Why Doesn’t LG Washer Control Panel Light Up – Simple Fixes

Ever found yourself staring at your LG washer, puzzled because the control panel won’t light up? You’re not alone!

Whether it’s a pesky button or a mysterious panel glitch, we’ve got the scoop. 

Dive in to decode the dark control panel mystery with tips from LG USA Support and when to request a repair! 

Key Takeaways

• Check power supply and connections.
• Reset the washer by unplugging and replugging it.
• Ensure the control lock is off.
• Verify if the control board or wiring harness needs replacement.
• Consult a professional if the issue persists.

Why Doesn’t LG Washer Control Panel Light Up?

Tripped circuit breaker or faulty outlet

Ensure your washer is plugged right into a wall outlet, not an extension cord.

Test that outlet with something else, like a lamp or phone charger, just to be sure it’s working. 

If the outlet seems off, try resetting the circuit breaker or, better yet, get an electrician to look at the wiring.

Solution

Make sure the circuit breaker for your washer hasn’t tripped. If it has, just reset it.

Do not use multi-tap strip, as this can cause the circuit breaker to trip due to the circuit overload. If it doesn’t work, the outlet might be faulty. You might need to replace it.

Double-check that your washer is plugged directly into a dedicated 20A circuit. Avoid using power strips or extension cords. And make sure your circuit breaker is rated for 20A too.

If everything else seems fine, the circuit breaker itself might be the issue. You might need to swap it out for a new 20A breaker, especially if your LG dishwasher won’t turn on.

Loose power cord connection

Make sure the power cord is fully plugged into both the back of the washer and the wall outlet. 

Sometimes an incomplete connection can stop power from reaching the control panel. 

We’ve all been there, right? It’s such a simple thing but can make all the difference!

Solution

Make sure you really jam that power cord into the socket on the washer until you hear it click. 

That click is super important! Then, plug the other end into a wall outlet that you know for sure is working. Make sure it’s getting power.

If the control panel is still playing hard to get and won’t light up, let’s try a hard reset.

Unplug the washer, then press and hold the Power/Start button for 5 seconds. 

After that, hold down the Play/Pause button for 5 seconds. Now, plug it back in and see if it powers on.

Faulty control board

if the control panel on your LG washer isn’t lighting up even after you’ve checked the power supply, it might be time to replace the main control board. This is a pretty common issue with these washers and usually fixes the problem for good.

Solution

Remove the top panel by unscrewing the two screws, sliding it off, and lifting it up. Easy peasy. Just remember, when dealing with a stuck button on an LG dishwasher, press the pause button for a quick diagnosis.

Next, detach the control board cover by releasing the tabs and the retaining clip. Just a little pop here and there.

Unplug the wire harness from the control board. Might need a little tug, but nothing too hard.

Then, unscrew the screw that’s holding the control board assembly in place. Pull back the tab, slide, and lift it out. You’re halfway there!

Grab the new control board. Place the tabs in the panel, press down to secure it, and slide forward so the peg seats into the frame. You’ll feel it click in.

Re-thread that screw to secure the new control board.

Plug the wire harness back in, align the tabs under the cover, roll it forward until it snaps into place, and reattach the retaining clip.

Finally, reassemble the washer. Pop the cover back on, slide the top panel on, and screw it back in place.

Overloaded motor

if you’re seeing that “LE” error code pop up, it means the motor is a bit overloaded. Best thing to do? Let your washer take a little break for about 30 minutes to cool off, then go ahead and restart the cycle.

Solution

LE error basically means your motor is either overloaded or locked. This can happen if you’ve got a super heavy wash load or maybe some stuff is stuck between the wash plate and the inner basket.

What you need to do is just let your washer chill for about 30 minutes. In a Maytag model, you might want to press the pause button for a reset. Seriously, just let it rest! This gives the motor time to cool down and reset itself. After those 30 minutes, go ahead and restart your wash cycle.

Frozen components

If your washer is showing an “FF” error, it means it’s frozen.

Here’s a quick fix: Supply some warm water to unfreeze the drain hose and pump. You can cover the supply hose with a warm, wet towel to help it defrost.

Solution

1. Empty the tub of any clothes or water.
2. Pour warm water (50-60°C) into the tub, close the door, and wait 1-2 hours for it to thaw.
3. Open the drain access panel and remove the plug from the drain hose to drain out the melted water. Replug the drain hose when finished.
4. Run a Rinse cycle to check if the washer is working properly again.
5. If an “IE” error appears, it means the supply hose is still frozen. Wrap the faucet with a warm towel for 5 minutes to thaw it.
6. Soak the supply hose in hot water under 50°C until thawed, then reconnect it.
7. Run another Rinse cycle to confirm the washer is unfrozen and functioning normally.

Power failure

if you see a “PF” code pop up, it means there was a power failure during a cycle. No worries, just restart the cycle to get things back on track.

Solution

If your LG washing machine displays a “PF” error code, it indicates a power failure occurred during a cycle. 

To fix this:

1. Simply restart the washing cycle.

A “PF” error code means the power supply to the washing machine was interrupted, likely due to a power outage in your home. Restarting the cycle will resume the wash after the power is restored.

No other troubleshooting steps are needed for a “PF” error code caused by a temporary power failure. Just restart the cycle and the washer should function normally.

Faulty wiring harness

If both the control board and the power supply seem fine, there’s a good chance that the problem is with the wiring harness connecting the control panel to the main board.

Yep, it’s usually the small things that can cause big headaches, right? Maybe some wires got pinched or damaged somewhere along the way.

Look for any signs of wear and tear, like frayed wires or loose connections. Sometimes it’s just a simple fix, like reconnecting a loose wire or replacing a damaged section.

Solution

You gotta find the wiring harness running from the control panel to the main control board. It’s probably held down with zip ties or screws, so grab a screwdriver and some snips. Get rid of those zip ties or screws.

Next, yank out the old harness. Now, you gotta route the new harness along the exact same path as the old one. Make sure it fits just right.

Once that’s done, reconnect all the plugs to the control board and any other components. Give them a good push to make sure they snap in securely.

Now, use some zip ties or screws to secure the new harness in the same spots as the old one. Don’t forget to put the rear panel back on.

Finally, plug everything back in, reconnect the power and water, and test out the control panel to make sure everything’s working as it should.

Defective control panel

Now and then, you might find that the control panel itself is the culprit. It’s rare but it happens. Even in a top-quality LG dishwasher, the pause button might quit working occasionally. When it does, replacing it is usually the way to go.

Solution

pop off the control panel cover. You’ll need to release the retaining clip and unplug the wire harness from the control board. Got it? Great.

Next, unscrew the screw holding the control board assembly. Pull back that tab, then slide and lift the control board out. Easy peasy.

Now, grab your new control board. Place those tabs into the panel, press down to secure it, then slide it forward to seat the peg into the frame. Almost done!

Screw it back in place to secure the control board. Don’t forget to plug the wire harness back into the control board.

To finish up, align the cover tabs with the panel and roll it forward to snap it back in place. Reattach that retaining clip.

Lastly, slide the top panel back on and secure it with the two screws. Push the washer back into place, plug it in, and give the new control panel a test run.

Locked control panel

It looks like the child lock feature might be turned on, which is why the control panel isn’t responding.

You’ll need to check the manual to figure out how to unlock the controls.

Solution

To unlock the control panel on an LG washer:

1. Make sure the power is on.
2. Press and hold the two buttons above the control lock marker simultaneously for 3 seconds.
3. A chime will sound, indicating the control panel is now unlocked.

The child lock feature prevents the control panel from responding to button presses to prevent accidental activation by children. Disabling this function will restore normal operation of the control panel.

What should I do when my washer control panel not light up?

Your LG front load washer is giving you a hard time, huh? If the control panel doesn’t light up when you press the power button, don’t panic!

First, double-check that the washer is actually plugged in. I know it sounds obvious, but sometimes it’s the simplest things that trip us up.

Next, take a glance at the top of the washer and make sure the control lock button isn’t accidentally engaged. If it is, hold down the button until the CL indicator disappears. Sometimes these little things sneak up on us, especially when we’re juggling laundry between the dryer and the dishwasher.

If pressing the button does nothing, you might want to visit the LG site. They have a related help library where you can look up your specific washer model and see what common issues are.

You can also type in your model number to get more profile-specific advice. Sometimes there are firmware updates that can resolve control panel issues, so look into that too.

If you’ve verified everything and it still won’t light up, it might be time to request a repair. On the LG site, there’s a request a repair page where you can check if your washer is still under warranty.

If you qualify, they might cover the repair cost. If it’s out of warranty, they can still help you find a verified appliance technician to take care of it.

Make sure to check what credentials the technician has; it’s better to get someone experienced rather than someone who’s just messing around.

Sometimes the issue could also be related to the drain pump or another internal component that isn’t easily visible.

If the washer has some age, parts can start to wear out, and you’ll need to get inside the drum or check the interface for more details. 

However, if you’re not comfortable doing that, leave it to the pros. Also, don’t forget to check the disclaimer on the LG site; the company isn’t responsible for posts made by users, so always use verified information.

Hope that helps, and may you have a short turn around in fixing your loader washer! If all else fails, please visit our request a repair, and you should have your washing routine back to normal in no time.

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