If your washing machine lights are flashing, it could be because the load is unbalanced or excessive. Newer machines will try to redistribute the load, but you may have to do this manually. Another possible reason for flashing lights is a problem with the door switch. This switch is responsible for telling the machine whether the door is open or closed. If it's not working correctly, the machine may think the door is open and won't start the cycle. In most cases, simply replacing the switch will solve the problem.