Under perfect conditions, the Amana washing machine should only stay on the sensing mode for 2-3 minutes or up to 5 minutes in the case of a larger load. Sometimes, however, you may deal with an Amana washer stuck on sensing fill for more than 5 minutes and wonder why.
An Amana washer will stay on sensing fill due to an electronic glitch, wrong setting, drum overload, dirt clogging, failed water supply, or an incompletely shut lid. Other possibilities include a malfunctioning or faulty fill sensor, shift actuator, pressure switch, drive motor, or control board.
So, ideally, there are close to a dozen possible explanations for your Amana not going past the sensing mode, which means a similar number of potential fixes. And still, you can put your washer on diagnostic mode to find hidden faults that could save you the time to troubleshoot it.
So, I’ll not just discuss the 11 issues and their fixes but also the diagnostic mode to enable you to run it quickly. And after we discuss the troubleshooting guide, we’ll look at other issues related to a malfunctioning Amana washer.
Let’s dive in!
In a hurry? Consider the dozen possible explanations for an Amana washing machine that won’t go beyond sensing fill and the fixes in the table below.
Your Amana Washer Won’t Go Past Sensing Fill? Quick Troubleshooting Guide!
| – | Likely Cause | Fix |
| 1. | Electronic Glitch | Reset the washer |
| 2. | Wrong Setting | Ensure you select ‘Start’ to run the washer past sensing mode. |
| 3. | Drum Overload | Reduce the load size – not more than ¾ full. |
| 4. | Dirt Clogging | Clean the washer with Affresh. |
| 5. | Failed Water Supply | Ensure the washer receives adequate water. |
| 6. | Incompletely Shut Lid | Completely shut the lid. If the lid switch lacks continuity, replace it. |
| 7. | Malfunctioning Fill Sensor | Swap out the fill sensor. |
| 8. | Defective Shift Actuator | Replace the faulty shift actuator. |
| 9. | Pressure Switch Fault | Replace the pressure switch if it lacks continuity. |
| 10. | Faulty Drive Motor | Replace the drive motor. |
| 11. | Failed Control Board | Change the control board. |
How Long Does Sensing Fill Take On Amana Washer?
Amana washers have a built-in auto-sensing feature that allows them to sense the load size and determine the amount of water to match them. This auto-sensing process should ideally take 2-3 minutes, but it can take up to 5 minutes in case of a larger load.
So, it becomes an issue when the washer stays on sensing fill for more than 5 minutes, as that shows the washer is struggling to determine the load size, and we will discuss the possible reasons later.
Amana Washer on Diagnostic Mode
Generally, entering your Amana washer into diagnostic mode saves time finding out why it won’t go past sensing mode. This is important if you are unsure about the fault and want to save time.
Here’s how to run diagnostics on your Amana washer:
- First, put the washing machine on standby mode – that means it should remain plugged in but not turned on
- Turn the main knob 3600 anticlockwise to point to the Regular/Normal Mode
- Rotate the knob anticlockwise again for one click and clockwise for three clicks
- Then turn it anticlockwise one click and clockwise one click to start entering diagnostic mode
- Wait for the lights to turn on, turn the knob clockwise for one more click, and press ‘start.’
- Turn the knob clockwise again to view the error codes
Once you find the error codes, try to find their meaning.
Why Is My Washer Stuck On Sensing Fill?
Now, consider the 11 issues below if your Amana washer is stuck on sensing fill:
1. Electronic Glitch
Like any other electric appliance, your Amana washer can sometimes suffer an electronic hitch or software glitch. When it does, its operations may stop temporarily, and one thing that could happen is the washer not going beyond the sensing mode.
Fix
Consider resetting your Amana washer as the first troubleshooting when it won’t go past sensing mode. Here’s how to do it:
- Turn off the washer and then unplug it for 1 minute
- Plug it back in and wait for half a minute to open the lid
- Quickly open and close the lid six times, and then start the washer
- If the washer doesn’t bypass the sensing mode, consider the other issues shared below
2. Wrong Setting
Your washer runs on instructions. It will only start when you instruct it to do so. So, you cannot expect it to go beyond the sensing phase if you haven’t selected ‘Start.’
At times, the washer may be on a different setting other than start, thus refusing to run.
Fix
Check the washer setting and ensure you select ‘Start’ for the washer to start running.
3. Drum Overload
Since it takes time for the washer to detect the load size and add water, it may take forever if the laundry is excessive. So, inspect the laundry load to determine if it’s more than ¾ drum full. If it is, then that counts as an overload.
Fix
Reduce the drum’s load size to ¾ full. Don’t go above it.
4. Dirt Clogging
Sometimes the Amana washer won’t go past sensing fill because of too much filth, especially on the inlet screen and the waiter inlet valve. In both cases, the clogging interferes with the water fill-up process, meaning it’ll take ages for the washer to fill up with water before it can start running.
Fix
Meticulously clean the washer, especially the inlet screen, and valve, to remove the clogging. Preferably, use Affresh washing machine cleaner as it’s thorough.
5. Failed Water Supply
Your Amana washer needs adequate water to match the load size and start running. It will stay in the sensing phase much longer if it doesn’t get enough water.
Overall, there are several issues to consider if the washer is not receiving adequate water. That includes the following:
- Failure to open both water supply lines
- Kinked water supply hose
- Low water pressure
Fix
First, ensure both water supply lines are open and straighten them out if they are kinked. If the washer still doesn’t get enough water, measure the pressure using a water pressure gauge. If it’s less than 20 psi, adjust it from the water main, look for any kinks, and stretch them out.
6. Incompletely Shut Lid (Amana Top Load Washer Stuck On Sensing Fill)
If the lid is shut correctly, the Amana top loader will only start running and complete a cycle. However, the washer may fail to go beyond the sensing fill for the same reason.
In that case, check if the lid is firmly closed, and if it’s not, inspect the lid switch for fault, as it could be stopping it from doing so.
Fix
Try shutting the lid firmly, and if it doesn’t, inspect the lid switch with a multimeter to see if it has continuity. If it doesn’t, replace it.
7. Malfunctioning Fill Sensor
The fill sensor’s job is to detect the water as it fills the washer. Once it fails, it won’t do this job, which means the washer may stay in the sensing phase for some time.
Fix
Try swapping the fill sensor to see if the washer will pass the sensing phase. If it doesn’t, consider the other issues below.
8. Defective Shift Actuator
The shift actuator’s job is to move the washer from one wash cycle to the next. So, you expect it to work seamlessly. However, if it’s faulty, it’ll be hard for the washer to move beyond the sensing fill.
Fix
Inspect the shift actuator for wear or damage. If so, replace it.
9. Pressure Switch Fault
Another component that could fail and stop the Amana washer from going beyond the sensing mode is the pressure switch. This switch signals the control board when the washer starts to fill up with water so that the control board can respond by initiating the running process.
So, if it’s malfunctioning, it won’t be able to relay any information to the control board, and since the control board won’t respond, the washer will stay in sensing mode.
Fix
Use a multimeter to check if the pressure switch has continuity. Replace it if it doesn’t.
10. Faulty Drive Motor
With the drive motor powering the drum movement, you wouldn’t want it to fail. If it fails, the drum won’t move, meaning the washer won’t run and will stay in the sensing phase.
Fix
Expose the drive motor and watch from a distance to see if it’s turning. If it’s not, replace it.
11. Failed Control Board
Consider the control board after ruling out everything else; your washer won’t stop malfunctioning. This board is the washer’s brain system, which means nothing can happen if it’s faulty.
However, diagnosing the control board is difficult, so most people call an expert or replace it as the last troubleshooting resort.
Fix
Consider replacing the control board as a last resort. But you may want to get a washing machine expert’s view before you do.
Amana Washer Starts to Fill Then Stops
If your Amana washer starts to fill and then stops midway, it’s most likely due to one of these issues:
- An open lid
- Power interruption
- Water supply interruption
- Faulty inlet valve
- Defective drain pump
- Defective control board
Amana Washer Sensing Fill Light Blinking
If the Amana washer sensing fills light is blinding, that often indicates the washer can’t go past the auto-sensing phase, and if so, it could have a water-filling problem. So, check the water supply to ensure the supply hoses are open and there are no kinks.
Amana High Efficiency Washer Stuck On Sensing Fill
Consider that your Amana high-efficiency washer is stuck on sensing fill due to these reasons:
- Washer clogging
- Improperly closed lid
- Laundry overload
- Wrong setting
- Electronic glitch
- Failed water supply
Concluding Thoughts:
Above are the 11 issues to check when dealing with an Amana washer stuck on sensing fill. It’s essential to reset the washer in case of an electric glitch, check the setting to ensure they are correct, avoid a drum overload, and clean the washer if dirty.
While at it, check the water supply and completely shut the lid. And if the fill sensor, shift actuator, pressure switch, drive motor, or electronic control board is defective, replace it.
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