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How to test a washing machine's motor:

Typical washing machine motor

Use our step-by-step washer repair guide to learn how to test your motor. Once you have diagnosed the problem we have the OEM replacement motor that fits your appliance.

Note:
Disconnect the power source to your washer before you conduct this or any other test. Either unplug the unit from the wall outlet, remove the appropriate fuse from the fuse box, or flip the appropriate breaker in the circuit breaker panel.

Locate your washer's motor. There will be to wire leads connected to the motor. Disconnect the motor's two wire leads from the wiring harness. Set your multimeter to the R x 1 setting. Touch each of the meter's probes to one terminal each. Your motor should show little resistance (a reading of zero, or close to zero).

Now check the ground connection. Place one probe on the bare metal housing of the motor. Place the other probe on each terminal, one at a time. You should not receive any reading on your meter from this test.

If your washer's motor fails either of these tests, you will have to replace it.

For more information about washer motors: