Posted: 6/15/2012 5:55:51 AM EDT
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The clothes washer (Maytag LAT9520AAE) that came with the house started to give me issues today after about 1.5yrs. The washer fills up just fine and the water stops just fine. When it starts to go into the agitation cycle, it will stop after maybe 5 secs or so. Open up lid and close it and it starts up again but shuts off after 5 secs or so. Also I'll notice my overhead light start to flash a bit when the washer is running for that 5 secs. Any suggestions of what might be the cause? Motor going bad? I'd rather not purchase a new washer but since it's Friday I'll be stuck until at least Monday at this point. |
Call the Maytag repairman. I heard he's not very busy.  Seriously though - sounds like the motor is overloading and then a breaker is tripping. If it was me, I'd take it apart, disconnect the belt from the motor, make sure the drum and agitator move freely, then power on the motor to see how it spins with the drive belt disconnected. If everything moves freely, it's likely a problem with the motor. |
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Popped the back cover off and pulled the switch gizmo out. Checked how the metal lever worked with the lid opening and closing. Set the switch gizmo back in and it started working (nothing but water in the washer). So far it's been going a couple mins without shutting off or giving the weird power fluctuations. May have saved me a a few bucks. |
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Popped the back cover off and pulled the switch gizmo out. Checked how the metal lever worked with the lid opening and closing. Set the switch gizmo back in and it started working (nothing but water in the washer). So far it's been going a couple mins without shutting off or giving the weird power fluctuations. May have saved me a a few bucks. 
Sometimes the little metal tabs that actuate the switch when you close the door bend or break. as well. Cheap switch and usually appliance parts show up fast from online vendors. |
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Ok just put in a 2nd load and it filled up with water but just stopped. It won't turn on at all. So not sure if the switch is the problem or not now. Well, test the switch with an ohm meter. Take a multi meter and set it to the lowest resistance setting (ohms). Hold the tips of the probes together with your fingers and turn the dial on the side of the meter until it reads zero. Then hold the leads across the terminals of the switch. If the reading is 0, you have continuity, if you have a reading on the ohm meter, you have resistance-bad switch. Is the washer level? A washer will shut off if it is out of level, and a dryer will run forever because the timer won't advance because the moisture sensor is out of level, like a mercury thermostat. You need to start checking switches with a meter to see what is bad. DO NOT start disassembling the cabinet. Be careful where you touch the circuit board, if you touch a capacitor, you will get shocked. First, see if the washer is level. ETA: Obviously unplug the washer and remove the switches from the machine when you test them. |
