General washing machine door will not open

What is actually happening

The door interlock is deliberately stubborn: it will not release while the machine believes there is water in the drum, and on most machines it holds for a minute or two after the end of a cycle. A door that never releases is either a machine that still thinks it is full, or an interlock that has failed — often with the handle mechanism broken separately.

The General fault codes that point at this

A General washing machine will usually tell you what it thinks is wrong before anyone opens it up. These are the codes we hold for this make that relate to door will not open:

• E18 — The machine tried to pump the water out, didn't manage it in the time allowed, and stopped with the drum still holding water.
• F08 — The machine has lost the signal that tells it the drum motor is turning, so it stops rather than carry on with a load it cannot spin.

If yours is showing one of those, that is a much shorter conversation than a general fault — tell us the code when you book and the engineer can often carry the part.

The usual causes on a General washing machine

• Water still in the drum from a drain fault, so the lock is doing its job
• A failed door interlock solenoid stuck in the locked position
• A broken door handle or catch mechanism
• A cycle interrupted by a power cut, leaving the machine mid-program

What you can safely check yourself

1. Wait a full five minutes after the end of the cycle — many machines hold the lock deliberately
2. Run a drain or spin-only cycle: if the drum has water in it the door will not release until it is gone
3. Switch off at the wall for ten minutes, then power up — this clears an interrupted program on most machines

Common questions

Why is my General washing machine door will not open?

The cycle has finished, or stopped, and the door stays locked shut. The door interlock is deliberately stubborn: it will not release while the machine believes there is water in the drum, and on most machines it holds for a minute or two after the end of a cycle. A door that never releases is either a machine that still thinks it is full, or an interlock that has failed — often with the handle mechanism broken separately.

Can I fix a General washing machine door will not open myself?

Wait a full five minutes after the end of the cycle — many machines hold the lock deliberately. Run a drain or spin-only cycle: if the drum has water in it the door will not release until it is gone. Switch off at the wall for ten minutes, then power up — this clears an interrupted program on most machines. Those checks fix it more often than not.

What General error codes mean door will not open?

General washing machines report this through their own fault codes. The ones that point at door will not open are E18, F08. If your machine is showing one of those, that narrows it down considerably — each has its own guide on this site.

How much does a General washing machine repair cost?

£66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it, or £84 in total including VAT if it is put right on the visit and no parts are needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.

Other General washing machine faults

• washing machine not draining
• washing machine not spinning
• washing machine leaking water
• washing machine making a loud noise
• washing machine not heating the water
• washing machine will not turn on

Repairs we cover near you

• Washing Machine Repairs — what we charge and how it works
• Washing Machine Repairs in Nottingham
• Washing Machine Repairs in Arnold
• Washing Machine Repairs in Beeston
• Washing Machine Repairs in Bulwell

Written by the engineers at ASAP Repairs from our own repair notes. See also our general guide to washing machines door will not open.