Ideally, a Maytag Bravos washer stays on sensing mode or sensing fill mode for about 2-3 minutes as the sensor establishes the load size to allow the water to fill up the drum. Sometimes, however, you may have to deal with a Maytag Bravos washer stuck on sensing fill for much longer.
A Maytag Bravos doesn’t go past sensing mode because something is amiss. It could be a glitch, an unlevelled washer, an open lid, drum overload, a jammed keypad, drain clogging, failed water supply, a power cable fault, or component failure.
And while mentioning component failure, we’re talking about the water-level sensor, water inlet valve, shift actuator, timer, drive motor, or control board. Your Bravos washer doesn’t pass sensor mode if any of such components is defective.
We’ll discuss all the nine reasons that could stop the washing machine from transitioning from the auto-sensing mode (about 2 – 3 minutes) to the actual wash cycle. Moreover, we’ll discuss their remedies.
Let’s jump in!
In a hurry? Consider the nine issues below and their respective fixes when your Maytag washer doesn’t go past sensing fill.
Maytag Bravos Washer Stuck On Sensing Fill– Quick Troubleshooting Guide
| Likely Reason | Fix | |
| 1. | Electronic Glitch | Reset the washer |
| 2. | Unlevelled Washer | Adjust the washer’s feet and steady it |
| 3. | Open Lid | Close the lid, and it if doesn’t, replace the lid lock if it’s broken |
| 4. | Drum Overload | Reduce the washer’s drum load size to ¾ full |
| 5. | Jammed Keypad | Unstuck any jammed key, and if any is broken, replace the keypad/control board |
| 6. | Drain Clogging | Wash the entire washer, filters, and hoses |
| 7. | Failed Water Supply | Turn on the water supply line and ensure it’s not blocked. Maintain the water pressure above 20 psi |
| 8. | Power Cable Fault | Replace the washers power cable if it’s defective |
| 9. | Component Failure | Replace the water-level sensor, water inlet valve, shift actuator, timer, drive motor, or control board |
Why Your Maytag Bravos Washer Won’t Go Past Sensing
Consider these nine issues if your Maytag Bravos washing machine doesn’t go past sensing mode:
1. Electronic Glitch
A Maytag Bravos, like any other, may occasionally suffer an electronic glitch where its program fails. Once that happens, the sensor fill light may blink repeatedly. That is, however, not a severe issue. It’s fixable by resetting the washer reset.
Fix
Consider resetting your Bravos washer, and here’s how to do it:
Plug out the washer from the socket for at least 5 minutes. Alternatively, flip off the breaker for a similar duration (5 minutes).
2. Unlevelled Washer
If the washing machine is not resting uniformly and tends to shake while running, the auto-fill sensor may force it to remain stuck in sensing mode. However, it can run normally and pass sensing mode once leveled.
Fix
Level the washer if it’s unsteady. Ensure its resting on a more uniform ground and adjust its feet accordingly.
3. Open Lid
Usually, the auto-sensing pauses the wash cycle when you open the lid for more than 10 minutes. That could be the case, and the washer could go past sensing mode once you lock the lid.
However, if the lid doesn’t lock, perhaps due to a defective lid lock, the washer will stay in sensing mode for much longer.
Fix
Try locking the door and then restart the cycle if it doesn’t resume automatically. However, if the lid doesn’t close, check if the lid lock is either obstructed or damaged. Remove the obstruction if it’s the former and replace it if it’s the latter.
4. Drum Overload
Since the Auto-sensing sensors take up to 2 – 3 minutes to determine the load’s size before filling up with water, the washer may stay on sensor mode longer if the clothes are overloaded.
That happens when the drum’s capacity is above ¾, which means there’s not enough room for the water and the clothes to turn.
Fix
Reduce the number of clothes in your washer if they are over ¾ full.
5. Jammed Keypad
The Maytag washer may stay stuck on sensing if there’s a stuck key or button on the control panel. In that case, you won’t be able to run the washer or change a setting.
Fix
First, try to release the keypad if it’s stuck by applying pressure on the side. While at it, remove any dirt obstructing and impeding it from being responsive. And if the keypad won’t unstuck, replace it.
6. Drain Clogging
A Maytag washer may stay in sensing mode if the drains are significantly clogged. It could be that the drain pump is the one that is dirt clogged, or perhaps it’s the drain hose or filter. Regardless, you’ve to find the source of the clogging and fix it.
Fix
First, turn off your washing machine and inspect the drain pump, filter, and hose for dirt clogging. If any dirt-obstructed, perhaps clean it with a washer drain cleaner
7. Failed Water Supply
Sometimes the washer will stay on sensing mode because it just won’t fill up with water. If that’s the case, it could be that something is interfering with the water supply. That includes the following:
- Failing to turn on the water supply line
- A kinked/blocked water supply line
- Reduced water pressure (below 20psi)
Fix
Check if the water supply line is off and turn it on. Meanwhile, clear any kinks from the supply line to improve water flow to the washer. Then test the incoming water pressure with a pressure gauge. If the pressure is below 20 psi, raise it.
That may mean fully opening the shut-off valve, cleaning the water filter, and doing away with any kinks (if you didn’t do that earlier).
8. Power Cable Fault
If something is wrong with the washer’s power plug, the washer may stay in sensing mode. It could be that the power plug is burnt or broken, so you must establish the fault.
Fix
Inspect the power cable with a multimeter to see if it has or lacks continuity. If it’s the latter, replace it.
9. Component Failure
Lastly, a Maytag washer may stay on sensing mode if one of the following components fails:
- Water-level sensor – If the water-level sensor fails, perhaps due to an electric failure, it cannot detect the load, forcing it to stay in sensing mode.
- Water inlet valve – If the valve fails. It won’t regulate the cold and hot water entering your washer, and that may leave the washer stuck in sensing mode.
- Shift actuator – The shift actuator is essential in transitioning the washer from sensing to wash mode. If it’s faulty, the washer will only remain in sensing mode.
- Timer – Though not common, the timer may malfunction and interfere with the Auto-sensing sensors. In such a case, the washer will stay in sensing fill mode.
- Drive motor – Since the drive motor powers the washing machine, the appliance cannot go past sensing mode when it fails.
- Control board – If the failed component is not the above, it’s most likely the control board.
Fix
You can tell if the water-level sensor or the inlet valve is defective by testing them with a multimeter. The absence of continuity means the respective component is bad. If so, replace it.
If the fill sensor light is blinking/flashing repeatedly, the shift actuator is likely faulty, and you should replace it. And if the drive motor is making a thudding or whining noise or producing a burning smell, replace it.
However, replace the control board if the sensor light doesn’t work.
How to Fix a Maytag Bravos Washer Stuck In Sensing Mode
If your Maytag washer doesn’t go past sensing fill, consider these troubleshooting steps:
Step 1 – Check if the washer is leveled
If not, adjust its feet to steady it on the surface.
Step 2 – Check the load size
If the drum is overloaded (over ¾ full), you should reduce its size. Keep it not more than ¾ full.
Step 3 – Inspect the lid
If the lid is open, try closing it. Clean around it to remove any dirt obstruction, and if the door still doesn’t close, check if the door switch is broken and replace it.
Step 4 – Reset the washer
Now reset it. You can do it by plugging it out for 5 minutes. Alternatively, flip its breaker off (for five minutes) and then off.
Step 6 – Run diagnostic
Consider putting the Maytag Bravos washer on diagnostic mode to find an error code that could tell you what’s wrong.
Step 7 – Work on the error code (fix faulty component)
After running the diagnostic, the error code will tell you what to fix. It may include replacing a defective part such as the shift actuator, timer, water inlet valve, or control board.
However, if you can’t fix it, call an expert.
People Also Ask
1. Why Is My Maytag Washer Stuck On Sensing?
Your Maytag washer is stuck on sensing because of an electronic glitch, unlocked lid, drum overload, or washer unsteadiness. If that’s not it, it could be a lack of water, a jammed keypad, a drain clogging, or a faulty power cable.
2. What Does Sensing Mean On a Maytag Washing Machine?
Sensing on a Maytag washing machine means the washer auto sensors try to establish the load size before the washer can fill up with water. Ordinarily, this should take 2 – 3 minutes. However, if it takes more than that, that highly points to a malfunction.
3. How Long Should Washer Stay On Sensing?
Ordinarily, a washer should stay on the auto-sensing mode for 2 – 3 minutes as it establishes the load size. After that, the washer should start filling up with water. But if there’s a malfunction or fault, the washer may stay in sensing mode for long.
4. How Do You Reset A Maytag Bravos Washing Machine?
You can reset your Maytag Bravos washing machine by one, plugging it out of the power for five minutes and then re-plugging it. And two, flipping the breaker off for 5 minutes and then on.
5. How Do You Bypass the Sensing On a Maytag Washer?
You can bypass the sensing mode on a Maytag washer using these steps:
- Load the clothes into the tub
- Pour twice the amount of water over the clothes and allow the clothes to soak in the water
- Start the cycle
Doing so bypasses the sensing mode since you manually fill the tub and do not wait until it fills itself after the sensor establishes the load size.
Concluding Thoughts On a Maytag Bravos Washer Stuck On Sensing:
As shared, there are different reasons why a Maytag Bravos washer doesn’t go past sensing mode. However, before you can perform any checks or fixes, try to reset the washer.
If the issue is an electronic glitch, the reset will fix it. And if it doesn’t, check the load size to ensure it’s not over ¾, and if the washer is unsteady, adjust it to be uniform.
But if that doesn’t work, consider the other issues shared, jammed keypad, drain clogging, failed water supply, power cable fault, and component failure.
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