Though discontinued now, Cabrio washers were one of the bestsellers of their time. They can easily be found in many households, still running well enough.
Usually, people face almost no problem using the Whirlpool Cabrio washers because of their user manuals that explain every troubleshooting process in great detail.
However, sometimes the Cabrio washer will just not start, and put out a beeping sound instead.
Suppose your Cabrio washing machine is not starting. In that case, it most likely means that the start button on your washer’s control panel is not working. This can cause a laundry list of problems (no pun intended), from making it impossible to run a cycle to preventing you from setting a timer for a delayed start.
In this article, I will be going over how you can fix the problem of your Whirlpool Cabrio Washer not starting, at home, without any extra service charges.
Whirlpool Cabrio Washer Won’t Start
Cabrio washing machine generally won’t start because the start button on your washer’s control panel is not working. This happens when the start button is not working, but the rest of the lights are coming on.
Here’s the step-by-step process to get your Whirlpool Cabrio washer to stop beeping and actually start working.
1. Unhook the washer from the safety hooks
It is essential first to identify the source of the problem. You will need to unhook the washer from all the safety hooks and cut the power to the appliance off.
- Pull out the unit from where it is back up against the wall. This provides extra space to work with. Doing this first helps you avoid problems later on when the appliance has been opened and dismembered.
- Take a one-quarter-inch hex drive screwdriver to remove the three screws at the back of the washing machine and save the wire harness plate for later.
- To open the lid up, you first need to pull the cover towards you. Then, lift slightly and push backward. This will unhook the washer top from the safety hooks, allowing you to pivot the washing machine top.
- The lid will slide into two tiny metal fingers when you have opened up the lid and hold the secure lid while lifting the top.
- You will find the manual for most Whirlpool Cabrio washers in the front of the washing machine, near the top. You can lift the tub and reach in to grab it quickly.
- Once you have grabbed the manual, you can see how the machine operates in diagnostics. This will help you to determine what might be the actual cause of the problem, so inspect it closely.
- To generate an error code, press any sequence of three buttons on the control panel three times in a row. This will trigger the error code, assuming the interface will turn on.
Error Codes for Whirlpool Front Load Washers and Top Load Washers are mentioned here.
You can quickly solve any error code by referring to the links attached above; however, if it is an F6 E2 Error Code, there lies a problem with your interface.
2. Get the interface out of the unit
Getting the interface out of the unit is essential to take a good look at it.
- Unplug the machine before taking a look at the interface. Turn the switch off and remove the plug from the socket too.
- Use masking tape to secure the lid to the top of the washer for convenience.
- Take a flat-bladed screwdriver and press the spring clip that holds both sides of the interface. The right side is easy to do, but the left side might be a little cramped, requiring a bit more force.
- You can gently drop the lid when the clips have plopped and are appropriately depressed.
- Take the hex head screwdriver and remove the eight screws holding the rear metal plate that rests behind the interface.
- Once you have removed the metal screws, you can roll the interface forward, exposing the mainboard and all the wires on the interface.
- Now remove the wire connecting the interface to the control board. This wire can be seen distinctly as it attaches the inside of the mainboard to the interface.
- Additionally, a connector on the interface needs to be removed to give you more room to inspect and repair the control interface.
Once you have the Cabrio interface out, you can not look and inspect the problem with it. You also need to look for damage to it.
3. Test the interface
Once you have your hands on the Cabrio interface, you now need to test it.
- On the interface, you can take a screwdriver and remove the five small quarter-inch hex headpieces to take the covering off, allowing you more access to it.
- Once you have the interface a little more stripped down, go ahead and clean it with alcohol wipes. Remember to not clean with a wet cloth as there might be a chance that it won’t dry off by the time you need to put it back in the washer.
- Suppose there is severe damage to the interface, like a burnt speck that does not come off even when you have wiped everything down. In that case, you might need to change the interface altogether.
- Screw back the interface with the mainboard and ensure all other wires are secure.
- Plug the washing machine back in, wait for it to turn back on, and see if the interface and the machine work properly as they should.
- The washing machine should now work typically, indicating no problems with the interface.
4. Prepare the board for a protective conformal coating
Once you discovered that there was no problem with the interface, your washer was not turning on because the mainboard was overheating during its run.
- Take the screws out again and separate the interface and the mainboard.
- Use conformal coating to run a layer of it on the inside of the mainboard. It will seal the electrical parts on the board against steam from the washer during the working. This will also prevent any possible damage to the electrical connections. The conformal coating is about 13 USD and can be found in any hardware store or at CVS.
- Take a brush to rub a coating layer on the electrical PCB areas of the washer.
- Let it dry for about fifteen minutes, then reinstall the board to the Cabrio washing machine, and it will start working.
The conformal coating also gives the board a longer lifespan, so you do not need to worry about any possible damage due to the layer.
What Can You Do If This Repair Does Not Work Either?
You can follow the steps below if the repair does not work and your washing machine does not turn on.
- Remove the control panel to diagnose the problem. To help you remove the control panel, consult your washer’s repair manual.
- Check for any loose or broken pieces. Sometimes a tiny bit of plastic will break off behind the start button and prevent it from working.
- Check all the wiring with a voltage meter. Unfortunately, if the timer/primary controller/CCU fails, the entire control panel must be replaced.
- If none of this works, contact the Whirlpool service center.
Final Remarks
It is so frustrating when your Whirlpool Cabrio washer won’t start.
Luckily, despite being a complex machine, there are chances that the problem can be solved at home very easily with several proven fixes:
- Unhook the washer from the safety hooks.
- Get the interface out of the unit.
- Test the interface.
- Prepare the board for a protective conformal coating.
My name is Rick Kinney and I am the founder of ExHandyman. I have worked as a handyman for many years, and fixing stuff is my greatest pleasure in life.