Post by applianceman on Jan 11, 2010 10:05:52 GMT -5
Washer Leaking
WATER PUMP
The water pump is the most common thing to cause a Whirlpool washer to leak. It is the very first thing I check when working on a Whirlpool washer leaking. First you need to take the case off. To do this, unplug the washer and take out the two screws that hold the control panel in place (one on each side, you may be able to see them in front, you may have to snap off two covers to see them or they may be on the back) then hinge the control panel up. Once its up, you should see a plug attached to the case with three wires - unplug it. Now remove the two clips on each side of the case under the control and lean the case over then slide it out of the way. Now start the washer and watch while the water is coming in. If the pump starts leaking replace pump.
TUB OVERFILLING
Sometimes the tube that operates the water level control comes off and that will cause the tub to overfill. To find out if the tube is off, first unplug the washer and take out the two screws that hold the control panel in place (one on each side, you may be able to see them in front, you may have to snap off two covers to see them or they may be on the back) then hinge the control panel up. Once you have hinged the control panel up you will be able to see the water level control. There should be a tube attached to it, if not find the tube and reattach it. If the tube is attached you need to lean over the case to see if it has come off at the tub. To lean the case over, unplug the wires going to the case then remove the clips on each side of the tub. Then you should be able to lean the case over and look to see if the tube has come off the tub (the tube should be on back on the right hand side). If it’s off find it and reinstall it. If not, the problem is the water level control or the water valve. To check this first start and stop the washer repeatedly, the water should cut off every time you stop the washer. If not replace the water valve, if so replace the water level control.
HOSES
Check to see if the hoses have a hole in them. The hoses you need to check are the fill hoses and the drain hoses. If you don’t see the hoses leak, you may have to take off the case as I described above to see the other half of the drain hose.
Will agitate but not spin
LID SWITCH
If your Whirlpool Washer is not spinning the problem is almost always the lid switch. If the lid switch is bad you will not hear the motor running when in spin. To check the lid, first unplug the washer. Then you need to take out the two screws that hold the control panel in place (one on each side, you may be able to see them in front, you may have to snap off two covers to see them or they may be on the back) then hinge the control panel up. Once its up, you should see a plug attached to the case with three wires - unplug it. Now using your ohmmeter , check to see if you have continuity between the two outside wires (make sure the lid is closed) on the female plug end (the one still attached to the case after you have unplugged it). It you do not have continuity; the lid switch is bad and needs replacing. To replace the lid switch, you have to remove the two clips on each side of the case under the control and lean the case over in the floor. Then you should see the lid switch and the wires going to the plug, remove them and install the new lid switch. This will likely fix yor Whirlpool washer spin problem but if not read the next section.
Motor Coupling
The motor coupling will cause Whirlpool washers not to spin and they break very often. If this is the case the washer will not wash or spin.
OTHER CAUSES
Other things that can cause the washer to wash but not spin are the timer, water level control and transmission. If the timer or the water level control is bad, you will not hear the motor trying to run when it’s in spin. The timer is unlikely but I have seen a few bad ones. The water level control is even more unlikely, I can’t even remember replacing one. So if you don’t hear the motor run when it’s in spin, I would guess the timer but I can’t say for sure.
Will not spin or agitate
COUPLING
The coupling is a device that connects the motor to the transmission and is on all direct drive Whirlpool washers (pretty much all of them made after the 80s).
To check this, first turn the washer to spin and turn it on. If you hear the motor running and its not spinning it is almost always the coupling. Unplug the washer. Now you need to take the case off. To do this to take out the two screws that hold the control panel in place (one on each side, you may be able to see them in front, you may have to snap off two covers to see them or they may be on the back) then hinge the control panel up. Once its up, you should see a plug attached to the case with three wires - unplug it. Now remove the two clips on each side of the case under the control and lean the case over then slide it out of the way.
Next remove the pump (I don’t remove the hoses but you can) it’s held on by two clips remove them and pull the pump off. Now remove the motor (I don’t unplug wires but you can) it’s held on by two clips remove them and the motor should fall down. Move the motor to the side and you should see the coupling.
There are three parts to the coupling one on the motor, one on the transmission and one in the middle. If any of these parts are broken replace all of them (they all come together).
If the coupling is not bad then your problem more than likely the clutch.
Lid Switch
On most Whirlpool washers the lid switch will only cause the washer not to spin. But some models the lid switch will cause the washer not to spin or wash.
MOTOR
When you turn your Whirlpool washer to spin and all you hear is a buzz, then the problem is most likely the motor. Unplug the washer. Now you need to take the case off. To do this to take out the two screws that hold the control panel in place (one on each side, you may be able to see them in front, you may have to snap off two covers to see them or they may be on the back) then hinge the control panel up. Once its up, you should see a plug attached to the case with three wires - unplug it. Now remove the two clips on each side of the case under the control and lean the case over then slide it out of the way.
Next remove the pump it’s held on by two clips remove them and pull the pump off. Now remove the motor (I don’t unplug wires but you can) it’s held on by two clips remove them and the motor should fall down. Move the motor to the side and you should see the coupling.
Now turn the coupling by hand (both ways) while turning it you should see the tub or the agitator turn. If you cannot turn the coupling the transmission is locked up and needs replacing.
If you can turn the coupling both ways then you need to take the hoses off the pump to see if there is anything in the pump (I rarely see this on Whirlpool washers) if so remove the obstruction your problem should be fixed. If there is nothing in the pump the motor is bad and needs replacing.
Will spin but not agitate
AGITATOR DOGS
Agitator dogs are in most Whirlpool washers made since about the year 1990. Agitator dogs make the top half of the agitator to ratchet. If the dogs are broken it will appear that it is not agitating when in fact this is not true, but the clothes may not get as clean when they were working properly. The best way to tell if the agitator dogs are bad is to try to turn the top of the agitator. If the agitator will turn freely both ways, the dogs are bad and need replacing. If it only turns one way, the dogs are working properly and your problem is elsewhere. To replace the agitator dogs, first remove the cap or fabric softener dispenser off the agitator. Now remove the 7/16 bolt that you see down in the agitator. Once off, the agitator should lift straight up. Now separate the top half of the agitator from the bottom by pulling them apart. Once apart you should see the agitator dogs – remove them and replace with new dogs. Reassemble the agitator then reinstall it. Your problem should be fixed now.
WATER VALVE
If your water valve is broken, your washer cannot wash obviously. To check your water valve, first cut the water off and remove the hoses off the back of the washer. Then one at a time point the hoses inside the washer tub and turn the water back on. If you don’t have good water pressure, turn the water back off and remove the strainer that should be in one end of the hose. Inspect the strainer to see if it is stopped up, clean it and reinstall it. Now repeat this test. If you have good water pressure now, reinstall hose and your problem is fixed. If you still don’t have good water pressure, the problem is in your house plumbing and you need to call a plumber. If you had good water pressure the first time you performed the test, the water valve is bad and needs replacing.
Disassembly Instructions
1. Disconnect power from washer.
2. Remove the two screws (one on each side) that hold the control panel on. On some washers, you will see the screws from the front, some you will have to snap a cover off to see the screws and on some washers the screws will be on the back.
3. Hinge the control panel up as shown below.
If replacing the timer or any control panel switches this is as far as you need to go.
4. Once the control panel is hinged up, you should see two clips, remove them.
5. In the center you should see a plug going into the case of the washer, unplug it.
6. Once done you should be able to pull the case of the washer (front, sides and top) over and off the base leaving nothing but the back and tub.
At this point you can replace the lid switchit it is located under the top of the case.
7. Remove water pump by removing the two clips. Note that if you are replacing the pump remove the hoses and install new pump but if you are trying to access the motor or the motor coupling there is no need to remove the pump hoses. Just move the pump over to the side and out of the way.
8. Remove the motor by removing the two clips (on most of these washers the clips are secured with screws). Once the clips are removed the motor should fall down. Once off you can remove the motor coupling from the transmission and the motor to replace it.
Removing the gear-case and clutch
Above are Whirlpool washer disassembly instructions for disassembly down to the motor, which is all you need to know for most Whirlpool washer repair however sometimes you have to replace the gear-case or the clutch. To do so first remove the motor and pump as shown above, then follow these additional steps.
1. Remove the agitator by removing the cap off the top then removing the bolt, down in the agitator.
2. Lay the washer down on its back. Note you may have to disconnect the hose in order to do so.
3. Remove the three bolts that hold the gear-case on.
4. Pull the entire gear-case and agitator shaft out.
5. Remove the trust bearing off the agitator shaft.
6. The clutch is held on by a clip remove it and the clutch should come right off.
