Modern Whirlpool Duet dryers won’t fake it when all is not well. They’ll tell you, and one way to ask is by running the Whirlpool Duet dryer diagnostic mode, which allows you to identify faults in your dryer that you would otherwise not know existed.
You can put a Whirlpool Duet dryer on the diagnostic mode by pressing any button on the control panel other than lock/unlock or pause/cancel while on standby mode. Do it thrice and release the button after 2 – 3 seconds.
You’ll know you’ve entered the diagnostic when the dryer’s display shows 8:88 plus the estimated time, followed by an error code, if any. You can then research the error code to try and troubleshoot it.
That, however, is not the only way to put a Whirlpool Duet dryer in diagnostic mode. You can also do it in two other ways, which I’ll share here.
And to help you troubleshoot the duet dryer, I’ll discuss the common error codes and how to clear them. What’s more, I’ll tell you how to exit the diagnostic after identifying an error code.
Let’s jump into it!
In a hurry? Here’s a summary of the three options for running diagnostics on a Whirlpool Duet dryer.
Whirlpool Duet Dryer Diagnostic Mode Options – Quick Guide
| Diagnostic Option | Summary |
| Option 1 | Press any button (besides lock/unlock or pause/cancel) for 2 – 3 seconds thrice while on standby mode |
| Option 2 | Press any three consecutive buttons (besides Power) thrice while on standby mode |
| Option 3 | Press More-Time and Less-Time twice within 5 seconds while on standby mode |
How to Run Diagnostic On Whirlpool Duet Dryer?
Essentially, you can run a diagnostic on a Whirlpool Duet dryer using any of these three options:
Option 1
This option requires you to press any button on the dryers control panel that’s neither lock/unlock nor pause/cancel, and here’s how to go about it:
- First, put your duet dryer on standby (keep it plugged into the power outlet, but don’t turn on its indicators)
- Identify any button you want to press, provided it’s not lock/unlock or pause/cancel and press it
- Hold down the button for 2 – 3 seconds
- Hold down the button for another 2-3 seconds
- You can repeat the sequence one more time to make it a 3-cycle sequence
The dryer should get into diagnostic mode after that, which you can tell if all its indicators show 8:88 briefly plus the remaining time
After that, an error code will pop up, if any, which you should note and try to troubleshoot.
Option 2
Option 2 requires pressing any three consecutive buttons on a 3-sequence series. The only exception is the Power button, which will cancel everything and turn off the dryer if you press it.
Here’s how to go about it:
- Put your dryer on standby mode, as shared earlier:
- Select any three consecutive buttons in a 3-cycle sequence as follows 1,2,3,1,2,3,1,2,3 to enter diagnostic
- You’ll know you’ve entered diagnostic if all indicators go off apart from the 8:88 indicators at the center of the display
Option 3
Option 3 requires you to press the More-Time and Less-Time buttons if you can locate them on your duet dryer’s control panel. Here’s how to go about it:
- Put your duet dryer on standby mode
- Identify the More-Time and Less-Time buttons on your dryer just below the estimated time display and press them
- Press the two buttons another round, and the two-sequence cycle should take 5 minutes
- Wait for the indicators to come on and for the display to show 88
- And if there’s a hidden fault, an error code shall pop up
Whirlpool Duet Dryer Diagnostic Codes
After identifying an error code on your Whirlpool Duet dryer, the next step is troubleshooting it. Here are the most typical error codes and their troubleshooting:
1. Error Code PF
(Dryer Condition – Power Failure)
The error code PF pops up when the duet dryer experiences a power failure while running. So, checking the power cord and outlet for faults is essential.
Troubleshooting
Try pressing start to see if the dryer will continue with the cycle, and to clear the error code, press stop. However, if the error code doesn’t clear, try changing the power outlet and checking the power cord for faults.
2. Error Code L2/F4E4
(Dryer Condition – Low Line Voltage)
Expect the error code L2 or F4E4 to show up on the display if there’s an issue with your duet dryer’s voltage supply. It could be that the circuit breaker has tripped off, the power cord is loose or damaged, or the main control board is damaged.
Troubleshooting
Reset the circuit breaker if it’s tripped off, and firmly fix the power cord into the power. If the power cord looks damaged, replace it, and if the error doesn’t disappear after doing that, replace the main control board.
3. Error Code LF
(Dryer Condition – Defective/Removed Secondary Lint Filter)
If the duet dryer’s secondary lint filter is detached or damaged, the LF error code will appear. Sometimes, however, the error pops up when the filter wiring loosens or breaks. So you ought to inspect it.
Troubleshooting
Inspect the secondary lint filter for damage and replace it if that’s the case. Fix its wiring harness if it’s loose or damaged, and if the lint filter is missing, install it.
4. Error Code F1E1/FO1
(Dryer Condition – User Interface or Control Board Fault)
Expect the error code F1E1 or FO1 to show up on your duet dryer if there’s a problem with the user interface or the control board. It, however, doesn’t necessarily mean that one of the two is defective, as the issue could be loose wiring (associated with them).
Troubleshooting
Inspect the control board wiring for any faults; if there are none, consider resetting the dryer. If the reset doesn’t work, replace the user interface or main control but first, the main control board.
Only replace the user interface when the new control board fails to clear the error code.
5. Error Code F2E1/FO2
(Dryer Condition – Stuck Keypad)
Check for possible stuck buttons when the error code F2E1 or F02 pops up on your Whirlpool Duet dryer.
Troubleshooting
Release any stuck key, but change the user interface control if you can’t find any.
6. Error Code F3E1/F3E2
(Dryer Condition – Failing Outlet Thermistor)
The error code F3E1 or F3E2 shows up when the outlet thermistor malfunctions. There could be an issue with the thermistor’s wiring, or the thermistor itself could be defective. In some rare cases, the problem could be the main control board.
Troubleshooting
Inspect the outdoor thermistors wiring for loose connection and fix it. If nothing is wrong with the thermistor wiring, replace the thermistor, and if nothing changes, replace the control board.
7. Error Code F3E6, F3E7, F28 or F29
(Dryer Condition – Moisture Sensor Fault)
Expect the error code F3E6, F3E7, F28, and F29 if there’s an issue with the moisture sensor. It could be that the sensor has loose or damaged wiring or has short-circuited, but either way, it’s faulty.
Troubleshooting
Replace the dryer’s moisture sensor wiring if it’s damaged, but replace it if the problem is a short-circuited sensor.
8. Error Code F3E8/F3E9
(Dryer Condition – Compressor Thermistor Fault)
Both error codes F3E8 and F3E9 point to a compressor thermistor fault. But if the compressor thermistor is okay, the issue could be the main control board.
Troubleshooting
Check the compressor thermistor for fault and replace it, but if the error code doesn’t go away, replace the main control board.
9. Error Code F4E3
(Dryer Condition – Restricted Airflow)
If the lint filter is clogged or the exhaust fan is broken, the duet dryer will display the error code F4E3. This error code shows an issue with the airflow, and the two things to check are the lint screen and the exhaust fan.
Troubleshooting
Clean the lint filter if its dirt is clogged, but replace it if the problem is a damaged exhaust fan.
10. Error Code F6E1/F6E2
(Dryer Condition – Communication Failure)
The user interface and the dryer’s main control board must constantly communicate for the dryer to run smoothly. Sometimes, however, this communication is lost, and the error code F6E1 or F6E2 pops up when it happens.
Troubleshooting
Unplug the dryer to try and reset it. If it doesn’t reset, check the wire harness for broken connections and replace any damaged wires. If that won’t fix it, replace the user interface; if that also doesn’t, replace the control board.
11. Error Code F9E1
(Dryer Condition – Drain System Fault)
Expect the error code F9E1 to show up if there’s an issue with the drain system. It could be that the drain hose or pump is clogged or faulty. It could also be that the float switch is stuck.
Troubleshooting
Clean the drains and pump to remove blockages and release a stuck float switch. If the float switch or pump is defective, replace it.
12. Error Code F24/F25
(Dryer Condition – Bad Inlet Thermistor)
Lastly, the error code F24 or F25 will pop up if there’s a problem with the inlet thermistor. The inlet thermistor is likely defective in such a case.
Troubleshooting
Replace the dryer inlet thermistor
How to Exit the Whirlpool Duet Dryer Diagnostic Mode?
Generally, you can exit the diagnostic mode on a Whirlpool Duet dryer by pressing cancel. Alternatively, unplug the dryer. Remember, you can also reset the dryer by unplugging it for a minute or more.
People Also Ask
1. How Do I Put My Whirlpool Duet in Diagnostic Mode?
You can put your Whirlpool Duet dryer on the diagnostic mode by pressing any three consecutive buttons (other than Power) while the dryer is on standby. Repeat the buttons-pressing twice and note any error code that pops up after the dryer enters diagnostic mode.
2. How Do I Clear the Error Code On My Whirlpool Duet Dryer?
The easiest way to check an error code on your Whirlpool Duet dryer is to unplug the dryer briefly (manual reset). Alternatively, press pause/cancel, but if the error code won’t clear, determine its trigger and fix it first.
3. How Should I Reset My Whirlpool Duet Dryer’s Error Code F01?
The error code F01 pops up on a Whirlpool Duet dryer when there’s an issue with the main control board. So, you’ll need to reset the control board to try and clear the code, which you can do by unplugging the dryer.
Concluding Remarks On the Whirlpool Duet Dryer Diagnostic Mode:
Generally, knowing how to put your Whirlpool Duet dryer in diagnostic mode is essential when you want to discover hidden faults. Now that you have three simple ways to do it, you don’t have to call Whirlpool each time your duet dryer malfunctions.
Just run the diagnostics, note any error code that pops up, and interpret it using the above guide.
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