Front load he3 kenmore, control panel had an F now is locked up! Have unplugged for 30 min. no change

most front load washers and dryers have locks on the doors some have a bottom panel that u can remove to manually unlock door using the release before opening any machine please unplug machine from wall sometimes even unplugging it and waiting a few seconds will release door lock from itself

Hi, Press and hold the DRAIN/SPIN button for 3 seconds. If the Control Lock feature will not lock or unlock the appliance,unplug the unit for AT LEAST 30 minutes in order to reset the main control board.

The Control Lock is actually a safety feature that enables the consumer to lock the control panel to prevent small children from manipulating the controls and accidentally starting the appliance.

The controls can be easily locked or unlocked by pressing and holding the following button on the front panel:

Kenmore Elite Washer - Press and hold the DRAIN/SPIN button for 3 seconds.

Kenmore Elite Dryer - Press and hold the AUTO DRY LEVEL button for 3 seconds.

Check below link for detailed explanations
http://www.fixya.com/support/r3608801-control_panel_lock
Courtesy JSROCK

you probably broke the door switch and the machine thinks the door is open. little piece on top of the lock catch. need to change the door switch

Look close at the panel.... it will tell you what button to hold in for 3-5 seconds

Good Luck!

This advise is for Kenmore Elite and Whirlpool Duet front loader washers and dryers with a Control Lock problem.

This may or may not be an indication of a serious problem. In the majority of the cases, this is a simple operator error. Nearly all these model appliances have some sort of Control Lock feature on the front panel now. This is a designed safety feature that is used to prevent small children from manipulating the controls. The controls can be easily locked or unlocked by pressing and holding the following button on the front panel:

Whirlpool Duet Washer - Press and hold the END OF CYCLE SIGNAL button for 3 seconds.

Whirlpool Duet Dryer - Press and hold the END OF CYCLE SIGNAL button for 3 seconds.

Kenmore Elite Washer - Press and hold the DRAIN/SPIN button for 3 seconds.

Kenmore Elite Dryer - Press and hold the AUTO DRY LEVEL button for 3 seconds.

These instructions may not be all inclusive for all Kenmore and Whirlpool models, but they are the most common. Chances are, if you have a Control Lock feature, the instructions will be printed on the front panel adjacent to the button that is required to lock or unlock the controls.

NOTE: These instructions may also work for newer model Maytag, Hotpoint, Admiral and Fridgidaire model front loaders as well. Refer to your owner's manual or front panel for instructions pertaining to your sepcific model.

If the Control Lock feature will not lock or unlock the appliance, unplugging the unit for AT LEAST 30 minutes is recommended in order to reset the main control board. In many cases this is all that is required to correct momentary glitches.

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check your owners manuel should tell you how to un lock controls wont be an obvious button as its a safety feature

Try 'end of cycle' pushed down till the light goes off. Or locate the button with diagram of 'lock', & push down till the light goes off.

I believe the DRAIN/SPIN button on the Kenmore Elite HE3 will clear a locked control panel if you hold the button in for 3 seconds. This is actually a safety feature to keep small children from playing with the buttons and allows the consumer to lock the control panel. I hope that's all the problem you have and that it is not a control panel failure. Let me know if this helps. PS The matching Kenmore Elite Dryer uses the AUTO DRY LEVEL button for the same feature.