Kenmore series 500 washer reset

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If you own a Kenmore series 500 washer and it starts acting up, performing a reset may help fix it.

In this article, we will show you how to perform Kenmore series 500 washer reset – we hope that it will help your washer start to function normally again.

Let’s dive in.

Table of Contents

Kenmore series 500 washer reset / Kenmore series 500 washer master reset

First, is there a reset button on Kenmore series 500 washer?

Well, unfortunately, these Kenmore washers do not have a reset button.

Nonetheless, there are 2 different ways of resetting Kenmore 500 series washers.

Let us look at these methods:

How to reset Kenmore series 500 washer

Method 1: Power cycle the washer

This is perhaps the easiest method…..

First unplug the washer from the power outlet.

Now let the washer sit for five or so minutes to allow it enough time to clear any static/flea electrical charges on the electronic control board (remember static charges sometimes cause random issues in the washer’s electronic system)

You can reconnect your washer-once the five minutes are over- and turn it on and see how it goes.

Method 2: Turn off the circuit breaker

There are times you cannot access the power outlet.

For instance, the washer could be blocking access to the outlet and we all know that washers are not light not to mention that moving the washer would interfere with its leveling.

If this is you, there’s a alternative reset procedure you can try: turning off the circuit breaker to the washer line.

You again let it sit for five minutes to allow the flea charges to clear out of the control board.

Turn on the circuit breaker and once again power on your washer and see how it goes.

How to calibrate Kenmore series 500 washer

There’s another important procedure that you may want to try too: Calibrating your washer

You see, calibration helps restore a few things and can help you washer start running smoothly once more especially if you have just installed or moved it.

Calibration is also important if you have recently replaced any washer part from the control board, drive motor, tub suspension springs, and so on.

In fact, failing to do so can result in a range of errors including not filling with the correct amount of water (for the load) or frequently having unbalanced loads.

Here is how to calibrate your Kenmore series 500 washer:

Confirm that the tub is fully empty (no clothes or water) and the lid is closed.
Power off the washer by pressing the power button- and get ready to perform the next steps within six seconds.
Turn the control (cycle selector) dial 1 complete rotation(360⁰) counterclockwise.
Turn the dial three clicks clockwise, one click counterclockwise, and one click clockwise.

All the status lights will now blink green indicating that you’re in diagnostic mode.

Quick Note: If the status lights do not blink, turn the control dial 360⁰ counterclockwise to reset the control and repeat steps 3 and 4 but perform the process faster this time.

5. Turn the control dial 4 clicks clockwise to select the rinse cycle.

When the rinse indicator lights up, press the start button to begin the calibration cycle.

The calibration process will run for around three to four minutes.

Once it is done, the lid will unlock (the washer will unlock) -This confirms that the calibration procedure is complete.

You can now proceed to use your washing machine as usual.

Quick Tip: As the washer calibrates, do not touch anything on the washer….You want to wait until it completes for the best results.

Now that we have seen how to reset your Kenmore washing machine, the remaining question is when should you reset the washer?

Well, here we go…

When to perform Kenmore series 500 washer reset

For the most part, resetting your washer could help resolve the following issues:

The control panel is unresponsive.
The washer is not spinning.
It is not draining.
The washer is stuck in an endless loop of wash cycles.
It is acting up after a power outage.

Kenmore series 500 washer reset – frequently asked questions (FAQs)

How do I reset my Kenmore 500 top load washer?

Even though Kenmore series 500 washers do not have a reset button, you can still reset it by power cycling the washer (or tripping the circuit breaker).

How do I calibrate my Kenmore 500 series?

To calibrate the washer, first confirm that the washer is fully empty – no water or clothes and that the lid is closed.

Next, press the power button to power off the washer.

Then- and within six seconds, turn the cycle selector knob one complete 360⁰ counterclockwise rotation. Turn the dial three clicks clockwise, once click counterclockwise and one click clockwise.

Turn the control dial clockwise to select the rinse cycle. The rinse indicator will light up, meaning that the calibration process is now in progress.

Kenmore series 500 washer reset – final words

Resetting the washer can help fix issues such as random error codes, the washer stopping mid cycle and so on so go ahead and see if it will help make your washer stop acting up..

And if the issue persists after resetting the unit, it is best to refer to the owners manual that came with your washer for more in-depth troubleshooting tips.

PS: As earlier on promised, here is the link to the instructional YouTube video that demonstrates how to calibrate your washer quickly.

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