I am stuck trying to figure out why my washing machine will not run a wash, but will run a spin (no rinse) cycle. This is a Kenmore HE 2 Front End washer (whirlpool) When I put it in any of the wash or rinse cycles, It just blinks lights. There is no diagnostic window display for this model. I’ll include pictures. I have had this issue before but was easily able to resolve it by cleaning out the drain before the pump, or by cleaning out any sediment in the screen to the inlet valve. First to the cleanout by the pump. I check that. Some coins and the usual dog hair. Ran the machine on spin, no problem, but still not working wash cycle. Poured a couple buckets of water into the machine, and did spin cycle again. The water drained out. So that seemed ok Back to the water inlets. When I loosened the hose, I could hear a hiss sound suggestive of back pressure of the air by the water pressure. This suggested to me that the inlet valve was either bad or clogged. With no way to unclog it, I didn’t do an ohms test on the solenoid. I ordered the part and replaced it today. Nothing has changed. Where do I go from here aside from paying the $ three digit repair man?
I would have thought for sure it was the valve. I've had it happen to me. I Googled for answers when I had a Kenmore HE unit, (one of the early front loaders. ) The computer in it had bad contacts, and they knew it. It was out of warranty by a lot of years and I took the top off and still couldn't get it to last long. A lady posted her fix on the Internet. It was to smack the right top front of the washer and it would work. Sure enough, it worked! Saved a repair by the occasional whack. It finally gave up the ghost with a broken bearing. The Internet is my go to first for anyone repairs. Good luck with the washer.
Do not know a thing about that washer but my first stop is always a Yahoo search. Just found this. http://appliantology.org/topic/36656-kenmore-he2-11046462501-washer-wont-start-the-cycle/
Front load washer lasted 2 years in our house with only 2 people and my wife doing wash 1 day a week. Well water ate the bearings out of it. $482. + labor to replace on a $900. piece of crap. Went back to the old style whirlpool top loader. Has been running just fine now for 4 1/2 years. Everybody I know that has one has had nothing but grief and aggravation.
Can you hear the solenoid click when it should be running water? I would check to see if there is voltage coming to the solenoid when it is calling for it. If you don't have voltage coming to the solenoid trace the wires back to wherever it comes from ( not sure if yours has relays or a control board) Our front load is 5 years old and we haven't had any issues with it yet and I hop it stays that way.
They are supposed to be better now, but they still are a problematic piece of convenience. I bought a new one when that bearing went. It was about eight years old at that point.
Thanks, I'll follow up on that, hopefully tomorrow. Unless there is some obvious disconnect, the might be the motor control board. That is about $200. I would have to think real hard about that vs replacement. The machine is eight years old.
Got one of these at works, breaks once every couple months. I think the blinking lights are supposed to be the diagnostic report.
I've got a Kenmore HE2 Been there, done that --- When Sears does the job they replace the whole tub assembly -- thought I'd be smart and just replace the bad parts, total PIA but only cost me ~$50 for parts.
+1 On the early HE2's the flashing light pattern is supposed to be some sort of diagnostics. But the circuit boards are known to be problematic themselves. Did you read the fix in the link that LP posted? If your not comfortable working on circuit boards an electronics repair place should be able to solder on a board cheap.
Wow, Mike, you really tore that bad boy apart. I'm sure it works better than before. When my bearing went I called an independent repair service, and they said they had to replace the whole tub, like you said Sears would do. They told me to just buy a new one. You saved yourself buying a new one, and at least $400 in the repair. Nice!
Wow Mike, you really were determined to fix that machine. The good thing is that you were able to know what was wrong with the machine. I'm betting you figured out the disassembly and restroration all on your own. I get fairly determined myself, but get hung up when it comes to control boards. They cost about $200. My macine is eight years old. Very hard to think it is worth putting big money in. I called sears today. They don't offer tech support for any product out of warranty. I understand my kenmore is a whirpool so I might try calling them.
Mine has had pretty much everything but the control board replaced in 7 years. Not sure what I will do when it needs to be replaced. But I hate the disposable mentality companies that sell us this cheap chit.. Remember when washers would last 30+ years? I won't be buying another Kenmore product after seeing how poorly made the he2 is. That 'spider' gear that I replaced on the tub was hardly recognizable after 5 years. Guess that's considered normal when you make parts out of 100% pure chineseium pot metal.
Before you buy another I'd pull the circuit board and see if there is any loose connections, mushroomed capacitors or any other obvious problems.
We have had our front loader for about ten years, and no problems so far. We do A LOT of laundry, and my wife's sister did theirs here, too, for a whole year. It was cheap, but it has been very reliable. The only thing I really like is that it is quiet. I do not like bending over to unload it. I know it's a matter of time. We picked up an old top load machine for our weekend place, free from CL. Works perfectly. When my SIL got a house, the old one in it worked fine for about a year, then quit agitating. I had her back in business $26 later. We had the same washer from when I was a kid, up until I replaced it with the front loader. The only reason I replaced it was because I had it apart to replace some cheap part on it, and it fell over and cracked the tub. So yeah, they don't make them like they used to. I bet the Maytag man doesn't sit around much anymore.
I've only bought one wash machine new, it was a kenmore. Lasted two years. Now I buy second hand commercial machines, no probs in ten years.
my wife wants the looks. no way around this. i either fix it or replace it with one that matches the dryer.
From what I have been told and read, appliances are made for 5 year replacement cycle now. Really sux if that is in fact the case...and unfortunately, it appears to be the case That Maytag man is awfully busy these days
