How to Troubleshoot a Whirlpool Washer That Won’t Power Up

Facing a Whirlpool top-load washer that won’t power up can be frustrating, but don’t worry—you’re just a few steps away from solving it yourself!

If you need any replacement parts for your Whirlpool washer, you can enter your model number at AppliancePartsPros.com to order them. Most orders arrive in just two business days, and we have thousands of free guides to show you how to install your new parts.

The troubleshooting information in this article is based on model WTW8500DW0 and may not apply to your specific appliance model. We recommend consulting your manufacturer’s documentation or contact us with any questions.

Materials you need

• ¼” nutdriver
• Putty knife
• Multimeter

Safety tips

When working on any appliance, always keep safety first to avoid personal injury or damage to the appliance or its parts. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

• Always power off and unplug your appliance or switch off the circuit breaker before you attempt any maintenance or replacement work. This keeps you safe by eliminating any risk of electric shock. 
• If the appliance has recently been used, give it plenty of time to cool down before working on it. 
• Take your time while working to prevent accidents and personal injuries. Rushing is the enemy of precision.
• Work in a well-lit area so you can see and access appliance parts.
• Keep your workspace free of clutter and other obstacles. Keep children and pets away from the work area.
• Never work on internal parts with wet hands. Make sure the work area is completely dry.
• Check the user manual to see if there are specific installation or safety instructions related to your appliance or replacement part. 
• Be gentle when handling or removing parts. Excessive force might damage the appliance or cause personal injury.
• Wear insulated work gloves to protect your hands from sharp metal parts and debris.
• 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.
• Always take photos or make a note of wiring terminals or other connections before disconnecting them to make reassembly easier.
• Don’t test live voltage with a multimeter if you’re unfamiliar with how to prevent short-circuiting.
• Turn off the water supply at the outlet before beginning repairs. Keep towels ready to catch any residual water in the system when removing parts.

How to troubleshoot a Whirlpool top-load washer that won’t power up

Step 1: Check the power supply

LIVE VOLTAGE WARNING: For this test, the washer needs to be plugged in and powered on. Please be very careful to protect yourself from electric shock, which has the potential to cause serious injuries. Don’t ever test live voltage if you’re uncomfortable using a multimeter.

1. Unplug the washer.
2. Test the wall outlet using a multimeter to verify it provides 120 volts AC.
3. If there is no power at the outlet, address the electrical issue before proceeding.

Step 2: Access the control board

1. Remove the screws at the back of the control panel.
2. Use a putty knife to release the spring clips under the control panel corners.
3. Roll the control panel upward to expose the main control board.

Step 3: Test the main control board power supply

1. Locate the J12 connector on the control board.
2. Set the multimeter to AC voltage and test between the black and white wires on the J12 connector.
3. If there is no 120 volts AC, replace the power cord.

Step 4: Inspect the diagnostic LED on the control board

1. Observe the diagnostic LED.
2. If the LED is steady on, replace the main control board.
3. If the LED is off, proceed to test the user interface’s effect on the board.

Step 5: Test the user interface’s effect on the main board

1. Unplug the washer and disconnect the J18 connector from the control board.
2. Plug the washer back into the outlet and observe the diagnostic LED.

If the LED flashes, proceed to test the keypad and encoder. If the LED remains off, test voltages at the J18 connector.

Step 6: Test the J18 connector voltages

1. Set the multimeter to DC voltage.
2. Place the black probe on J18 pin 3 and the yellow probe on J18 pin 1.
3. Check for 5 volts DC.

If 5 VDC is not present, replace the main control board. If 5 VDC is present but the LED doesn’t flash, replace the main control board.

Step 7: Test the user interface power supply

1. Ensure the washer is unplugged.
2. Verify that the J18 and J17 connectors are securely connected to the control board and user interface.
3. Set the multimeter to DC voltage and test between J18 pin 3 and J18 pin 1 for 5 VDC:

If there is no 5 VDC, replace the main control board.

Step 8: Check continuity of the user interface harness

1. Test continuity between J18 on the main board and J17 pin 3 (black wire).
2. Test continuity between J18 pin 2 and J17 pin 2 (blue wire).
3. Test continuity between J18 pin 3 and J17 pin 1 (yellow wire).
4. If continuity fails on any wire, replace the user interface harness.
5. If continuity is present, replace the user interface.

More information

Thanks for sticking with us! We hope this guide got your Whirlpool top-load washer back up and running. If you’ve got other appliance repairs on your list, take a look at our other guides and videos for some more help. When you’re ready to order new parts, just grab your model number and head over to AppliancePartsPros.com. You can chat with a pro, check out our DIY blog, view diagrams and more. Don’t forget to subscribe on YouTube and connect with us on Facebook, X and Instagram!