How to Replace the Drain Pump Motor in Your LG Washer

Image
DanMarc
August 13, 2018
Service
The drain pump motor in your front load LG washer model WM1388HW is responsible for pumping the water out of your appliance. When the motor is damaged, your washing machine will not drain. While replacing the drain pump motor may sound like an impossible DIY project, it is actually a repair most appliance owners can carry out on their own. If you do choose to replace the malfunctioning motor yourself, drain the water from the washer tub and follow the step-by-step repair guide provided below.

How to Replace a Faulty Drain Pump Motor in a LG Washer

Remember to either unplug your appliance from the wall or to turn the electricity off at the circuit breaker before starting a repair. You will also need to shut off the hot and cold water supply running to your appliance. When you work on any type of appliance repair, safety goggles and work gloves should be worn to protect you from an injury.
  1. Start the repair by taking off the top of your front load washer. To do so, unthread the screws securing the top panel to the body of the washer. Once the screws are out, pull the top back one to two inches to clear the stoppers. Then lift up the top and place it in a safe area.
  2. Pull out the detergent drawer and push down on the locking tab to release the drawer from its housing. Once the drawer is out of the way, take out the mounting screws holding the front control panel in place. With the screws removed, unsnap the locking tabs that run along the top of the control panel. Now unfasten the wire harnesses connecting the control panel to the washer and feed the wires through the hole on the washing machine frame.
  3. Open the washer door and remove the clamp that holds the gasket onto the lip of the front panel. Find the spring located on the clamp and get behind it with a Phillips screwdriver. Carefully lift the clamp out of the groove it sits in and pull it completely off the gasket. Remove the gasket from the front panel so it is not in your way. Reach behind the door latch to unhook the wire harness connected to the door switch. Now close the washer door.
  4. Move down to the bottom of your washer and open the pump filter cover. Unfasten the drainage tube, and remove the screw holding the filter housing in place. Pull the housing out, and unthread the lower panel mounting screw.
  5. Stand back up, and take out the upper panel mounting screws. Lift the front panel off the washing machine.
  6. You have now gained access to the pump and motor assembly. Before you can remove the assembly, you must disconnect all three hoses attached to it. Pull off the recirculation hose, first. Then, using pliers, release the spring clamp on the drain pump and remove it from the pump assembly. Lastly, take off the tub to pump hose by once again disengaging the spring clamp with your pliers.
  7. Remove the two screws that hold the assembly in place. Once the screws are out, reach into the washer cabinet and find the locking tab located underneath the pump and motor assembly. Push the tab down and lift the assembly up. Take a picture of the wire connections running to the pump and motor. Disconnect the four wires, and remove the assembly from the washing machine.
  8. Using a Phillips screwdriver, take out the screws that secure the drain pump motor to the assembly. After the drain pump motor is free, remove the pump cover from the defective part.
  9. Grab your new drain pump motor and slide it into the pump cover you took off of the old motor. Secure the drain pump to the assembly with the screws you removed earlier.
  10. Now that the new drain pump motor is attached, you can install the assembly back into your washer. First, route the small drainage tube through the hole in the front panel. Then, look at the picture you took of the wire connections and reattach the wires. After the wires are reconnected, snap the pump and motor assembly back into the locking tab and secure the assembly to the front panel with the screws you removed previously.
  11. Reconnect the hoses to the pump and motor assembly. Start with the tub to pump hose. Slide it onto the shaft and secure it with a spring clamp. Next, put the drain hose back on the assembly and pull the spring clamp down. Finally, reattach the recirculation hose.
  12. With all three hoses in place, you can put the front panel back onto your washing machine. Line up the tabs at the bottom of the panel with the slots on the base of your appliance. Tilt the front panel up and reinstall the screws at the top of the washer.
  13. After the front panel is secure, you’ll need to put the pump filter housing back together. Reattach the screw at the base of your washer and pull the drainage tube through the hole in the filter housing. Push the housing into place and reinsert the screw at the bottom of the trim. Place the drainage tube in the housing clip and snap on the front access panel
  14. Reach behind the door gasket and connect the wire harness to the door switch. Pull the gasket out and attach it to the front panel. Make sure it is sitting in the groove around the door before installing the spring clamp. To properly attach the spring clamp, situate the spring at the bottom of the gasket and carefully work it around the lip of the door. Once most of the clamp is in place, use vice grip pliers to stretch out the spring to finish securing it on the gasket.
  15. To put the console make on your washer, feed the wires through the hole on the front panel and tilt the console up before snapping it back onto your appliance. Reconnect the wires to the main wire harness.
  16. Reattach the screws around the soap dispenser and slide the detergent tray back into your washer.
  17. Finally, place the top panel of your washer back on. Set the top down about one to two inches away from the front panel and then slide it forward. Put the screws back in that hold the top panel to the body of the washing machine.
  18. Now that you are done replacing the drain pump motor, plug-in your washer, and turn the hot and cold water back on.
If your washer still isn’t draining after replacing the drain pump motor, please contact us today and we’ll be happy to diagnose and repair the malfunction for you.
Sharing

Leave a Reply