tearing holes in clothes
Complaint
Anne
Country: United States
I have had this new maytag centenial washer for three months and have had many articles of clothing get rips and holes in them This washer has no agitator and just spins the clothes but it is also tearing them. Does anyone else have this problem?
Comments
After much reading of online posts regarding problems/issues/complaints with the "Maytag Centennial Commercial Technology" top load clothes washer I can claim a victory in getting my neighbour's machine working again.
So here I will share in hopes in some way it will help. But first- thanks to all the people who posted comments, complaints, and videos. It is a great way to get info and the sharing truly helps with the problem solving. Slow but sure!
My neighbour's machine would not spin- clothes remained soaked with soap and unit would not complete its wash/rinse cycle.
My neighbour had 2 repair companies come to make attempts to fix her Maytag- first fellow arrived and spent an hour plus trying to get it going- then prior to departing he admitted he was not trained for Maytags! He said there is no charge for the service call!
2nd fellow visited and worked on it again for 1-2hrs, thought it was the lid lock mechanism malfunctioning- preventing machine from operating properly. He installed a new lid lock but this did not fix the machine- spin cycle still would not engage.
He concluded the main computer board needed to be replaced at a further cost of over $300 so he suggested just buying a new machine because new machines do not cost much more than the good money invested for the service call already plus the cost of the new computer board component plus the probable and additional service call charge to install! He removed the new lid lock prior to leaving and I think charged over $130 for the call.
My neighbour's machine is approx 3 years old- I do not think machines just off the factory floor would look any newer or cleaner than her's! I could not see the sense in thowing this nearly new machine in the dump as the machine would fill, agitate, drain, and occasionally I could coax it to spin by turning the knob- but it would not spin on its own. So- mostly everything was working!
After much reading of posts and watching videos posted, it was looking like the "shift actuator" could be the problem. Some people and online "appliance people" noted it to be a "high-fail" component. Also, some noted they too had been told the main computer board needed to be replaced yet others remarked it was unlikely that the problem would be with the computer board. So- only because others had shared- I looked for the "Diagnostic Guide" or "technical data booklet" which is inside a plastic envelope taped on the inside front of the machine- access to it from the bottom of the machine. The booklet contains info regarding diagnostics the machine can be run thru. (I found the plastic bag only- booklet gone but I did find one that was posted online by an appliance guy.)
I had success putting machine in to diagnostics mode- so I read and started doing the various diagnostics testing. I read that some people had success fixing the machine simply by doing the "Calibration mode" diagnostic. So I excitedly tried this- but it did not fix the machine I was working on. I did the "Fault Code Display" to find out what fault codes the machine was encountering, noted/wrote them down and then I cleared out these fault codes. I did the "Automatic Test Mode" only to find it would not- of course -do the spin portion of the test- machine sounded like it engaged but then would not spin and then the "lid lock" light would start blinking- a fail. In "Calibration Mode" it would do its 2-4 minutes of lights on with noise and at the end the machine's "lid-lock" would again remain on blinking and machine lid would remain locked and not unlock and shutoff like it is supposed to do in "Calibration Mode". Much unplugging and plugging in of the machine took place. Much entering in to and out of diagnostics mode took place too. And, although I do have a digital multi-meter, I did not bother doing much of the checking of wires/ components suggested in the guide as additional tests or "go to here" tests if this other test fails.
The "Fault Code Display" gives the "last 4 fault codes"- the 4 fault codes for my neighbour's machine were as follows:
1.) "F2E1"- "stuck key on user panel"
2.) "F5E1"- "Lid switch fault"
3.) "F5E3 -"Lid unlock fault"
4.) "F8E3"- "Overflow conditions"
I did not put much trust or faith in to the fault codes given. As I have said the machine did most of the actions and the lid lock mechanism seemed to be working robustly.
I did put more trust and faith in to the info gleaned from people's posts and videos. So after much discussion with my neighbour and with much reluctance, I went to a local parts appliance store and purchased the "shift actuator" for $69 Canadian. "Much reluctance" because I did not want to waste a further $70 on this machine only to have the new component installed and not fix the problem.
After installing the new "shift actuator", I did the "Calibration Mode" test. It is written that if you change out certain components you must do a "Calibration Mode" test. Calibration test ran and it completed successfully with the machine lid-lock unlocking at the end of it. I also ran the "Automatic Test" mode and it ran thru this test successfully too.
Next, we put a small load of clothes with soap in the machine and selected a cycle. Stood there the entire time and watched the LED lights of the machine- it ran thru wash, rinse, and spin successfully!
ONLY ISSUE is the main dial or "cycle selector knob/dial" does not turn when machine is running. I do not know if it was not turning prior to these problems- neighbour can not remember if so. The machine seems to know or "sense" where the dial is and from there the machine runs thru its cycles properly- only the dial does not move, it stays put. My worry being that if we selected wash with the dial would the machine stay on wash forever because the dial no longer moves?- But no, luckily we selected the cycle with the dial, the machine appeared to "sense" where it is, and then the machine went thru that cycle properly to completion and the LED lights lit accordingly.
So- 1 wash down and we are hoping it lasts for many more washes! That is it.
Hope it helps.
Best Wishes and good luck.
Regards,
Thomas