we have a Maytag washer that fills up with water and then wont agitate. The timer doesnt advance and after a while the timer starts to smell. It will pump out the water and spin when manually moving the timer. This happens on all clothes settings. The timer will advance in the rinse setting. The transmission moves freely. There is a circuit board mounted on the timer and thw two big resistors have brown marks on the board. (seems this is the smell) Also the timer turns in both directions.

if the control board is for temp control why would it be frying when the machine is going from filling up and then agitating? I mean the boards stinks everytime I try a run to TS it. If I dont turn the timer off, press knob down, it will start to heat up and stink and then you know the next would be burning up. Anyway, Im new to this dryer and dont know of a timer that turns both ways. Im thinking timer also, but id hate to have my roomies buy the timer and then the control board be bad. both are costly. thank you so much for your quick reply and help

Thanks for the info, Simon. They decided to buy another machine

Problem is most likely the water level pressure switch. This switch provides power to the timer motor and drive motor for the agitation cycle.

Eric