Washer won't empty - AKA: When it rains it pours!

[Sam Conder]

Allright peeps,

While attempting to be Mr. Mom, I have apparently broken our Fisher & Paykel washing machine. The scenario is thus:

• It will fill the tub with water.
• It will properly agitate during the wash cycle.
• It will NOT empty after the wash cycle.

I even powered it down, unloaded all the clothes, and then tried advancing it to the rinse cycle to pump the water out. The pump will never kick on.

Sooo.... I'm guessing either a switch somewhere or the pump motor. I've GOT to get this thing going, keeping everything clean is crucial to Adele's health. I'm afraid to call the repairman, that scenario rarely turns out well.

Hopefully I can figure out how to tear into this thing but I'm not sure what I'm looking for once I get into it. Any tips or hints?

[LCHIEN]

I'm no expert - but there's plenty of net help
try www.repairclinic.com
www.appliancerepair.net
www.fixitnow.com
www.repair2000.com

all found by googling appliance repair

[radhak]

The make/model/year of the machine will matter, and this might not apply to Fisher...still, it could be that there's something blocking. If you look inside the washer, there should be a drain motor pump with 2 hoses connected to it that you could try and unclog. Have a bucket ready and some rags, clean the impellers of the drain motor, reinstall , and test.


An entirely different track is that there should be something like a water level switch that is activated by a floating sensor (like in toilet bowls); it might be stuck, which might mean you need to have the water level switch replaced; you could slap it a bit. Of course, you'll need to dig up their manual for a schematic, or search if they have it online. sorry, don't have the actual technical names of the top of my head.

[jhart]

Had something like that happen in one of my apartments, called the service guy and was really embarrased when he discovered a nail in the basket that kept the basket from spinning. Might want to check to see that something like that isn't stopping it.
He still charged me for the service call. I raised he** with the tenant who worked construction for not checking his pockets.

[pelligrini]

Check the pump impeller for blockage. My Kenmore did this same thing twice. First one was a little Barbie comb, second was a quarter.

[Black wallnut]

You can check the pump switch with a multi meter. Unplug the connections and test to see if the pump is getting power in the cycle when it should. If it is getting power then you likely either need a new pump or have a blockage. If it's not getting power then you'll at least know that your problem is not the pump. I've had good luck with repairclinic.com for several appliance problems in the past.

[fbrend123]

If it's a top loader, check out the safety interlock switch in the door. It might be bad, preventing draining in prep for the spin cycle. My neighbor is an appliance repairman, and he came over and pulled the switch and jumped the circuit until I could get a replacement. Not exactly kosher, but it worked. Just had to remember to keep the door closed during the spin cycle.

[stocktr8er]

Had this twice. Used the sites already list ed to tear down my Kenmore. First time was a baby sock in outflow hose. Second time was a control board - about a $100 piece to do my self.

Don't know about your brand but the older Kenmore was pretty simple to chase down using the internet.

Good Luck

[backpacker85]

Been there twice with ours, once was a coin, the other was a guitar pick.
They got stuck in the drain filter under the drum. Fortunately, removing the top, agitator and drum is a snap on these machines. Under the drum is a small plastic housing that can be removed & cleaned.

Hardest part of the whole deal is emptying the water from the drum.

[Sam Conder]

Success!!!

Well, the links Loring provided gave me the courage to tear down the beast.

Final diagnosis: A dryer sheet was sucked into the impellers on the underside of the pump motor which bound up the motor. Removed the sheet and now the pump empties the tub!

I can now add Maytag Repairman to my resume.

Tomorrow's task: Replace the shingles that blew off the roof today. DOH!

[sparkeyjames]

Those sneaky sneaky dryer sheets can hide in the most crazy places. Got dressed one day and went to work. Around 2:30 I looked down and saw a dryer sheet hanging out of the left pants leg. Now I hunt the little devils down. One dryer sheet in one dryer sheet out.

[Adele]

My Hero

Sam fixed it. He is such a good husband, repairman, father, etc. I am sooo lucky.

[crokett]

Well, the links Loring provided gave me the courage to tear down the beast.

Final diagnosis: A dryer sheet was sucked into the impellers on the underside of the pump motor which bound up the motor. Removed the sheet and now the pump empties the tub!

I can now add Maytag Repairman to my resume.

Tomorrow's task: Replace the shingles that blew off the roof today. DOH!

Sorry I didn't see this till now, I would have said check the impeller. I had the same thing happen and it was one of my wife's socks that did it.