Breakdowns of Whirlpool top-loading washing machines

The longer a household appliance serves the user, the higher the risk of its failure due to active use. This cannot be prevented, so it is better to prepare in advance for the fact that one day you will have to restore your “home assistant”. Let's study the main malfunctions of Whirlpool top-loading washing machines that you may encounter while using the SM.

Drum jammed

Most often, owners of equipment from the Whirlpool brand require repairs due to the fact that the washer drum is jammed. In this case, it is necessary for someone to turn the drum upside down and thus restore the functionality of the household appliance. If you need to repair this particular element, this means that the appliance doors opened after the end of the working cycle or scrolled down after the washing stopped. This can happen due to damage to the locking mechanism, as well as due to loose closure of the valves. In any case, the owner of the equipment must fix the breakdown as quickly as possible, because until then he simply will not be able to get the clothes out of the drum and continue working.

It is very easy to fix a machine with such a problem, so it is better not to rush to contact the repair service, but to start restoring the washing machine yourself. Just repeat point by point the following standard instructions:

• Find a long steel wire with a cross-section of 3 to 6 centimeters.
• Bend one edge of the wire to create a hook.
• Lower the hook down.
• Try to pry up the washer flap to then close the hatch.
• Also close the doors and try to rotate the drum so that the hatch is on top.

As you can see, the procedure itself is not very complicated, but it usually requires a lot of practice due to the fact that all manipulations must be done blindly. If the hole on your Whirlpool appliance is small and you can't get the hook into it, widen the hole and try again. As a last resort, you can partially disassemble the equipment in order to get to the doors and close the drum with your own hands.

Electronic module

Often the main reason for washing machine failures lies in the CM control board. This is a key element of the system that controls the operation of all nodes of the device. If the “brain” of the machine gradually fails, then the equipment will begin to malfunction during washing, reset the active program and ignore user commands either partially or completely.

If the control module is faulty, then only a service center specialist with the appropriate tools, software and extensive experience in repairing such boards can fix the breakdown.

Due to the fact that the damaged “brain” of the machine always works differently, it is very difficult to diagnose and restore. To fix it, you most often need to update the software or replace burnt-out capacitors with resistors. Also sometimes it is necessary to repair terminals, contacts and tracks on the board.

To protect the control board, experts advise buying a voltage stabilizer for your home, which will save expensive equipment from sudden power surges. Such a device is expensive, but it is much cheaper and easier to buy it than to later pay for complex repairs of the SM control module, which can cost as much as half a “home assistant”.

Bearing failure

Also, to restore Whirlpool household appliances, it is often necessary to repair broken bearings. They sometimes break because the water seal seal dries out completely, becomes deformed, and eventually leaks moisture. Due to damage to the oil seal, water washes away the lubricant and the bearing rings gradually wear out, become deformed and finally break.

When bearings fail, this becomes clear by a loud hum, knocking, grinding and clanging, not only during spinning, but also during washing. To check the elements, just open the hatch slightly and try to turn the drum. In a situation where it tilts and makes a loud squeaking noise, the bearings need repairs.

It is very difficult to repair this unit yourself, because you need to almost completely disassemble the washing machine, take out the tank from it, and then cut it into two parts if it is non-separable in your model. In this case, after dismantling and replacing the bearings, you will also have to fasten the cut tank with reliable clamps and treat everything with WD-40.

Therefore, if you are not sure that you can disassemble the washing machine with your own hands, cut the tank into two parts, remove worn out bearings with a chisel and hammer, and then reassemble everything efficiently, then it is better to simply call a repairman. This will allow you to avoid accidentally aggravating the situation and save your time.

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