In case your Kenmore washing machine won’t drain, and you’ve eliminated a clog in the drain hose as a potential cause, you either need to fix the drain pump or replace it. The drain pump is situated at the lower front corner of most Kenmore front-loading machines, and also the most difficult part of the job could be getting to it. If the machine does not have an entry panel, as some do, then you’ll need to take the entire front panel. Replace the pump if the impellers are damaged or if the pump housing is leaking.
Unplug the washing machine, and disconnect the drain hose from the drain. Switch off the water valves and then unscrew the water heater from the inlet ports on the washing machine, utilizing adjustable pliers.
Pull the washing machine out of the wall. If it has an entry panel beneath the loading door, you just need to pull it out a couple of inches so you can tilt it back. If you do not find an entry panel, pull it out far enough for you to get behind it and work comfortably.
Unscrew the screws to release the front panel, using a Phillips screwdriver. If there is absolutely no front panel, follow the instructions in the owner’s manual for removing the front cover. This involves removing the top, disconnecting and removing the control panel, pulling the soap drawer and prying the the door gasket using a flat-head screwdriver. When you’re ready to remove the front panel, unscrew the screws holding it and then pull it away from the device.
Lift the front of the machine a foot or so off the floor. Support it on blocks of wood high enough to allow you to acquire a screwdriver under the drain pump, which is in the front of the machine.
Release the clamps holding the water inlet and outlet hoses on the existing drain pump, using pliers, and pull the hoses. Pull the electrical connection apart. Locate the 2 screws beneath the machine holding the pump to the housing, and unscrew them. Remove the screws and put them in a safe place. The pump is currently disconnected — you can lift it from the machine.
Establish the pump in place, and reconnect the drain hoses. It’s usually easier to do this before you screw the pump down, since there is not much clearance behind the pump. Expand the pump to the housing with the 2 screws that you removed from the old one, and then connect the pump’s electrical wires.
Reassemble the washing machine housing by changing the process you used to take it apart. Remove the blocks. Push the machine back into place, and reconnect the water lines, drain and electricity.