Kitchen Aid washer made by Whirlpool, model KAWS700G. A couple months
ago, the rubber and plastic coupling between the motor and transmission
broke. That was a fairly easy fix.
New problem this time. Last week I was doing a load of towels and while
I was standing there the timer quit turning and made a loud humming sound.
I took the timer out and sprayed it out with contact cleaner but that
didn’t help.
I went to the local parts store and bought a new genuine Whirlpool
replacement timer. I installed the timer and it hummed loudly like the other
one but the knob moved around for a couple minutes and then it stopped and
the hum went away.
I turned the knob around to spin again (spin so the machine wouldn’t
fill with water). Nothing. No hum. No movement.
Before I make the trek back to the parts store, is it likely that I got a
bad replacement timer?
Any other likely points of failure?
Thanks.
I’m not an expert or I wouldn’t be here asking, but I am fairly competent with tools and not afraid to tackle repairs.
Thanks again.
where do you hear the humming noise coming from, is it in the control head with the timer or could it be coming from lower inside the case?
[QUOTE=brobriffin;909134]where do you hear the humming noise coming from, is it in the control head with the timer or could it be coming from lower inside the case?[/QUOTE]
It seems to be from the control panel. I’m thinking that anything could hum that would be lower down would be way at the bottom where the motor is.
Before you ask, the fill valve seems to be working fine.
Just for fun have you tried running an agitation cycle.
- If so, I am sure it fills with water as you said water valve work fine, but does it agitate?
- If it does and you let it advance to drain and spin does it drain or spin?
[QUOTE=brobriffin;909138]Just for fun have you tried running an agitation cycle.
- If so, I am sure it fills with water as you said water valve work fine, but does it agitate?
- If it does and you let it advance to drain and spin does it drain or spin?[/QUOTE]
Okay, I just did what you suggested. I found out that I was wrong. The timer is advancing. I can hear the timer motor running with my ear right next to it but the loud hum that I mentioned earlier is gone. Interesting.
The timer advances but other than fill, nothing else happens. No agitation, no drain, no spin. Now I have a washer half filled with water 
The lights in the laundry are on the same circuit as the washer’s outlet and when I pull the knob out (or push it in, don’t recall which it requires) to turn it on, the lights dim a bit.
To me that says that something is pulling quite a bit of current.
Thanks for your help so far.
With the humming sound and what else you explained I suspect the start/run capacitor might be bad.
This is a very cheap thing to replace. Unless you have a digital multi-meter to check how many microfarads your capacitor has I would suggest replacing it and see if there is a change.
This is the part number you need. WP8572720
[QUOTE=brobriffin;909144]With the humming sound and what else you explained I suspect the start/run capacitor might be bad.
This is a very cheap thing to replace. Unless you have a digital multi-meter to check how many microfarads your capacitor has I would suggest replacing it and see if there is a change.
This is the part number you need. WP8572720[/QUOTE]
My DMM does not do capacitance I never thought that I’d need that function. I guess that I was wrong.
I’ll order one and give that a shot.
Thanks.
I looked up how to test a capacitor with a DMM. It said to put my meter across it set for resistance and the reading should start at zero and go up.
I pulled the cap from my washer. It doesn’t look or smell blown.
Following the directions that I found online, I put the DMM’s probes onto the terminals of the capacitor. The reading jumps to 3.5 megohm almost immediately and then continues to go up slowly.
Still think that it might be the capacitor? I’ve replaced capacitors in a couple fans and those looked swollen and burnt.
I don’t want to order a $40 capacitor and find out that wasn’t the problem.
Thanks.
Over time and use they tend to lose their capacitance. A capacitor can still work but not be the correct capacitance. This one should be between 324 to 389 µf (microfarads). If it is significantly less this will cause the motor to humm and not start or run.
Perhaps you have a friend, or relative that has a meter to check it out.
[QUOTE=brobriffin;909167]Perhaps you have a friend, or relative that has a meter to check it out.[/QUOTE]
Most of my friends believe that electricity is magic.
I got a new “Whirlpool Certified” capacitor and installed it. Nothing happened. The timer hums but no pumping or spinning or agitating.
I have another new timer on the way to eliminate the possibility of having gotten a bad timer the first time around.
It does appear that it is nearly impossible to install the timer incorrectly or attaching the wiring connectors incorrectly.
Any suggestions?
Thanks.
In reading back thru the thread one thing I didn’t pick up on was that we have never addressed the lid switch. Have you checked the lid switch?
It may even sound as if it is clicking but if the switch housing has separated it won’t work.
Some models won’t go into spin mode via the lid switch others won’t spin or agitate. Not sure which yours is but its worth a look.
take the switch out and see if it has separated. If so you can repair this with a couple of good strong zip ties.
Something to try while waiting for the timer.
Something is hung in the pump.
[QUOTE=brobriffin;909281]In reading back thru the thread one thing I didn’t pick up on was that we have never addressed the lid switch. Have you checked the lid switch?[/QUOTE]
I have checked the lid switch. Continuity when pushed down, open when released. Also, my machine will agitate when the lid is open.
[QUOTE=ErnieRay;909282]Something is hung in the pump.[/QUOTE]
Okay, color me confused. How would a jammed pump keep the machine from agitating?
I realize that it is the same motor but I assumed that the pump would disengage when not needed. Does the pump turn continuously while the machine agitates and water gets pumped when valves open to let water through?
One more pump related question. The washer’s tub is currently half full of water. If I pull the pump out, will that water come rushing out?
Thanks.
If this is a fairly new washer it’s probably made by Whirlpool. If so the pump will be fastened to the front of the motor with two clips. If something (like a sock) gets hung in the pump it won’t be able to turn, hence the motor won’t be able to turn. So no agitation or spin. 34
It isn’t all that new but it was made by Whirlpool. The pump and motor are as you describe.
This might be a silly question, but how can a sock get out of the tub and down into the pump?
A small sock (such as a toddler’s) , maybe a big load, can be thrown, by centrifugal force when in spin cycle over the edge of the basket and fall between the basket and tub, ending up in the drain hole that exits out of the tub to the pump.
If the new timer arrives and you have the same problem then the final solution would be to check the wiring. Something is preventing the power from getting to the start windings on the motor. Check to see if the red wire leading from the capacitor to the motor terminal has continuity. I have had times where the red wire has broken off right as it enters the terminal and needs to be repaired.
I am going to create a video based on this problem as I had a repair job today with this same issue.
The capacitor was ok
Nothing hanging up the pump from turning
The motor start windings ohmed out at 7.8
the primary windings ohmed at 1.2
the motor turn by hand freely
the timer was working properly
then I found the broken wire
Still waiting on the timer so I decided to look at the pump.
Used my drill powered pump to pump the water out of the tub. Pulled the cabinet off. Detached the pump from the motor and found that it turned freely. The motor shaft turns freely as well.
So I got the big pliers and squeezed the hose clamp to pull the hoses off the pump. Ooops. A ton of water came out. After I mopped up the water, I looked into the pump and didn’t see a thing. Well, other than the pump impeller and it turned freely.
Put everything back together.
I’m really getting the hang of taking this washer apart quickly.