If your Whirlpool washing appliance indicates the 5D or SD Error code on the control panel, it means that your machine is having problems with excessive foam in the drum. Because of that, the water and foam can not be drained properly, so the rinsing cycle is extended.
On the Whirlpool models without any screen, the same error is reflected by the lighting of all the temperature bulbs or by simultaneous blinking of the mode indicators.
What can cause the 5D Error?
The first and the most obvious explanation for the 5D error code occurrence is the use of the wrong amount of detergent or its poor quality. In this case, it will be pretty easy to reset the error — simply switch to another soap or powder and do not exceed its recommended dose per laundry.
Another reason for the same error can be in the failure of the foam sensor. So if you see the 5D or SD combination on the screen, but don’t see that there is really that much foam in the drum, it is most likely because of the foam detector malfunction.
The clogged drain system (or one of its components) can also cause this error. The water can not drain properly, so the foam stays in the drum for too long and the code is indicated.
If the pressostat of your device is out of order, the system will indicate the 5D code right after you try to select the washing program.
Another possible explanation for this error is the malfunction of the control board. And it is not a temporary glitch, most likely the board will have to be replaced.
How to fix the 5D Error?
After the appliance indicated the error, it will try to deal with it on its own, by extra rinsing. So you just have to wait when the normal cycle continues. Sometimes the reset of the error is needed to proceed with the washing program, so you can press Pause two times in a row or Power for one time only, and then run the cycle.
The error might have also been indicated if there were a lot of soft and fluffy fabrics in the drum of your washer, so you can take them off and try to run a test program.
To make sure the error was not caused by a serious malfunction of one of the machine’s details, you can run a test cycle with the entry drum, adding a special cleaning tab in it. Press on the Pause button for three seconds and let the device auto-clean.
If the code is still indicated on the display, you have to proceed with the examination if the drain system. Check the hosepipe and the filter. They can be clogged, damaged, or connected improperly. This has to be fixed in order to let your machine drain the water and excessive foam out of the drum.
Continue the check-up with the inspection of the foaming detector. Check it with a multimeter and replace it if needed.
The next step will be checking the pressostat. First, examine its contacts and the sensor itself on any visible damages, then use a multimeter and if you see that the components are out of order — it has to be replaced with a new one.
If there is a malfunction of the control board, you will need a professional diagnostic and, probably, the replacement of the element, as it is almost impossible to repair.