Washing Machine

[reb]

... DANG! The $20 part takes out the $125 part.

And they are both very easy to replace.

Phil

I replaced the R and the Q on the wife's Neptune for a couple of dollars. Then I wired in a relay for the Q to drive. The relay then supplied the voltage to the wax motor. I stuck in a fuse to blow if the wax motor failed short. Worked great, didn't even have to replace the wax motor. Total cost was somewhere around $15 to $20.

I'm not convinced it was worth the time. Something else broke on the machine a few months later.

 

[Phils]

I replaced the R and the Q on the wife's Neptune for a couple of dollars. Then I wired in a relay for the Q to drive. The relay then supplied the voltage to the wax motor. I stuck in a fuse to blow if the wax motor failed short. Worked great, didn't even have to replace the wax motor. Total cost was somewhere around $15 to $20.

I'm not convinced it was worth the time. Something else broke on the machine a few months later.

I tried to locate the transistor to make the fix but it would have meant at least 10 days since every place I tried was temporarily out of stock. DW didn't want her machine broken another 10 days either.

The machine had another problem in addition to the no spin/ no lock symptoms. It wouldn't turn off or unlock the door at the end of the cycle, (we had to pull the plug) and that had been happening for the week before the no spin/ no lock. That may have been the first indications that R11 and Q16 were gonna fail OR it may have been another problem on the board. I didn't even try and persuade her to wait for my repair attempt.

Phil

 

[Bird]

We bought a Maytag front loader washer and dryer from Sears about two and a half years ago, but they're the small (apartment?) size. We were in a single wide mobile home at the time and I thought I wanted something small and light in case I had to move it or work on it. But with all the fancy lights and tunes they play, I decided to go ahead and pay for the 3 year extended warranty that includes an annual preventive maintenance checkup. Of course when we moved, I discovered that, in spite of the small size, this is the heaviest washing machine I ever saw. Supposedly they fill the bottom with concrete to prevent any vibration.

But I've since talked to two washing machine repairment and both said that Whirlpool and the Kenmore made by Whirlpool are the most reliable, most trouble free machines, and if they do need repairs, they're the easiest to work on.

A daughter's Kenmore dryer quit heating last week, but son-in-law was able to replace a few parts and fix it himself. It's only 11 years old.

This is from last October. Our computerized Maytag washer and dryer with all the lights, buttons, tunes, bells, etc. were 3 years old on 5/4/08 and that's when the 3 year extended warranty expired. And the washing machine died two days ago. Almost enough to make a grown man cry, especially when the Sears service technician said to replace that circuit board would cost $724.70 when I only paid $664.99 plus tax for the machine when it was new. The dryer still works, but my wife tells me it takes twice as long to dry clothes as it did when it was new. I suppose that kind of a problem could be due to some exhaust blockage in some cases, but in this case, I'm the one who has thoroughly cleaned that and know there is no blockage. So, the only other thing I can think of is if the computer in it isn't telling it to get to the right temperature.

At any rate, my wife wanted bigger machines and basic machines, so we bought a new set of Kenmore basic washer & dryer today to be delivered Saturday. And I bought the 5 year extended warranty and service agreement.

 

[polo1665]

I had always thought that Maytag was supposed to be the "cream of the crop" when it came to appliances. I remember all the commercials about the lonely repairman who's phone never rang. I'm thinking that his number was unlisted.
When I met my girlfriend she had a Maytag washer and dryer. The things seemed to be nothing but trouble. I was forever repairing something on them, changing belts, temperature sensors, or ignition elements (for the gas dryer). Now we've gotten rid of them and bought the Whirlpool "Duet" washer and dryer at the recommendation of a local appliance repairman.

Mark

 

[Bird]

Yep, Mark, I think Maytag was the one the others were measured by for many years. My parents inherited his parents' Maytag washer & dryer, so that set was used for more than 30 years. They did have to have a repairman out a couple of times in the last 5 years (the repairman was Dad's cousin). And when we sold our house to take up full time RVing 19 years ago, we had a Maytag washer and I don't even remember how old it was. But Maytag went downhill and I'm afraid became nothing but trouble, and then was bought out by Whirlpool. So the Sears service guy told me today that Maytag is OK again; it may say Maytag on the outside, but he said it's Whirlpool on the inside.

 

[texbaylea]

I seem to be odd man out here but we have owned GE washers and dryers since mid 1960. We have averaged 16 years of service including a pair that was submerged in a flood. ( I flushed them with fresh water and flooded them with WD-40 ) I have done all the maintenance during this time and only one time was it major (the transmission).

I personally do no trust the Sears Service personnel. At least twice I have seen them inflate the repair cost to sell new equipment (and get an extra commission).

Vernon

 

[mjarrels]

I'm not a GE fan... but I have a GE washer and dryer that are over 20 years old with no problems execpt for a broken dryer belt a few years ago... I will probably up grade soon to a more efficient machines! GE microwave, GE Refer, GE stove... No problems.

mark

 

[CATMAN]

Bird, Speaking of Maytags, When I brought my set in 1990, they had the new electronic ones in the showroom. The salesman/repairman (had good recommendations from local people) told me that the repair cost of the electronic model and/or circuit broads was probably going to be quite expensive. He recommended the best "all mechanical" (dials and push buttons) washer/dryer units. Easy to repair and troubleshoot. No pressure, just his opinion. I took his advise and have had zero problems with "all mechanical" Maytag washer and dryer set. I am very happy with my old set.

One other thing he told me, back then, is that Maytags were designed for an average lifespan of 20 years for a family of four. I thought that was a little interesting at the time.​

 

[Bird]

There was a time when I thought GE products were among the best. In 1968, I bought a GE refrigerator that I later learned was a 1946 model. It was still working just fine when I gave it away when I bought a new GE in 1972. But the 1972 model died in 1978 or 1979. Also in 1972, I bought a new Penncrest washer and dryer (J.C. Penney, made by the Hotpoint division of GE). I managed to get about 8 years out of the dryer by replacing the drive belt, the thermostat, the heating element, and the timer at different times. I don't remember just how long the washer lasted, but not long. And in 1997, we got a new GE dishwasher. It lasted 3 years before it sprung a leak and I learned that the motor and pump are built together so you cannot separate them and replace just the pump, and the complete assembly cost too much for it to be practical to fix it.

So I'm sure they built some good stuff, but I just didn't have real good luck with them.

And of course, I may not have good luck with what I bought today, but so far I've had pretty good luck with Kenmore (made by Whirlpool), Whirlpool, and KitchenAid appliances.

 

[Bird]

He recommended the best "all mechanical" (dials and push buttons) washer/dryer units.

Mike, I think he was right. And the Sears service man who was here today said about the same thing. He said he tells people if it has led lights and displays, be sure you keep an extended warranty or service policy in effect, or a pile of cash to replace the appliances frequently.

And the all mechanical is what we went back to today; top loader washer. I know the front loaders are supposedly more efficient, but it's easier to put clothes in and get them out of the top loader, and they worked for us for many years. The last Kenmore washer we had did spring a leak after 5 years, but it was pretty simple and not too expensive for me to drive to the service center, buy a new pump, and install it myself.