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The Kenmore Elite HE3 is 7.2 cu. ft. capacity electric dryer by Kenmore.

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"Contol locked" light is on. Nothing else responds.

The "control locked" red light is on and the dryer will not respond when any other button is pushed. What to do?

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19 Comments

Thank you for the Control Lock reset fix! Worked great and saved me possibly a few hundred dollars on repairs! :)

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I have a Whirlpool Duet and I had to hold the End of Cycle button for about 3 seconds. Thanks!

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If lock light wont go off,wont reset,You Can Wash dishes! Just drive a finishing nail into lock light til it goes out. I swear you will have full wash powers, just won't lock.But, I Never knew it had a lock till it stuck. I did this,as instructed by appliance serviceman of 40yrs. It works perfectly fine and no $ outta my wallet. This is a 20 yr old washer, not saying do it on newer model Kenmore D/W.

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I tried everything else.. I literally smashed a finishing nail into the light and my piece of crap Kenmore dishwasher came to life instantly.

Totally incredible. Thanks Rusty.. Awesome advice!!

I'm tearing down my house in 4-6 months and I did not want to install a new dishwasher, so this certainly got the job done!! :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)

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Worked for me. I did it with the power off and removed the finishing nail. I cannot understand how this could work. Lets see how long it lasts!!!!!!!!!!!

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9 Answers

Chosen Solution

Deborah, try this first:"

Press and hold for 3 seconds the "Control Lock/Unlock" button on the control panel to lock the control panel. Listen for a double beep and observe the "Control Lock" status light is lit when the control lock is in effect. Press and hold for 3 seconds the "Control Lock/Unlock" button on the control panel to unlock the control panel. The "Control Lock" status light is goes out when the control panel is unlocked.

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52 Comments:

thank you, saved me a ton i was about to call a repair guy, and of course the machine says exactly what to do on it!!!

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OMG! Thanks! I was not looking forward o calling Sears tomorrow! You Rock!

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I tried that many times it's printed right near the button

Still won't start

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Yeap it works! Thanks

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it worked!!!! I can cancel the dryer appt!!! THANK YOU!!

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In addition to Oldturkeys answer, try unplugging it for five minutes to allow it to reset.

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13 Comments:

I unplugged when all else failed still didn't work

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I'm gonna try that now

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It didn't work

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I worked in the hospital for 30 years. Anytime you call biomed with a problem that was the first thing they told you to do. Thank you!

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Tryed that too dont work...there is no control lock button

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I have the HE4. I tried all of this, and they didn't work. However, I pressed and held the "Auto Dry Level" just to test other things, and it did the trick for me. Appreciate the input because I wouldn't have tried it otherwise though.

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4 Comments:

Thanks for that information..it worked! :)

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I was in the WTH portion of fixing and this worked!!

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I pressed "end cycle" and it did the trick

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I held the Auto dry level after trying the press and hold, that was great advice thank you so much

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Turn off the power to the dryer for about a minute then turn it back on.

If the control lock is still on then push the “End of Cycle Signal” button for 3 seconds.

If it still won’t respond then you need a new control board!

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3 Comments:

I actually had to do as you suggested but the second time it corrected the problem. Thank you. I’m glad I did not need a new control board.

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THANK YOU - truly appreciate your help and you saved me a ton of $$$

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Thank you for the information. Occasionally the information super highway actually informs.

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I have a Kenmore Elite he3 and I have to hold the "Drain/Spin" button "AND" the main "Start (Press & Hold)" button at the same time for 3 seconds. Works every time.

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4 Comments:

Seriously you just saved my life!

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Thanks!!!!!!!!!!

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I held the start button and control Lock button at the same time for for a few seconds until you hear the beep sounds and a unlock sound.

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This worked for me as well! Thank you!

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If your control panel looks like this, I pushed and held each button for 10 seconds starting with the top left and working to my right bottom. On mine it was the ‘End of Cycle Signal” button. How I did this was, to first unplug it for 5 min (didn’t work) Then, push a single button at 1 time for 10 seconds and hit the pink cancel button 1 time between each new button. until it works or if it hadn’t , My plan was to begin pushing 2 at a time in a logical order. It won’t let me post the pictures, sorry.

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3 Comments:

It was the End of cycle signal button for me also. Thanks for posting.

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I also pressed the pink control button and the end of cycle button at the same time for 10 seconds and it worked.

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Holding the end of the cycle button for three seconds did the trick . Afterwards I noticed that directions printed right below the end of the cycle. Geez!

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I held the auto steam button for 3 seconds and it worked

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Whirlpool duet, didn't work for me. Somtimes if I unplug, wait and replug, it goes off. Other times it does not. But I don't even think the door locks. Please help, so annoying with half dried clothes.

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Pushing button for 3 seconds worked for me. It is time to clean the lint from the back of it. This should be done regularly. I would say at least 4 times a year.

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Did not work for me.

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OMG! You are a life saver! Thank you God bless you! I thought I was going to have to call a repairman!

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Deborah will be eternally grateful.
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