[roosterest]

My washer overfills at the beginning of a cycle. Then sometimes it does not fill at all on the rinse cycle, only agitating. Actually the agitation seems sluggish as well.

[sidfink43]

The problem may be in your valve assembly or the water pressure system. Use a meter to check that 120v is getting to the valves when the machine is supposed to be filling and that the 120v stops when you stop the machine. If the valves assembly is getting current but does not open, or if it does not stop filling when the machine is turned off, the problem is probably in the valve assembly.

The water filling is controlled by a pressure driven switch. From the switch to the tub is a plastic tube. As water enters the tub, air pressure inside the tube increases and when it gets to a pre-designated level it tells the pressure switch to shut off the water. The pressure switch then tells the timer to shut off the water and the water shuts off.

Take off the cabinet, this site will show you how.

Kenmore top loader blues (SublimeMasterJW's Appliance Advice)

and clean out the plastic tube. If that does not fix things, put the machine on start and when it starts to fill with water blow into the tube and see if that makes it stop. If so, the pressure switch is bad. Unfortunately yours is one of the more expensive varieties.

Part number: AP3018879

[roosterest]

Your info has been VERY helpful. I am just getting to the meat of the problem (I first had to switch out both the hot & cold water valves). I am not sure how to check the volt stuff so I am going to try to eliminate the other stuff first. Any other info will be appreciated, but you have managed to take the "mystery" of the washing machine away & that is HUGE. I removed the cabinet very easily.

Originally Posted by sidfink43

The problem may be in your valve assembly or the water pressure system. Use a meter to check that 120v is getting to the valves when the machine is supposed to be filling and that the 120v stops when you stop the machine. If the valves assembly is getting current but does not open, or if it does not stop filling when the machine is turned off, the problem is probably in the valve assembly.

The water filling is controlled by a pressure driven switch. From the switch to the tub is a plastic tube. As water enters the tub, air pressure inside the tube increases and when it gets to a pre-designated level it tells the pressure switch to shut off the water. The pressure switch then tells the timer to shut off the water and the water shuts off.

Take off the cabinet, this site will show you how.

Kenmore top loader blues (SublimeMasterJW's Appliance Advice)

and clean out the plastic tube. If that does not fix things, put the machine on start and when it starts to fill with water blow into the tube and see if that makes it stop. If so, the pressure switch is bad. Unfortunately yours is one of the more expensive varieties.

Part number: AP3018879