[jjohns1993]

Last week, my washer stopped agitating. I have a feeling my son put in a load that was entirely too heavy. The clothes were sopping wet coming out and he had to wring them out before putting them in the dryer. Hoping it was a fluke I tried another load and it did the same thing. I don't know exactly when it happened but, eventually, when I started a cycle the lid would lock and the "Sensing" light would flash. After about 20 seconds or so the lid would unlock and the "Sensing" light would still flash. The water would never start, just flashing lights.

I did some investigation online and everything pointed to the lid lock latch. I replaced the latch (crazy fast shipping from this site, btw), started the washer and nothing different happened. A friend who used to repair appliances suggested a motor coupler. I went to buy one and was told that my model doesn't have a motor coupler and it was probably the drive belt. So I bought a drive belt from here. I unhooked everything and tipped my washer on its side and found a nut on the floor. The wheel with the existing belt was loose so I tightened it up and checked out the belt and it looked fine, no real wear on it. I put everything back together and the washer still does the same thing with the flashing lights. Another site suggested the drive motor but that is well over $200 and I might just buy a new washer. Any suggestions?

[fairbank56]

You may just need to clear the error codes and run the calibration function. There should be a manual inside the cabinet, possibly taped to the inside front, that will tell you how to get into diagnostic mode to check for error codes and clear them as well as do the calibrate function. This new washer design (VMW) has been very problematic with a host of problems. The loose nut is a known problem and a service bulletin was released advising to apply loctite blue 242 threadlocker to the threads before re-tightening the nut.

Eric

[jjohns1993]

My washer doesn't have any kind of display. Just lights. I've looked in the manual to try to find a reset or calibrate function and I can't find anything. I'm going to look at the motor tonight and see if there is a button or switch or something on the motor or in the control panel area. Is there something that could have happened if the load was too heavy/big?

[fairbank56]

I'm not talking about the operators manual. There should be a "tech sheet" behind the front panel. If there isn't one there, here is the PDF version. Page 5-2 is the beginning of the diagnostics testing. Check for fault codes, write any down and then clear them, and do the calibrate function. For units without the display, fault codes are displayed using the LED indicators. Too large a load could cause an off balance fault or over suds fault. Check all plugs to make sure they are fully seated (motor, shift actuator, capacitor, pump, main control board). Look for broken wires (common problem).

Eric

[jjohns1993]

That manual will be very helpful! Thank you for posting it. I'll digging into this after work and hopefully will be doing laundry again by dinner. I wish there was a way to convey my excitement...I keep hugging the manual.

[paulmaureen]

I needed the tech sheets for this model as well, but when I downloaded the pdf file, it seems that Test #8 is missing for the lid lock, and that is one of the main tests I needed. Did I miss something?

[fairbank56]

Your right, here is the missing page which includes a continuation of the pump test #7.

Eric

[paulmaureen]

Thands Eric, found the diagnosic book inside the washer, and performed the tests. Found fault/error code F7, or on my washer the led lights: sensor, rinse, spin, done, lit up which could be:basket feed sensor fault, shifter fault, motor fault, or motor unable to reach rpm. Also performed manual test and everything worked until I got to the: low spin, high spin, gentle and heavy agitation functions, where the led light for the lid lock would not light when toggling through and therefore did not function. So I'm thinking it's pointing to a shifter, or motor, or capacitor problem where tomorrow I'm going to go through test #3a and #3b. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Paul

[paulmaureen]

Did more tests. All electrical tests check out. Have come to the conclusion it is either the shifter or the control board. When going through diagnostic tests, while checking the rpm/optical sensor on the shifter, when toggleing to test this all the led lights are supposed to go out and then rotate drum slowly by hand and the lights are supposed to come on one by one, but all the lights do not go out, the done led stays lit, therefore rotating the drum sequence does not function. This is where I am stumped as to is the shifter or the control panel. Any thoughts?

[paulmaureen]

Forgot to mention that during manual diagnostic mode the gentle and heavy agitation worked fine but the low spin and high spin would not function.The green led light is on in the control panel. That is supposed to mean that the control panel is okay. Motor and capacitor check out so all that is left is the shifter, but electrically it checks out as well. So the last thing i checked was the rpm/sensor which I could not function as per previous post.