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Brand:Kenmore
Model Number:11022872100
Main Symptom:Agitate/Rinse selection
What happens & when: It will run Fast/Fast in Heavy Duty selection. All the selections work except Normal, rinse stays Slow.
Error Code (if any): No
Parts or tests already tried: Replaced switch and circuit board. No joy.
Photos / video link:
On Kenmore 110.22872100, this sounds much more like a control/speed-selection issue than a motor or transmission problem.
The important clue is that the washer will run Fast/Fast in Heavy Duty, which proves the motor is capable of operating at high speed. This is an older Whirlpool-built direct-drive top-loader with a multi-speed motor/control system.
For the Normal cycle, however, I would first make sure the behavior is actually incorrect. On these older machines, the timer/cycle programming can deliberately select a different agitation or spin speed depending on where the timer is positioned. If Normal is supposed to command a fast rinse/spin and it consistently stays slow while Heavy Duty correctly goes fast, I would suspect the timer contacts or speed-selector switch contacts.
A good way to narrow it down is:
If you have a meter, you can test this with the washer unplugged by checking the speed-switch and timer contacts for continuity in each selector position. If you can send me a picture of the Agitate/Rinse speed selector and the cycle dial, I can give you the expected Fast/Fast, Fast/Slow, Slow/Fast and Slow/Slow contact checks for this exact control setup.
Yes, I do have a meter.
For Kenmore 110.22872100, the picture confirms the speed selections:
So on Normal, slow agitation is correct, but the rinse/final spin should be FAST. Since the washer will run Fast/Fast on Heavy Duty, we already know the motor is capable of operating at fast speed. That makes the speed-selector switch, its wiring, or the timer contacts the more likely problem.
Unplug the washer before opening the console.
Keep the washer unplugged.
Before disconnecting anything, take a clear picture of the back of the speed selector showing the wire colors and any letters/numbers molded beside the terminals.
Then:
Because Heavy Duty produces fast spin but Normal stays slow, I would not replace the motor at this point. If the selector switch passes its continuity tests, we’ll move directly to the timer contacts and wiring between the timer, speed switch, and motor.
Send me a clear picture of the back of that speed switch with the terminal markings and wire colors visible. I can then give you an exact terminal-to-terminal meter test table for every selector position.
Yes, that picture is exactly what I needed. The markings are the wire-color designations for the speed selector switch 3953144:
W-V = White/Violet
OR = Orange
6/8 = likely terminal/wire designation
W-OR = White/Orange
BU = Blue
R-BU = Red/Blue
Y-BU = Yellow/Blue
BU-W = Blue/White
Y/R-BU = Yellow/Red-Blue designation
Before I give you a continuity table, I want to avoid guessing which internal contacts Whirlpool closes for each of the five speed combinations. The photograph identifies the terminals, but it doesn’t show the switch’s internal contact chart.
If you can send me a picture of the washer’s wiring diagram/tech sheet (often inside the console), I can map these terminals and give you a table like:
| Selector | Agitate | Spin | Exact meter contacts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy Duty | Fast | Fast | — |
| Normal | Slow | Fast | — |
| Delicate | Slow | Slow | — |
| Handwash/Casual | Extra Slow | Slow | — |
| Handwash Plus | Extra Slow | Slow | — |
That’s the safest way to determine whether 3953144 is actually failing in Normal or whether the problem is coming from the timer.
Excellent — that is the wiring diagram I wanted. The second photo confirms this washer uses the multi-speed motor and speed-selector circuit, so we can test this without replacing parts.
For your symptom, keep this distinction in mind:
So if by “rinse stays Slow” you mean the agitation during the rinse portion, that may be normal depending on the timer programming. What we really need to establish is whether the spin after the rinse is slow.
Put the selector on Normal (Slow/Fast).
Run it into the final spin and watch/listen to the basket speed.
Then put it on Heavy Duty (Fast/Fast) and compare the final spin.
Normal and Heavy Duty should both have the same FAST spin speed.
If they do, the washer is operating correctly as far as the Fast spin selection is concerned.
If Normal spins noticeably slower than Heavy Duty, then we have a genuine speed-control problem and can meter it.
The terminals on your 3953144 switch are identified by the wire-color markings shown on the switch body, including W-V, OR, W-OR, BU, R-BU, Y-BU and BU-W.
The fact that Heavy Duty Fast/Fast works correctly is very useful. It means the motor can physically achieve its fast operating speed.
Therefore, if:
Heavy Duty final spin = FAST
but
Normal final spin = SLOW
I would concentrate on the speed-selector switch contacts and timer/speed-switch circuit, not the transmission, clutch, pump, or motor.
One thing I don’t want to do is give you a guessed continuity combination from that photograph. The contact chart in your tech sheet is visible, but the photo resolution isn’t quite high enough for me to reliably read every terminal designation.
Take one close-up picture of just the “SPEED SWITCH”/switch-contact chart on that tech sheet. Fill most of the picture with that small chart. With that, I can translate it into a simple meter table showing exactly which two terminals to probe in Normal, Heavy Duty, Delicate, etc., and what Ω reading you should get.
Yes — this close-up gives us the factory switch chart. We can now narrow this down properly.
For this machine, the tech sheet calls your Normal setting REGULAR:
| Selector | Agitate | Spin | Factory closed switches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Handwash | Super Slow – 8 pole | Slow – 6 pole | S2, S6 |
| Extra Delicate | Extra Slow – 8 pole | Slow – 6 pole | S2, S5, S7 |
| Delicate | Slow – 6 pole | Slow – 6 pole | S2, S4, S7 |
| Normal / Regular | Slow – 6 pole | Fast – 4 pole | S1, S4, S7 |
| Heavy Duty | Fast – 4 pole | Fast – 4 pole | S1, S3, S5, S7 |
Notice something important: Normal and Heavy Duty both use S1 and S7 for the fast-spin circuit. The difference between those two settings is primarily the agitation-speed selection.
I would do one very simple operational comparison.
Set it to Normal – Slow/Fast and let it reach the spin after rinse. Listen to the motor and watch the basket.
Then repeat on Heavy Duty – Fast/Fast.
The spin speed should be essentially identical on Normal and Heavy Duty.
If by “rinse stays slow” you mean the washer agitates slowly while it is rinsing, that is not necessarily a failure. The knob’s second speed refers to SPIN, not the agitation occurring during the rinse fill/agitation period.
In other words:
NORMAL — SLOW / FAST
means:
SLOW = agitation motor speed
FAST = spin motor speed
It does not mean slow wash agitation followed by fast rinse agitation.
So if your complaint is:
“Normal agitates slowly during wash and also agitates slowly during rinse, but then spins fast.”
That is normal operation.
But if your complaint is:
“Normal agitates slowly and the basket also SPINS slowly, while Heavy Duty spins fast.”
Then we have a fault, and we’ll test the speed switch/timer circuit next.
Based on this factory chart, that’s the distinction I’d establish before replacing or even condemning the 3953144 speed switch.
Ok I follow you. That’s my concern is the rinse agitation speed is different per these selection between Normal and Heavy Duty. However, the spin speeds seem to be the same.
Well, it’s good to know it’s operating normally. One last question for you. I noticed there is about 1-inch of water remaining in the outer tub when a cycle has finished. Is that normal?
Thanks for your help with this. I bought the washer and matching dryer from Sear’s about 25 years ago and they still run great! I’ve replaced the lid switches and the water hoses and that’s it. If you can tell me about the remaining water in the outer basket would be great. Thanks again!
yes its normal to have a little water remaining
