[Christinejoy]

I've had a Maytag Centennial Washer for a little over 1 yr. It quit running (wouldn't do anything) After replacing 4 different parts, and the repair person (Sears) still couldn't get it going, I was was told that it was because we don't have a ground in our house (old house). If this is true, can you please explain this concept. This doesn't make sense.

[denman]

Not having an earth ground can cause problems on some units but in your case I do not think it is the problem.

Ask the repair person why it ran OK for a year without a ground.

If the house has copper/galvanized (not plastic) water lines you can ground the washer by running a wire from the machines frame to the cold water line.
Just make sure that you get to bare metal on the frame (use the connection from the ground wire of the line cord). Also be sure it is the cold water line and check that the line is metal all the way back to the water meter.

I would call an electrician just to be sure that this complies with your local electrical code.

Here is the install sheet for this unit.
https://www.maytag.com/digitalassets...0W10200890.pdf

[Christinejoy]

Thank you for your response. Yes, while the repair person was there I did ask why it ran for over a year. He called in somewhere to another specialist to ask that question. He indicated what they told him was that it may run for awhile, but after that it would confuse the (computer) and then not run. (Something to that effect, but I know he used the word "confuse.")

So-if this is the type of washer that needs a ground to run, if we go for grounding the washer to the water line, theorically, would the ground to the water line work the same as if the "computer" is expecting the grounding to be coming through direct power? Hope this question makes sense...

Originally Posted by denman

Not having an earth ground can cause problems on some units but in your case I do not think it is the problem.

Ask the repair person why it ran OK for a year without a ground.

If the house has copper/galvanized (not plastic) water lines you can ground the washer by running a wire from the machines frame to the cold water line.
Just make sure that you get to bare metal on the frame (use the connection from the ground wire of the line cord). Also be sure it is the cold water line and check that the line is metal all the way back to the water meter.

I would call an electrician just to be sure that this complies with your local electrical code.

Here is the install sheet for this unit.
https://www.maytag.com/digitalassets...0W10200890.pdf

[denman]

Yes it should work.
You have to make sure that the water line is metal all the way back yo the meter.

I am not sold on the "confuse" excuse.
This can happen but once you unplug the unit the control board/computer should reset to defaults and it should work at least once.