How to replace the belt on a Whirlpool washing machine

Is your Whirlpool washer refusing to spin, leaving you with a laundry pile-up? It might be time to replace the worn-out belt—a straightforward fix that can bring your washer back to life in minutes! Check out our step-by-step guide below, complete with a handy how-to video to walk you through the process.

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On a Whirlpool washer, the belt enables the washer’s tub to rotate and agitate during the wash cycle. Over time, the belt may become damaged or worn out, resulting in the tub not turning properly. Fortunately, this repair is relatively simple and should only take a few minutes to complete. By following the instructions provided below, you’ll be able to successfully replace the belt and have your Whirlpool washer up and running again in no time.

Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeDlqPXBZIk

The information in this article may not apply to your specific appliance model. We recommend consulting your manufacturer’s documentation or contact us with any questions.

What you’ll need

• Pliers
• Torx 20 screwdriver
• Flathead screwdriver

Safety precautions

• Always power off and unplug your appliance or switch off the circuit breaker before attempting any maintenance or replacement work. This keeps you safe by preventing any risk of injury from electric shock.
• Turn off the water supply at the outlet before beginning repairs to any appliance parts that hold water. Have towels ready for any residual water in the system when removing parts. 
• Wear insulated work gloves to protect your hands from sharp metal parts, pinching hazards and debris.
• Don’t test wiring with a multimeter for live voltage if you’re unfamiliar with how to prevent short circuiting when testing. 
• When working with wires, avoid touching any exposed wires or terminals. If you need to touch a wire, use a non-conductive tool or wear insulating gloves to prevent electrical shock.
• Take your time and don’t rush while working to prevent accidents and personal injuries.
• Work in a well-lit area so you can clearly see and access the interior parts.
• Clear your workspace of clutter and other obstacles. Keep children and pets away from the work area.
• Never work on internal parts with bare wet hands. Make sure the work area is completely dry.
• Check your user manual to see if there are specific installation or safety instructions for your part or appliance. 
• Be gentle when handling or removing parts. Excessive force might damage the appliance or cause injury.
• Wear safety glasses when working with chemicals, dust or cleaning large debris to prevent injury. 
• If the appliance has recently been used, give it plenty of time for any heating parts to cool down before working on it. 

Replacement steps

Removal

1. Locate the hose that is snapped into the back panel and needs to be detached. Use pliers to release the clamp holding the hose in place.
2. Snap the hose out of its holders and carefully pull it off.
3. Once the hose is removed, locate and remove all the screws that secure the back panel using a torx 20 driver.
4. Locate the covers that lock the back panel to the washer. Lift up one side of each cover and pull them out to remove them.
5. Repeat this process for all the covers until they are completely removed.
6. With the back panel now accessible, you will have access to the motor.
7. Spin the pulley on the motor to loosen the belt. Pull on the belt to remove it from the motor.

Installation

1. Take the new belt and align the grooves on the motor. Stretch the belt over the right side of the pulley while maintaining tension to prevent it from falling off.
2. As you stretch the belt onto the pulley, hold the pulley and turn it to allow the belt to settle properly.
3. Make sure that the belt is centered in the drive pulley and give it a couple of spins to confirm that it is securely in place.
4. Now it’s time to reattach the back panel. Position the panel under the washer and push it in.
5. Align the screw holes and insert the first screw to hold the panel in place. Proceed to insert and tighten all the remaining screws.
6. Reinstall the shipping bolt covers by sliding them into place, ensuring that the rounded edge is facing outward. Snap them into place.
7. Reconnect the drain hose. Push the hose back into position and slide the clamp up to secure it. If there is any excess hose, run it through the provided clips and ensure it is directed towards the drain.
8. Plug the washer back into the power supply and turn the water back on.Run a test cycle to check for any issues.

Additional information

Thanks for reading! We hope this guide helped you replace the belt on your Whirlpool washer. 

If you still need some replacement parts, grab your model number and head over to AppliancePartsPros.com. We offer over two million parts and most orders arrive in two business days. If you need some help with finding the right part or placing an order, you can contact our team at 1 (877) 477-7278.

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