Kenmore Washer Error Code LE: How to Fix It

The Logic Verdict

I watched Budget Appliance Repair troubleshoot an LE fault on a Kenmore 796-series (LG-built) front loader that thumped, stalled, and threw the code before it could drain. After a power-cycle reset and drum check, he pulled the rear panel, removed the rotor with a 17 mm socket, and lifted off the stator. Bench-testing the rotor position sensor (RPS) showed infinite resistance, so he snapped in a new 6501KW2002A sensor. Once the stator was bolted back in and the rotor reinstalled, the washer spun at full speed without tripping LE.

What It Means

LE is the locked motor alarm. The control is no longer seeing feedback from the hall sensor that tracks rotor movement—either because the drum is physically stuck, the board glitched after a power event, or the RPS/stator hardware failed.

Common Causes

• Drum obstruction. A garment wedged between the tubs keeps the direct-drive rotor from turning freely.
• Control hiccup. After a brownout, the board often needs a hard reset (unplug, hold Power 5–10 seconds) to clear the watchdog.
• Failed rotor position sensor. The five-pin hall sensor on the stator frequently drifts out of spec and reads open-circuit.
• Rotor/stator damage. Stripped rotor splines, cracked magnets, or burnt stator windings also trigger LE.

Step-by-Step Fix

1. Reset and drain. Unplug the washer for two minutes, hold the Power button 5–10 seconds to discharge the control, plug it back in, and run Drain & Spin to clear standing water. Sometimes this alone clears minor LE faults.
2. Check for binding. Spin the basket by hand. Any grinding or abrupt stop means you should inspect the drum gap for lodged items before proceeding.
3. Remove the rear cover. Unplug the washer, pull it forward, and remove the four Phillips screws holding the back panel so you can access the motor.
4. Pull the rotor. Hold the rotor while loosening the 17 mm bolt (a rubber mallet tap on the ratchet helps). Apply even pressure to slide the magnet rotor off without chipping it.
5. Remove the stator. Back out the six 10 mm bolts, support the stator, and unplug the two harness connectors.
6. Test the rotor position sensor. Pry the RPS off the stator ring. With a multimeter on the 20 kΩ range, measure between pins 5–1 and 5–2. A good sensor reads 5–15 kΩ; an open or wildly climbing value means it’s bad.
7. Replace bad components. Snap in a new rotor position sensor (or stator/rotor if damaged), reconnect the harnesses, and reinstall the stator. Add a dab of blue thread locker to the rotor bolt before tightening it down.
8. Reassemble and verify. Reinstall the rear panel, restore power, and run a rinse/spin. The tub should ramp smoothly with no LE alert.

Parts & Tools

• 6501KW2002A rotor position sensor (fits LG-built Kenmore 796 front loaders)
• Blue medium-strength thread locker for the rotor bolt

Resources