[dmichael]

ok, so my washer died. push start button, starts to fill, 3 seconds later, shuts off. repair says new control panel. my question---also says i need a new sub switch to work with new control panel, do i? also, is this the correct diagnosis? i have read that a new motor is needed when changing the panel. of course i was not notified of the recall which has long passed. any help appreciated.

[Gene]

The first thing I would do is perform troubleshooting as recommended in the Maytag Technical Bulletin. Post the results.

Gene.

[dmichael]

gene, thanks for responding. there is no visual damage to the control board & no loose connections found. seems according to the manual, any failure results in control board replacement anyway. my added concern is whether just the board is in need of replacement or are there additional items. thanks in advance if there is anything you can add to my problem.

[Gene]

I did not find any special instructions regarding any additional parts involved in the control board replacement. I do not know which part your tech called "sub switch". If he did diagnosed some other parts wrong then you have to ask him.

In order to provide the right part number for the control board I need the serial number of the washer.

Gene.

[dmichael]

hi again gene. well since my last post, i installed a new control board. now the washer fills but the motor will not engage. so, i'm left with the obvious question...new motor? the serial # is 25136853YH. thanks again for your insight. i would find appliance repair fascinating if it were not so, so frustrating.

[Gene]

Does the "lock" light on the control panel go "on"? Did you try to perform the tests described in the service manual?

Gene.

[dmichael]

unfortunately, it does not go far enough into the cycle for the lock door light to come on (when working correctly, there is an approx. 2 min delay after the tumble starts before locking). tried to follow the trouble shoot list to check the drive train. the belt is on properly. removed the jp4 connection on the motor control in the washer delay mode as instructed. according to how i read it, it should tumble freely at that point. it does not. then it says to check if power is going thru the fuse on the motor control board, but i am unable to recognize the fuse & it is not identified on the schematic. there seems to be power in all the various wires but determining where the problem is seems to be out of my range.
i repair appointment this friday. i would probably have given up hope of repairing if it were not for the hassle of getting another appliance in & worse, hauling this heavy monster out. that, & this is the 1st & only time i have experienced any problems. i do appreciate your help in trying to walk me thru this.

[dmichael]

my friend the washer now has been diagnosed with a bad motor control board with an estimated replacement cost of over $300. unless i can locate one from a used machine, i think this may be the end of the saga. if anyone has this machine, please contact me before tossing it. dmichaelcaffrey@yahoo.com

[libertyappl]

When the control board was changed did you change the wax motor? That is the part that they have told us to change when installing a new control board. See if this part looks like yours, AP3493176 or this is the motor & control board for the conversion AP3160609.

Nat

[dmichael]

after changing the control board, determined there was yet another problem. turned out, there was also a bad motor control board. was ready to give up on the whole fiasco, when in one last shot, i stopped at a large used appliance center here in pgh, pa. they do not sell any neptunes but rather ship them all to mexico (apparently where they are rebuilt). they, in a very great gesture, let me remove one of the boards. came right home & installed it &...lo & behold--it works, for now at least. i've read (now) about all the various problems with neptunes including the issues with the door wax motors. odds of going very long w/o another problem i realize is very slim. with over $200 invested not including time, i will not spend another second in repair attempts when that day inevitably comes. thanks to all who read or helped in my effort...this forum is incredible & i will be grateful to it & those participating.