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.

 

[kenmac]

the bad thing about parts for sears appliances are, some parts are proprietary. And can only be purchased through sears even though the appliance mabe a whirlpool

 

[Bird]

Yep, Ken, and similar situations are not uncommon with other companies as well as Sears. For example, some, if not all, Craftsman air-compressors have a data plate right on the tank that says it's made by DeVilbiss. Now a DeVilbiss dealer has the parts and can repair it, but cannot repair one under warranty. Sears buys in quantity and their agreement is that they'll handle the warranty. Another example: I found who made the hydraulic valve for my Kubota front end loader and contacted them to try to get a repair manual. They flat refused to tell me anything at all because it's proprietary to Kubota.

There are certainly things I don't like about Sears, but one of the things I always did like is that most of their products come with exploded views and parts lists.

 

[billbill1]

When we built our home 8 years ago, we bought all new appliances. We sold the Maytags that we had with our old home, 24 years and not one single problem. The wife wanted the new Neptune-Maytags since we had such great luck with the old set. The door lock broke and spilled water all over the house after five years on the washer. It was going to be three weeks before we could get repair parts and our daughter and grandson were home for a visit. A washing machine was very important during that week. We ran to Lowes and bought a new Whirlpool Duet to replace it with. The insides of the $800 Whirlpool microwave actually caught on fire and had to be replaced after 7 years. A $200 replacement (Maytag) does all we need a microwave to do, we only defrost and reheat in a microwave. Just last week, the refrigerator quit for the second time and being 8 years old, we bought a new one. I bought a GE this time and it was $800 at Factory Direct Appliance, the exact same one was $900 at Home Depot and a week wait. Only the dryer and the dishwasher are still working 8 years later. Pretty poor performance for all brand new stuff IMHO.

 

[Bird]

Pretty poor performance for all brand new stuff IMHO.

Yep, I agree. Of course we just bought this house 3 years ago. The house was built in 1991 and the last 2 owners have been single men. Everything inside appeared to have been freshly painted, but no paint odor and neighbors tell us the guy who lived here the previous 3 years didn't paint it. But the Rheem heat pump, the built in Kenmore microwave above the kitchen range, the KitchenAid electric range with convection oven, and the KitchenAid dishwasher are all 1999 models. They all appeared new so apparently the previous owners didn't do much cooking here, but I wonder how long all this stuff will last.

 

[billbill1]

I just placed an order for a Rheem heat pump yesterday, $3900 installed. Looking to lower the heat bills from propane, I mainly heat with a wood furnace but getting harder to motivate myself to cut wood as the years keep advancing.

 

[RSKY]

We bought one of the first sets of Maytag Neptunes sold in our area several years ago. NOTHING with the Maytag name will ever be in my house again. The washer finally caught fire, with a repairman standing next to me, and burned the control panel completely up. At that time the only things original were the frame, outside sheet metal, motor, transmission, pump, and control panel (which did burn up). Everything else including all bearings, the tub, door, wiring, hoses, switches, and other several other parts had been replaced. The dryer was a little better but not much. It had the tub replaced also.

We bought LG and have had not one single problem for three years. We like it so well we bought all LG for our kitchen remodel.

 

[mikim]

The best refrigerator we own is a 1957 model GE... I changed the door seal on it ... and the elect plug.... sits in an old mobile we have for weekends and it sometimes reaches unreal temps in there in the summer ....like 120 deg .... but the old fridge just keeps runnin'. ... It was pretty funny when I went to order that door seal ... parts man didn't believe it was a real model number til he looked it up on the computer ...then was really surprised when he could actually get one.

 

[ByronBob]

My Kenmore washing machine died at 3.5yrs also. Ended up buying the 5yr extended warranty also on the new one.

With 2 kids and so many of us at home, the unit gets used almost daily. They just don't work all that well anymore. Quality isn't the best.

Washing machines are almost a throw away item now a days.

 

[studor]

Used to always buy Maytag -- then they got bought by Whirlpool and I needed a repair -- worst service I have ever experienced and the response from Whirlpool was so bad it was actually like a Dilbert cartoon. That was last year -- have since bought five GE appliances and have been completely happy with all of them. I would strongly suggest looking carefully the Whirlpool website before buying anything from them -- note there is no place for customer feedback -- they don't want any

 

[Tig]

I've got an 18 year old Kenmore washer and dryer. We sold the house and the new people did not ask for them so they will make the move with us. The are getting worn out so they will be replaced in the next year or so. No complaints.
I do appreciate the experiences in this thread and I am making notes for when we go shopping for the replacements. Any thoughts on frontloaders, or those all in one units? I like the idea of saving space.