Updated: 04/23/2021 11:39:10
Expert: Evgeny Mikhailovich Obolensky
The very appearance of an incomprehensible abbreviation in English on the screen of an LG washing machine can alert owners. But if at the same time the machine still does not turn on, the reaction can be completely different in adequacy. Some people immediately call the technician, some friends, some look at the instructions, and some go online.
And the last two options are the most reasonable, since both in the instructions and on the Internet you can find out completely free of charge that the Cl error is not an error at all
. This is an abbreviation for the English “child lock”, that is, literally, “child lock”, and it means that the lock is turned on in the washing machine.
What does the CL code mean?
If an LG washing machine writes a CL error, this does not mean a breakdown. This code informs the owner that the “Child Lock” mode is enabled. Therefore, the panel with buttons is blocked, which prevents the keys from being pressed during washing.
Small children can either rearrange the program, turn off the wash, or break the LG machine. Multifunctional appliances are equipped with many functions, so their panel is too sensitive and prone to breakage. This is what the security code is for.
Why does the code appear?
As we have already said, the CL (Child Lock) error does not indicate a malfunction.
You filled the tank with laundry, turned on the wash, but the machine does not make any sounds, only CL lights up on the display. The fact is that if the lock has been installed once, it remains the same during subsequent washes, even if the LG washing machine is turned off from the network.
The error will remain displayed until it is disabled.
Spontaneous activation of the lock
In the vast majority of cases, the appearance of this information message is not a sign of a problem, but there is a situation when CL on the display is a sign of a malfunction of the control panel. Possible symptoms:
- the machine locks immediately after turning on the power, and does not respond to any actions of the owner, turning off and on the power does not help,
- the lock is activated during the washing process, it can be periodically turned off and turned on again,
- The user lock is activated, but the lock cannot be removed.
Sometimes it happens that the lock can be removed, but to do this you have to press the buttons with an offset to “catch” the contact. For any of the above cases, repairs involving partial disassembly of the washing machine will be required. What to do in such a situation, call a technician or try to fix the car yourself - it’s up to the owner to decide.
When planning to repair a washing machine yourself, it is important to understand that the machine is a complex device, and inept actions can lead to even more serious damage. You should not undertake repairs without having experience in such work, just as you should not disassemble a device whose warranty period has not expired. Attempting to repair it yourself will certainly void the warranty.
If you have experience and confidence in the result, you need to start by disassembling the car. The exact operating algorithm differs depending on the specific model; instructions are easy to find on the Internet. It will be much easier to work if you first watch a video on the topic. Particular attention should be paid to the part where they tell you how to remove the control panel. In most cases, disassembly is performed in the following sequence.
- The top cover is removed. It is mounted on two bolts at the back of the car.
- The dispenser is removed. Typically, it is held in place by a simple latch. To pull it out, just click on the marked point in the middle of the tray.
- You can remove the control panel. It is secured with several bolts.
A panel with buttons is separated from the control module. It is important to act with extreme caution to avoid damaging conductors and connectors.
How to solve a problem
How can I correct the situation and remove the blockage myself?
To clear the CL error, you need to press a key combination on the control panel. For each LG model it may be different. Here is an example of the most common commands. To use them, you need to press two buttons together for three seconds:
- Pre-wash + Super rinse.
- Extra wash + Intensive wash.
- Temperature + Option key.
More detailed information is provided in the instructions for the LG washing machine. This should help resolve the CL error.
Please note that the button locations vary. They can be located below or above the display, or to the left of it.
How to recognize lock buttons
The manufacturer marks the buttons either with the baby’s face on the panel or with a lock with a smile.
It is important that for different models of LG CM “protection” works differently. The panel with keys can be blocked either completely or partially. At the same time, the On/Off button remains active, which is not always convenient, because if a child abruptly turns off the machine during operation, the electronic controller may be damaged.
How to unblock
LG supplies its equipment with operating instructions. In the document you can see how to disable the blocking. This is done simply. Every machine that has this feature has keys marked with a baby's face or a smiley face that signifies a smile. These keys are connected by an arrow. You need to simultaneously press them and fix the position of your fingers for 3-5 seconds. This action both blocks and unlocks the mechanism.
Depending on the model of the washing machine, a combination of different keys is used:
- super-rinse" + "pre-wash";
- “intensive wash” + “extra rinse”;
- “temperature” + any button responsible for setting up the machine.
Some models of machines emit a beep as soon as the locking mode is turned on or at the moment of unlocking.
Signs of breakdown
When an LG machine shows a CL error on the display and you cannot turn it off, this is a cause for concern. During normal operation, the protection function should be turned on and off by pressing the keys. If this does not happen, a malfunction has occurred.
What to do if you notice signs of a problem
- You cannot set the washing mode; the machine displays the CL error code immediately after turning it on. Even after disconnecting the plug from the socket, the error does not reset.
- The machine washes normally, but in the middle of the program a fault code appears.
- You enabled the lock yourself, but then the mode does not turn off or does so intermittently.
What to do in this case? It is necessary to check the control unit of the multimeter; to do this, you need to disassemble the front panel. Then pull out the block and ring the tester.
Additionally, check the key contacts, which may have oxidized over time. Also inspect the control unit wiring, connections, connectors.
If the control board is faulty, you need to replace it yourself or contact a service center.
Useful tips
Manufacturers of large household appliances provide their models with a user manual, which you must read before you start using the unit. A person who has read the instructions will know what the CL error means on an LG washing machine and how to solve the problem. The washing unit may produce errors and other codes, information about which is also available in the documents.
Child lock is a good solution. The control panel is located at a level accessible to children. They can turn the machine on or off at any time by touching the keys.
It is recommended to wean the child from such actions. To do this, you need to talk to him, telling him that the machine is easy to break and then mom will have to wash it by hand.
But no one is immune from mistakes. If the CL code lights up on the display, you need to figure out what's wrong. If you cannot solve the problem yourself, you should contact a specialized center that repairs LG household appliances.
Reasons for the appearance of the code, what does it mean?
The cl code on an LG washing machine is not an error code at all, but a so-called information code that tells the user that the control panel lock mode or simply “child protection” is turned on. Developers of automatic front-loading washing machines almost immediately became puzzled by the problem of the need for locking, since the control panel of such machines is located very low, within the reach of small children, which is very dangerous.
Note! The cl code is, in fact, a short designation of the English word “children”, which is translated into Russian as “children”.
A child can easily not only stop the washing process by pressing a few buttons, but also damage the washing machine, so if you have a small child in your home, do not forget to use this function. So, cl on an LG machine is an information code and if it appears after pressing a key combination, this is normal. But what to do if this code is always displayed after turning on the washing machine, or even worse, it appears suddenly in the middle of the wash, although no one pressed anything, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
Why is the described blocking mode needed?
Installing a child lock
Parents and other relatives of children are well aware of the restlessness of children. They are especially interested in everything that is forbidden: they certainly need to “poke” and press the forbidden buttons. You can turn this mode on in exactly the same way as turn it off, as described above.
Such a blocking prohibition can only be activated during washing. After activating it, the machine shows the CL error on the screen. When the washing process is completed, this function remains active. It can only be deactivated specifically by repeatedly holding down the already mentioned keys.
If this is not done, then during the next wash the machine will refuse to work and will show the CL error.
If your household assistant shows this error and you are unable to turn off the activated lock yourself, call customer service.
Control module malfunction
Most often, the cause of a malfunction is poor contact or violation of the integrity of the conductors, but it also happens differently. If the panel is checked, the contacts are clean, there are no breaks, and the indicator still shows CL, the cause of the malfunction is the components of the machine's control circuit.
The control module is the brain of an automatic washing machine and you should not try to repair it yourself. It would be more correct to call a technician to your home or take the car to a workshop. There is an opinion that only the module itself can be removed, it will be tested, the fault will be identified and the failed parts will be replaced. This is wrong; it would be wiser to remove the entire device. This approach will make the master’s work easier and ensure the desired result.
An automatic washing machine is a device that is designed to save a person from unnecessary labor. She not only washes, but also tries to inform the owner about her actions. The user just has to understand what this or that code on the display means. This is not difficult; if a message appears, you should not panic, you just need to look at the instructions and there will be much less reason for concern.
Error interpretation
The CL code on the LG machine display means that the Child Lock function is activated. This mode is designed to block all buttons except the POWER key from being accidentally pressed and changing the washing program by children. You may have forgotten that you activated this function during your last wash. It is possible that the child lock was turned on by other household members. Or the function was activated accidentally.
In any case, don't worry, the CL code is not an error. This is an informational message.
What to do?
Most LG washing machine models have a child lock feature. In this case, the combination of buttons for each device is unchanged. Only the location of the operating panel keys differs. In one washing machine they may be located on the left side of the display, in another - above the display, and in a third - below the display.
So, to activate the child protection function, you need to press the “Super Rinse” and “Prewash” buttons for 3-4 seconds. As soon as the letters CL appear on the display screen, you can release the buttons. Disabling this function follows a similar system.
The operating instructions for the washing machine do not contain this information. However, the manufacturer tried to tell its owner about the presence of this function through drawings on the operating panel. If you carefully examine the hand-drawn icons near the washing machine display, you can see a lock with a smile.
Two lines extend from it, heading to the necessary buttons.
When the protection function is activated, the CL code appears on the display. The child will not be able to turn off the protection, and there is no need to worry that the operating mode will be changed. However, owners of LG washing machines should check the operation of this function in advance. In some models, the lock completely blocks the working panel. In others, the “on/off” button remains active. At the end of the washing process, in some models the child lock function is turned off automatically, while in others you will have to press the necessary buttons again.
Manufacturers advise consumers to think in advance about completely or partially blocking the operating panel of the washing machine. In models where the “on/off” button remains active, in principle there is little point, because a child can influence the wash in any case. As a rule, devices with partial protection are filled with many useful functions and programs that every housewife needs. Such washing machines have a very delicate control module, and if you constantly press the “on/off” button, the microprocessor may fail, and you will need to call a technician to repair it.
The latest developed models of LG washing machines can already boast of having information about the child lock function in their instructions. And here the consumer needs to take seriously checking the locking of the working panel. If the documents indicate that the panel is completely blocked, but in fact the “on/off” button remains active, it means that the control module of this washing machine has failed.
Having dealt with the issue of enabling the CL function by the owner of the washing machine, you should consider the issue of spontaneous activation of the child protection mode.
Unfortunately, this also happens, and few people know how to deal with this problem.
Some owners have experienced spontaneous activation of the child lock feature. When turned on, the letters CL were displayed on the washing machines display. And pressing the buttons to disable this function did not help. Accordingly, it was not possible to install the program and start the washing machine. For other users, the child lock feature spontaneously activated during the washing process. Still others turned on CL themselves, but were unable to remove the protection. All the cases presented indicate a failure of the washing machine system.
The safest, but most expensive option would be to call a household appliance repair specialist. However, you can try to solve the problem yourself. To do this, you will need to disassemble the body of the washing machine and carefully remove the control module. Using a multimeter, ring all contacts, paying special attention to the “Super Rinse”, “Prewash” buttons and the “on/off” button. Quite often, the cause of the malfunction is oxidized wires of these buttons. In this case, you will have to disconnect each wire, clean it and return it to the required position. It is much more difficult if all contacts turned out to be good. This means that the cause of the malfunction is hidden in the control module. But without experience working with this part of the washing machine, it is best to contact a qualified technician.
What should I do if my LG washing machine shows a CL error?
LG washing machines are reliable and durable. With proper use, they last for many years. However, even the best technology tends to break down over time.
You can understand that there is a problem with the device using special codes that are displayed on the screen. This is very convenient as it makes diagnostics easier.
The article will talk about what the CL error means in an LG washing machine, how to decipher it and fix it.
What does this LG washing machine code mean?
The CL error appears on the washing machine screen quite often. This happens when the device is turned on. In this case, a person cannot perform any actions: start a washing cycle, select one or another program, etc. Turning off and on the equipment again does not solve the problem. The buttons do not respond to pressing.
Enabling Child Lock causes all buttons to be locked . Even when pressed they will not work. This technology is relevant for families in which children are growing up. While playing, they often press all sorts of buttons, which can cause equipment breakdowns. CL mode prevents this, and such a message on the screen indicates that it is activated.
