How to Repair Your Washing Machine. Because of low-quality materials, this is more common than ever. A washing machine door hinge should never break, and they haven't for decades, but they do now. The washing machine door and hinges are both simple to replace, so it should mostly be a matter of purchasing a new one and replacing it.
Changing a door hinge
Two screws, bolts, or even rivets are typically used to secure a washing machine door hinge to the casing. They can be large self-tapping bolts or bolts with nuts or plates behind them that can fall inside the machine when unscrewed. Sometimes the hinge is attached to the casing with lugs or hooks that fit into holes, and the screws are just for extra security.
So the main thing to avoid is unscrewing the hinge only to hear something fall inside, which is difficult to retrieve. Many washers are equipped with base plates or a chassis where parts can fall and be difficult to retrieve. Remove the lid and disconnect the washer from the mains before removing the door hinge. Undo the screws and catch the fixings or plate they screw into if you can see the back of the hinge and reach it.
If it's too difficult, try peeling away the door seal to gain easy access to the back of the hinge. A metal or plastic band is usually used to secure the door seal to the shell at the front. Most washing machines should be simple to remove and replace.
If you can't find any fixings in the front, you'll have to look in the back, keeping in mind the advice above.
Something has fallen into the machine.
In the previous paragraph, I warned against unscrewing the door hinge without first checking for a loose plate at the back that could fall inside the machine. If this happens to you, the part that fell inside is most likely stuck in a chassis. To retrieve it, make sure the appliance is unplugged from the power source.
Here are the various methods for retrieving the hinge part.
To inspect underneath, pull the washer forward and tilt it back. You never know what might have happened if it had simply fallen to the floor (relatively unlikely though). Pull the washing machine forward and back against a worktop, or have someone you trust hold it for you. To find it, try reaching under and inside. Washing machines are extremely heavy! Do not let one of them fall!
Peel back the door seal after removing the retaining clip or spring that holds it to the door frame. Try reaching in and down. Disconnect the hoses from the washing machine. Pull the washer out and place it on its front to gain better access to the underneath.
As a last resort, remove the door seal and kick panel strip, as well as the screws and front panel. (Depending on the make and model, there may be additional steps to removing the front panel.)
