Chosen Solution
I’ve garnered much information here, but I have 1 remaining problem. Of course, I had the F11 and dL and F error codes. I followed the advice given here and was able to start the washer and change its settings. However, I was so annoyed, yesterday, with the wet clothes stuck in this machine that I pulled open the door in a frustrated rage. The lock mechanism appears to stay in the locked/closed position now and the door no longer engages with the small white, spring-loaded plastic pin. In essence, I can now probably use the washer if I duct tape the door closed. I found the Trouble Shooting manual and it advised me to pull on some tear drop shaped mechanism which should unlock the door mechanism. This doesn’t work. The mechanism does not appear broken, but I cannot get the door to reengage with the latch. Any suggestions would be most appreciated.
There will be a pull tab either under the lower kick panel, behind the filter cover, or under the top panel. Pull this tab to unlock the door.
I had this same thing happen to me today with my KichenAid front load washer. My house cleaner must have forced the door open when the lock was engaged. I downloaded the KitchenAid Technical Education manual for the front load washer and found the secion 8-4 that explained how to remove the kick plate (three star screws) and reach up to the lock mechanism to pull a tear shaped lever. There is supposed to be a click when that is done (1/4 inch pull). There was no click. So it is clear they broke the mechanism. In the same manual, there is an explanation of how to remove the locking mechanism and replace it, but there is also a great Youtube video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsmVh_sF…) that shows what to do. While it is for Whirlpool, it is the same basic procedure . Just make sure you get the part for the correct machine. It looks like a rather straight forward fix. FYI, you will need a flexible screw driver extension to get to the middle screw on the kick plate at the bottom of the machine, or you will have to lift the machine an inch or two off of the ground to get to the screw.
