I have a GE Hydrowave washer that is only a little over a year old. Previous to this it worked like a dream and I really loved it. It was SO quiet that we barely even noticed it was running.

Then a few days ago when I went to wash a load of laundry, I noticed it was making a squeaking/squealing sound during the wash/agitation cycle. It only makes this sound during that cycle. It almost sounds like metal squeaking against metal. It does not do it during the spin cycle or any other cycle. Even when it's not running, if I open the lid and move the basket around, it makes this squeaking sound. I did notice though that when I washed a couple small things on the gentle/delicates cycle, it did not make the squeaking sound.

I was looking around on the internet trying to find out if this is a common problem and ran across a website that said that such a squeaking sound could be the suspension rods and that they may need to either just be greased with a lithium grease or that all four rods may need to be replaced.
I'm not sure enough this is the problem though to go ahead with it.

We just bought this washer in June of 09 to replace a 4 year old Amana piece of junk that had the transmission go out. The price to fix the transmission even under the 10 year warranty would have been almost the same price I paid for the new one I have now. I'm really hoping this is something simple to fix that perhaps my husband can do himself considering just having an appliance guy come out and look at it will cost us a minimum of $50.

I really love this washer when it's working but I am SO disappointed that we're having problems with it after only a little over a year of use. I went with GE because we have had other GE appliances including a GE dryer that has been working like a charm for 11 years and have been pretty happy with them. I'm just hoping that this is an easy fix. If anyone can tell me what could possibly be causing this noise and how to fix it, I'd be very appreciative as we are a family of 5 and really don't have the money to be paying for expensive repairs or to buy another new washer AGAIN.

Thanks.

Thanks for the reply. I read about this issue too when I went to the page you referred me to before I came here where I also read about the suspension rod issue. I was just questioning whether it could be the apron since it makes that squeaking sound when I just manually turn the basket in the machine when it's off and since it does NOT make the sound during the gentle/delicate cycle. I was thinking that it would more likely be the suspension rods if I can recreate the sound just by manually turning the basket when the motor isn't on, but I'll have the apron checked. If it's just a simple repair kit, perhaps my husband can do it himself as he's quite good at fixing things...it's just finding the time! :)

Thanks again. I was thinking this too. The more I think about it, it could be either problem and he'll have to take the front off to find out for sure by listening to where the noise is coming from.

I agree GE should do it and we'll give them a call, but from prior experience with other companies' customer service when we've called about things like this, they seldom want to do the "right thing" unless you really raise a stink about it and even then some won't budge. They may do it when you call since you are a licensed repair person, but I'm not sure they'd do it if the customer calls directly and I can't see paying a minimum of $50 for a repairman to come out to have them argue with GE (which from prior experience is what it would cost. It cost us $50 with our old washer just for the repairman to walk into the door and tell us it's the transmission and it would cost almost $400 with parts and labor to repair!) He might get them to cover the repair kit, but we'd likely still be stuck with some sort of labor fee. Seeing as my husband is capable of this sort of thing, it'd be worth it to at least try to get the part from them and have him fix it without having to pay anyone else to do it. We're a one income household with three kids so that I can stay home with the youngest and be available when the other two come home from school or are sick, we really have to keep a tight budget and even $50 can really throw a kink in things for us.

Thanks again for your help! I'll update after we find out the problem for sure and hopefully get it fixed.

I got my husband to open the front of the washer today while he was doing a load and we both agree after looking at it and the info you provided and that's elsewhere on the internet that this is indeed an issue with the apron. It's sagging down just enough that the bottom of the motor hits the bottom of the machine. When he took his hand and manually lifted up the apron, everything realigned and the sound was gone.

It's kind of unbelievable that if this is such a widespread problem with this model that a recall hasn't been issued! Kind of makes you wonder what it would take for there to be one. Heck, my husband has a chevy truck and they issued a recall about a weak wire that holds the tailgate and sent him letters about it and the local chevy dealership fixed it absolutely free and overall that was a kind of minor issue.

Well, anyway, he'll be on the phone to GE tomorrow!

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