My washing machine was filling up as usual but after about 10 seconds it just STOPPED. Will not do anything. At first I tought the wall outlet fuse blew. No such luck. My washer is dead. Only 7 years old. Kenmore. Any Ideas out there?
Check the circuit breaker at the breaker box.
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Fill valve coil open circuit. Door catch/interlock problem if a front loader.
Ron(UK)
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What model?
Does it have anything that would indicate the machine is getting power? Light on the control panel, in the basket, etc? If you rotate the timer knob by hand do any of the cycles do anything? Normally the drain and spin cycles will work even without water in it. I had a Kenmore (which is a rebranded Whirlpool) for a while that burned the contacts on the timer so the motor wouldn't run, cleaned them up and it worked for a couple years until I got rid of it.
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Ok, I have to say it. Either the washer is broken which is all we can determine from the large amount of torubleshooting information provided, or the ac outlet that the washer is plugged into has no ac power, or the user of the washer has no idea and the unit needs plugged into the wall and turned on.
If it is a top loader, there are two safety switches that tell the machine if the lid is closed. My mother has a Whirlpool that also would not do anything. Open up the top, find the schematic, get your voltmeter and start testing. If it is the switch, it is a cheap fix (less than $10) if it is the timer could be much higher.
I may be missing something here, but I don't consider a washing machine failing after 7 years to be any big surprise. Indeed, if it's gone that long without failing it's done better than most washers I've encountered.
Dave
7 years? That's not very long really, I've worked on plenty of washers that were 20-30 years old. Some of the new stuff is built pretty cheap but IMO any washing machine that doesn't last at least 10 years is garbage, and 10 years is pushing it, 15-20 is more reasonable.
We appear to be talking at cross-purposes here. I didn't say anything about terminal failure, I was referring to the OP's surprise that his washer needs servicing after 7 years.
Dave
Our Maytag is going on 35 years now and the only repairs have been to remove a pin from the drain pump and to repair the timer motor gear.
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In my experience the most common problems are the timer, fill level switch and associated tubes and sucn and the lid switch(s). As Michael said check that out first. I ran ours for almost 3 months with a clip lead shorting out the switch (landlord was too cheap to spring for the switch). Finally I just went and bought the thing and took it off the rent. If you do that be careful as the unit will spin with the lid open. Richard
That's pretty impressive!
Dave.
Yep, they built them well back then. The Maytag repair person probably was very lonely. He/she, of course, never saw it. :)
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The "USER" is not a moron. The washer is plugged into a working outlet and it was turned on. I don't see the purpose of your answer. I thought this was a HELP forum not a platform for unwarranted insults!!! The washer is not broken.I since found out it works for cold water wash only. And all the trouble shooting ideas were not really helpful. Not a top loader. The on light is on.
Ok, then maybe you can help. I have this XTZ device that quit working a few seconds after I tried to start it last time I used it. I checked the circuit breaker in the box and it was not tripped. The XTZ is only 10 year old when it failed. What could the problem be?
Substitute any device for XTZ.
The point was, if you want some help, at least post some real troubleshooting information. No one here has a crystal ball and can see what is going on with someone elses device over the web.
Try this request for help then:
I have this XTC device which quit working last time I tried to use it. It is a side load XTC. Pulling the timer knob out which would normally start it and I hear a click noise inside the unit like a relay. Leaving the unit turned on the timer moves ok, but the XTC never activates. I know there is AC power as a light was plugged into the same outlet. I tried all modes of operation an none of them worked. or I tried all modes of operation and only the one that did ABC worked.
As you probably found out, given the lack of information resulted in all troubleshooting ideas not being helpful.
Hot fill valve coil open circuit
Ron
-- Lune Valley Audio Public address system
I junked a 35-ish year old Sony Trinitron last March when clearing out a dead relative's house, IIRC it was the first ever Trinitron model. It still worked well, strong CRT and decent picture, all it needed was the pots servicing as they were a bit scratchy. It ended up at the tip because no-one wanted it. It wasn't easy throwing it on the scrapheap- I kept wondering if it was a collector's item, but we simply didn't have the time to find out.
Dave
Ah, misunderstanding then, yeah 7 years is not too unusual for there to be some problem, particularly with the increased complexity of the modern machines.
I've gotta say though, sometimes that complexity is worth it. After picking up a dead front loader and repairing the motor board that machine is incredible, the clothes come out noticeably cleaner, less detergent is required, and it's so quiet. I can put up with fancy electronics breaking once in a while for that, but I wouldn't pay what they retail for.
I saw a shop selling one of these for $150 a couple years ago, no idea if it ever sold or not. Real nice sets though, no way I could bring myself to junk one, hard to find a home for that sort of thing sometimes though.
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