Whirlpool washing machine not spinning: causes & fix

What is actually happening

A spin needs three things to be true: the water is gone, the door is locked, and the load is balanced. If any one of them fails the machine skips the spin rather than risk it. Where the wash itself is fine and only the spin fails, the two usual culprits are worn motor carbon brushes on older belt-driven machines, or a load that the machine cannot balance.

The Whirlpool fault codes that point at this

A Whirlpool 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 not spinning:

C01 — C01 isn't a breakdown code — it's the second stage of Whirlpool's built-in test programme, so the machine has been put into diagnostic mode rather than a normal wash.
C04 — C04 isn't a fault — it's one of the steps in Whirlpool's built-in service test, the part that spins the drum up and measures how unevenly the load is sitting.
C05 — C05 isn't a breakdown code — it's the last step of the engineer's built-in test routine, where the machine cuts power to the motor, lets the drum brake to a stop, releases the door and shuts itself down.
F06 — The machine isn't getting any signal that the drum motor is turning, so it stops the cycle rather than carry on.
F07 — The washing machine has found a fault in the electronic control board — specifically a switching component on the board that has failed short, so the machine shuts the cycle down rather than carry on.
F11 — The two control boards inside the machine have stopped talking to each other, so the wash is halted.
F15 — The washing machine has lost confidence in the electronics that drive the motor, so it has shut the cycle down rather than spin the drum.
F16 — The washing machine's main control board has reported an internal fault in itself, so the machine stops rather than carrying on.

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 Whirlpool washing machine

Worn carbon brushes on the motor — typical life is seven to ten years, and the machine will often wash but not spin
Water left in the drum from a drain fault, so the spin is never attempted
An unbalanced load — one heavy item such as a towel or duvet on its own
A snapped or slipping drive belt: the motor runs, the drum does not
A failed door interlock, so the machine will not commit to a high-speed spin

What you can safely check yourself

Redistribute the load by hand and run a spin-only cycle — a single heavy item is a common and harmless cause
Check whether water is left in the drum; if it is, this is a drain fault first and a spin fault second
Listen during the attempted spin: a motor that revs while the drum stays still points at the belt

Still not spinning?

Most of these need an engineer once the checks above are done. £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.

Our engineers work on Whirlpool machines week in, week out, so they arrive knowing the machine rather than reading the back of it. Local engineers across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire.

Call 0115 648 0929 Book online — postcode and number is all we need

Common questions

Why is my Whirlpool washing machine not spinning?

The machine washes normally but the clothes come out soaked, because the drum never reaches spin speed. A spin needs three things to be true: the water is gone, the door is locked, and the load is balanced. If any one of them fails the machine skips the spin rather than risk it. Where the wash itself is fine and only the spin fails, the two usual culprits are worn motor carbon brushes on older belt-driven machines, or a load that the machine cannot balance.

Can I fix a Whirlpool washing machine not spinning myself?

Redistribute the load by hand and run a spin-only cycle — a single heavy item is a common and harmless cause. Check whether water is left in the drum; if it is, this is a drain fault first and a spin fault second. Listen during the attempted spin: a motor that revs while the drum stays still points at the belt. Beyond those checks this one normally needs an engineer.

What Whirlpool error codes mean not spinning?

Whirlpool washing machines report this through their own fault codes. The ones that point at not spinning are C01, C04, C05, F06, F07, F11. 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 Whirlpool 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 Whirlpool washing machine faults

Repairs we cover near you

Written by the engineers at ASAP Repairs from our own repair notes. See also our general guide to washing machines not spinning and our Whirlpool repairs page.

Whirlpool washing machine not spinning