Kenmore 80 series: machine *sometimes* won't work
Here's the tech info first:
Kenmore 80 series
Model: 110.28872891
Stock: 28872
I acquired this machine used in 2005, and it has been working flawlessly for several years. It was been dormant in storage between 2009-2011, then back to work without problem for a few months. But starting in December 2011, it began to act up. The first problem I notice was that the machine would not agitate after the wash tub is filled with water. Earlier, I could just "wait" (either with the main switch pulled "up" or not) and it would work by itself. Or I had to fiddle, sometimes refilling with more water, or shake the machine (as much I could--which is almost nothing).
This problem is now occuring on a rather consistent basis (since January 2012). Here's how things typically happen when I would start a wash cycle:
- At the beginning of wash cycle, after the water is filled to the right level, I heard a "relay click", but the motor would not engage. That is, no agitation in the wash cycle. No noise either, so motor does not seem to work. The timer is still ticking down though.
- I found a "trick" which often coax the wash cycle to start in this case: I would move the timer position to just before "Rinse" or just before "Spin", and pull the timer, where the machine would then drain the water. Most of the time, if the water is drained sufficiently, I can then bring the timer position back to "wash" cycle and the wash would start.
I found that this trick does not always work for me, and sometimes I have to repeat this step a few times before the wash cycle eventually worked.
I'd also note that during the wash/agitate cycle, the motor is now sometimes more noisy than it was in the past.
Right now, these are the things that still always work:
- fill up water to the correct level
- pump for draining the water from the tub still works
- spin still works
For your record, I noticed one problem in the past (~2011), but these did not recur for a long time (or if it did, extremely rarely). I would not worry for now (unless you think they are related or are important): At the end of a "wash" cycle, the pump once would begin to drain the water till a low enough level, but not completely, and the spin would not work.
I notice there is another thread which seems related:
http://www.applianceblog.com/mainfor...-wont-run.html
I wonder if anyone can help me hunt down the problem in my particular case. Especially if it is a simple fix, I'd love to know.
Thanks,
Wirawan
Here's the tech info first:
Kenmore 80 series
Model: 110.28872891
Stock: 28872
I acquired this machine used in 2005, and it has been working flawlessly for several years. It was been dormant in storage between 2009-2011, then back to work without problem for a few months. But starting in December 2011, it began to act up. The first problem I notice was that the machine would not agitate after the wash tub is filled with water. Earlier, I could just "wait" (either with the main switch pulled "up" or not) and it would work by itself. Or I had to fiddle, sometimes refilling with more water, or shake the machine (as much I could--which is almost nothing).
This problem is now occuring on a rather consistent basis (since January 2012). Here's how things typically happen when I would start a wash cycle:
- At the beginning of wash cycle, after the water is filled to the right level, I heard a "relay click", but the motor would not engage. That is, no agitation in the wash cycle. No noise either, so motor does not seem to work. The timer is still ticking down though.
- I found a "trick" which often coax the wash cycle to start in this case: I would move the timer position to just before "Rinse" or just before "Spin", and pull the timer, where the machine would then drain the water. Most of the time, if the water is drained sufficiently, I can then bring the timer position back to "wash" cycle and the wash would start.
I found that this trick does not always work for me, and sometimes I have to repeat this step a few times before the wash cycle eventually worked.
I'd also note that during the wash/agitate cycle, the motor is now sometimes more noisy than it was in the past.
Right now, these are the things that still always work:
- fill up water to the correct level
- pump for draining the water from the tub still works
- spin still works
For your record, I noticed one problem in the past (~2011), but these did not recur for a long time (or if it did, extremely rarely). I would not worry for now (unless you think they are related or are important): At the end of a "wash" cycle, the pump once would begin to drain the water till a low enough level, but not completely, and the spin would not work.
I notice there is another thread which seems related:
http://www.applianceblog.com/mainfor...-wont-run.html
I wonder if anyone can help me hunt down the problem in my particular case. Especially if it is a simple fix, I'd love to know.
Thanks,
Wirawan