Maytag Bravos Washer Not Draining: LD Error Code Fix
Quick Answer
Nine times out of ten, a Maytag Bravos stops draining because a foreign object like a coin or a stray sock is stuck in the pump or the drain hose. I usually start by manually draining the tub and checking the pump housing for debris before testing the motor for electrical failure.
If you ignore this code and keep running the machine, you're going to burn out the drain pump motor, and that's an $80-120 part plus labor. I've also seen people push through it and end up with a flooded laundry room. The good news? About half the time it's just something stupid stuck in the pump. I literally pulled a Lego out of one last week.
OK so here's the deal with the Bravos. These machines are actually pretty reliable, but they've got a tight drain window, maybe 8-10 minutes, and if the water isn't gone by then the board panics and throws the LD code. Most of the time it's a $0 fix, something stuck in the pump. But I've replaced a ton of pump motors on these too, usually on machines that are 4-6 years old and got hit with a big load of jeans or towels one too many times.
Most Likely Causes
Based on aggregated repair data, here is the probability breakdown for this error code:
Pump blockage50%
Failed pump motor30%
Clogged drain hose15%
Lid latch failure5%
Symptoms You May Notice
End of the cycle and there's still a few inches of standing water in the bottom of the tub, just sitting there.
The pump motor is humming loud and straining during what should be the drain phase, like it's working really hard but nothing's moving.
LD shows up on the display and the machine just stops dead mid-cycle, won't continue no matter what you press.
Clothes are soaking wet when you pull them out, way wetter than normal, because the spin never fully happened.
Cycle takes 20-30 minutes longer than it should and the machine seems stuck in a loop.
Can you reset a Maytag washer to clear the LD code?
Unplug the machine from the wall and wait a full 60 seconds. Don't just flip the breaker, actually pull the plug. Plug it back in, then lift and lower the lid 6 times within 12 seconds. The control board resets and the indicator lights will cycle. Then select a drain and spin cycle to test. If the LD code comes back during that cycle, you've got a real mechanical problem that no reset is going to fix.
Tools Required for Diagnosis
Phillips #2 screwdriver5/16 inch nut driverMultimeter set to ohms modeLarge bucket or catch panShop vacuumFlashlightOld towels for water cleanupPliers
Diagnostic Checklist
Follow these steps in order. We start with the easiest external fixes before opening up the machine.
ComponentComponent Under Test
Expected Range10–20 ohms
ConditionIf Open (OL) or infinite, replace component.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my Maytag Bravos showing an LD code?
LD stands for Long Drain. The control board gives the pump about 8-10 minutes to empty the tub, and if the water level sensor doesn't signal 'empty' by then, it cuts power and logs the code. It's basically the machine saying 'something's wrong with draining, I'm stopping before I overheat the motor.' Most of the time it's a blockage in the pump. On older machines it can be the motor itself starting to fail. Check the pump for debris first before you spend any money on parts, because honestly that's the fix more than half the time.
Can I fix a drain issue without buying parts?
Honestly, yeah, probably. About half the time it's just something jammed in the pump impeller. A coin, a hair tie, a piece of wire, whatever found its way in there. You take the pump housing off, pull the debris out, put it back together, done. No parts, no money. A kinked hose or a drain hose that's shoved too deep into the standpipe are also free fixes. So before you spend anything, go through all the mechanical checks first. It's only if the pump motor tests dead or the lid latch is failed that you're actually buying something.
Where is the drain pump located on a Maytag Bravos?
It's at the very bottom of the machine underneath. You have to tip the whole washer backwards to get to it, so lean it back against the wall and prop it there so it doesn't come forward on you. Once it's tipped, look for a small black plastic housing with two hoses connecting to it and a wiring harness plugged into the side of the motor. It's held in with a couple 5/16 bolts usually. The whole pump assembly on a Bravos is pretty accessible once you tip it, honestly easier to get to than a lot of front loaders I work on.
Why does my washer hum but not drain?
That humming is the motor trying to spin while the impeller is physically jammed. Stop the cycle right now if you're hearing that. Seriously. Running it for more than a minute or two while jammed can burn out the motor windings, and what might've been a $0 fix because the debris just needed to be cleaned out turns into an $80-100 pump replacement. Turn the machine off, unplug it, tip it back, and find what's blocking the impeller. Nine times out of ten it's something small that takes about 5 minutes to remove once you get in there.
Will a master reset fix the drainage problem?
A reset clears the error code off the display but it doesn't fix whatever caused it. So if you reset and there's still water in the tub, the code's going to come right back the next time the machine tries to drain. That said, sometimes the code fires because of a random sensor hiccup or a brief power fluctuation, not an actual mechanical problem. So it's worth trying a reset first, just don't expect it to be the solution if you've got standing water in there. Run a drain and spin cycle after the reset and watch what happens before you start pulling things apart.
Models Known to Experience LD Errors
This repair applies to most Maytag washers with this error code. Common model numbers include: