the drum and restart the cycle |
| Sud or Sd | Too many suds | Use HE detergent, avoid “easy pour” chlorine bleach, check the drain hose |
| F5 E2 | Door is not locking properly | Check for blocking items; close fully; pause/cancel twice, power once |
| F7 E1 | Motor speed sensing error | Verify all shipping bolts are removed; do not overload |
| F8 E1 or LO FL | Low flow of water | Open both taps fully; check hoses; remove anti-flood devices |
| F8 E2 | Dispenser system problem | Make sure the drawer or cartridge is not clogged |
| F9 E1 | Drain longer than 8 minutes | Check the drain hose and standpipe height |
| Other F# E# | Other error | Unplug 5 minutes, reconnect, reselect the cycle and press Start |
Top-load HE washer codes
| Code | What Whirlpool says | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| drn | Washer is not draining properly | Often an installation problem; check the drain hose |
| HC | Hot and cold hoses are reversed | Turn off the water and swap the hoses |
| LdL | Lid is not locking | Check under the lid for items or detergent buildup |
| LdU | Lid cannot unlock | Remove objects, such as a laundry basket, from the top |
| LF, Lo FL or F8 E1 | Taking too long to fill | Open both hot and cold taps fully |
| lid | Lid was left open | Close the lid; after about 10 minutes the cycle resets and drains |
| Ofb | Load is out of balance | Redistribute the load; avoid washing single items |
| OL | Load was too large | Remove items, add HE detergent, press Start/Pause |
| PF | Power failure interrupted the cycle | Hold Start to restart or press Power to clear |
| Sud | Too many suds | Use HE (high-efficiency) detergent |
| F# E# or F## | System error | Press Start/Pause once to clear and again to restart; contact support if it persists |
Codes that are not faults
LOC/LC, dET, Int, rL, Sud/Sd, lid, Ofb, OL, HC and PF are messages about the load, the settings or the installation. HC means the hoses were connected the wrong way round. Sud and Sd mean too much detergent or the wrong type; the washer extends the rinse automatically. See PF power failure code for the PF message.
Whirlpool’s reset steps
- Press Pause/Cancel twice and Power once
This is the reset the front-load code list quotes for F5 E2, F7 E1 and Int.
- Unplug the washer for 5 minutes
For any other F# E# code or if a code persists, unplug, wait five minutes, plug in again, reselect the cycle and press Start.
- Run a short cycle to confirm
If the same code returns right away, it is a real fault.
Fill and drain codes in detail
For fill problems (F8 E1, LF, Lo FL) see Whirlpool F8 E1 and washing machine not filling; for drain problems (F9 E1, drn) see Whirlpool F9 E1 and washing machine won’t drain. The long fill and long drain messages are also explained in LF and LD codes. F7 E1 on a new front-loader very often means the shipping bolts are still on the back.
When to call for service
If F5 E2, F7 E1, F8 E2 or any other F# E# code keeps returning after the checks and a five-minute unplug, a part has failed. Compare options with our washing machine repair cost guide.
