The lid switch is a safety sensor on top-load washing machines that prevents the drum from spinning when the lid is open. When the switch fails, the machine behaves as if the lid is always open — it fills and agitates but will not advance to the spin cycle, leaving clothes soaking wet.
Lid switch failure is one of the most common top-loader repairs. The switch is activated every time you close the lid, and after thousands of cycles the internal contacts wear out or the plastic actuator breaks. Some models display an error code; others simply stop at spin without any indication.
Testing the switch takes a few minutes with a multimeter. If it fails the continuity test, the switch is replaced — typically a quick repair completed in a single visit.