Question 1

my washer makes a loud grinding or scraping noise, only when the drum is spinning. it's not the shipping bolts.

Accepted Answer

DIAGNOSIS A grinding noise during spin is bad news. With the shipping bolts ruled out, the most likely culprit is a failure of the spider arm—the large, three-legged bracket that connects the inner drum to the rear bearing and shaft. On some LG models, it can corrode and crack. FIX This is a major repair. To confirm, unplug the machine and try to wobble the inner drum front-to-back and up-and-down. If there's significant play (more than an inch or so) or you see rust flakes inside the drum, the spider arm and likely the bearing/seal are shot. The repair involves completely disassembling the tub. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK A less severe possibility is a foreign object (like a bra underwire) trapped between the inner drum and the outer tub, scraping during the spin. You might see scratch marks inside the drum. HEADS UP Continuing to run the machine with a damaged spider arm will eventually cause the drum to detach or seize completely, leading to a much more catastrophic failure. It's a job best left to a pro unless you're very experienced with appliance repair.

Question 2

i'm getting an 'ie' error on my lg washer, sometimes with a clicking sound. water does come in though.

Accepted Answer

DIAGNOSIS IE means "No Water Inflow" or slow fill. The fact that water comes in points to a pressure switch issue or a clogged inlet valve filter, not a total water shutoff. The clicking is likely the inlet valve solenoid trying to open. FIX Turn off the water supply valves behind the washer. Unscrew both water supply hoses (hot and cold) from the back of the machine. Check the small mesh filters inside the washer's inlet ports. They're often clogged with sediment from your pipes. Clean them with a toothbrush or rinse them out. Also, check your household water pressure; it might be too low for the machine's sensors. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK The water inlet valve itself could be failing, not opening fully. Or the pressure switch (which tells the board the tub has enough water) is faulty and sending a false "empty" signal even when the tub is filling. HEADS UP Don't run the machine if it's throwing an IE error. It can overheat the heater or damage the pump by trying to run without sufficient water. Fix the fill problem first.

Question 3

the wash cycle on my lg takes forever, like 3 hours for a normal load, is that normal?

Accepted Answer

DIAGNOSIS Unfortunately, yeah, it can be. These machines have sensors that constantly adjust cycle time. The main culprit is usually the "Smart Diagnosis" or sensor functions trying to balance the load with minimal water, which stretches out fill and rinse phases. FIX You can manually speed things up. Select your cycle, then press the “Spin” and “Temp.” buttons to adjust. Choose a higher spin speed (like 1200 or 1400 RPM) and use warm or hot water instead of cold. Most importantly, turn OFF the “Soil Level” and “Extra Rinse” options if they're lit up. Using the “TurboWash” cycle is designed specifically to be faster. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK Check if you're using the wrong cycle. “Heavy Duty” or “Allergiene” will run much longer. Also, an unbalanced load can cause the machine to add extra rinse/spin time to try and correct itself. HEADS UP The estimated time on the display at the start is just a guess. It will almost always increase once the sensors weigh the load and detect suds. Don't rely on the initial number.

Question 4

my washer just beeps at me and won't start, the door is definitely shut. what's it trying to say?

Accepted Answer

DIAGNOSIS The machine thinks the door is open, even when it's not. This is usually a failure of the door lock switch (also called the door latch assembly), a very common wear part on front-loaders. FIX Unplug the machine. Try closing the door firmly. Listen for a distinct “click” and a whirring sound as the lock engages. If you don't hear it, the latch mechanism isn't activating. You can inspect the strike plate on the door and the receptacle on the tub for obvious obstructions, but likely the lock itself needs replacing. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK Less commonly, it could be a control board issue not sending power to the lock. But the door lock fails way more often. If the machine fills with water but won't agitate or spin, that also points to a faulty lock, as it has a sensor to confirm it's engaged before starting. HEADS UP Don't try to bypass the door lock. It's a safety feature to prevent the door from opening during a spin cycle. Forcing it can damage the door or the control system.

Question 5

there's a musty smell coming from my lg front load washer, i run the tub clean cycle but it comes right back.

Accepted Answer

DIAGNOSIS The Tub Clean cycle isn't enough. Mold and biofilm build up in the hidden parts—mainly the rubber door gasket (bellows) and the detergent dispenser drawer. The cold, efficient washes these machines use are perfect for growing funk if you don't stay on top of it. FIX Wipe the entire interior of the rubber door gasket after every wash, especially the folded lip at the bottom where water pools. Pull out the detergent drawer and clean its compartment with hot water. Then, run the Tub Clean cycle with an actual washing machine cleaner (like Affresh or a cup of bleach) on the hottest setting, but without laundry in it. Leave the door and detergent drawer open after every wash to dry. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK Check the drain pump filter. If it's clogged, stagnant water sits in the system. Cleaning it (as per the OE error fix) can eliminate a hidden source of the smell. HEADS UP Using too much detergent or fabric softener directly in the drum (instead of the dispenser) creates a residue that mold loves. Stick to HE detergent and use the recommended amount.

Question 6

why does my lg smart washer show as offline in the thinq app all the time? it connects to wifi but then drops.

Accepted Answer

DIAGNOSIS The Wi-Fi module in these washers is notoriously finicky, especially on crowded 2.4GHz networks. It doesn't handle signal interference or certain router security settings well, causing it to constantly fall offline. FIX First, delete the washer from the ThinQ app and do a factory reset on the washer's Wi-Fi: hold the “Temp.” and “Spin” buttons together for 3 seconds until it beeps. Re-pair it, but during setup, make sure your phone is on the 2.4GHz band (not 5GHz) and standing right next to the washer. Avoid WPA3 or enterprise security on your router; use WPA2. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK The module itself might be faulty. A less common fix is to power cycle your router and the washer. If it persistently fails, the internal Wi-Fi board may need replacement, which is a known issue LG has addressed in some service bulletins. HEADS UP Even when working, the connection is mostly for notifications and remote start. The machine doesn't constantly stream data, so don't expect a real-time status bar. Its "offline" status in the app is often just a communication lag.

Question 7

just installed my new lg front loader and it's violently shaking and banging on the spin cycle, did i get a lemon?

Accepted Answer

DIAGNOSIS Probably not a lemon, you just missed a crucial step. That's almost always caused by the shipping bolts not being removed. They're in the back to stabilize the drum during transit, and if left in, the machine can't absorb any vibration. FIX Unplug the washer. Look at the rear panel. You should see three or four large bolts with plastic spacers holding the drum firmly to the chassis. You need the supplied wrench to remove them completely. Keep the bolts and spacers in case you move. Also, make sure all four leveling feet are firmly on the floor and the machine doesn't rock. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK An unbalanced load (like one heavy blanket) can cause a lesser shake. Redistribute the laundry evenly in the drum. If it still shakes with a balanced, small load, the suspension springs or dampers might be damaged from running it with the bolts in. HEADS UP Running it repeatedly with the shipping bolts installed can permanently damage the suspension system. Don't just try to "break it in."

Question 8

my lg wm6700hba keeps showing the 'oe' code after every wash, what gives?

Accepted Answer

DIAGNOSIS That's the OE or OE1 error, and yeah, this one's common. It means your machine thinks it's taking too long to drain the water, usually because the drain hose or pump filter is clogged. FIX Unplug the machine first. The pump filter is behind a small access panel at the bottom front-right corner. Have a shallow pan and towels ready because some water will come out. Unscrew the filter cap slowly, let the water drain, and pull out any debris (coins, hair, etc.). Also, check the drain hose behind the machine isn't kinked or pushed too far down the standpipe. IF THAT DIDN'T WORK The drain pump itself might be jammed or failed. You'd need to check the pump impeller through the filter housing for an obstruction it can't clear, or listen for a humming sound when it tries to drain, which points to a bad pump. HEADS UP Don't just clear the error and restart. If the drain path is still blocked, you'll flood the machine. Always clear the physical blockage first.

LG WM6700HBA Front Load Washing Machine

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