This is a direct drive washer.
The washer fills and spins but there is no agitation or pumping out (the spinning will force the water out but not as good as pumping it out first then spinning). The motor does not run when these functions are selected but a click can be heard.
The lid switch is ok. The motor capacitor checks ok. The pump was removed and turns easily. It has been reinstalled. All the electrical connectors have been separated and reinstalled (I haven’t tried running since this operation though).
One troubleshooting website suggested a faulty agitate solenoid but I can’t find one in the Sears parts list, suggesting that the computer chip controls whatever the agitate solenoid does on other machines.
It would be very handy to have a wiring diagram (or it used to be) but they don’t include these anymore (should be a law requiring it).
Looking for other ideas of things to check without randomly replacing expensive parts or buying another washer.
I will appreciate help in diagnosing.
The pump always runs whenever the motor is running. In spin mode, it is pumping out. If it’s spinning ok, but doesn’t pump very well, then there must be an obstruction in the pump, drain hoses or tub drain area or the pump is bad. If the motor doesn’t run during agitate, then it could be the pressure switch, speed select switch or timer. There is no agitate solenoid, nor is there a computer chip, this is a mechanical timer controlled washer, they may have been refering to the pressure switch. There is an air dome on the side of the outer tub with a hose that runs up to the pressure switch behind the control panel. As the tub fills, air in the air dome and hose is pressurized and operates the switch when the proper level has been reached. This switches power from the water valves to the motor via timer contacts. In spin mode, the pressure switch is bypassed by the bypass contacts within the timer.
Eric
Never mind. It was operator error. There is a setting for delicate items that precludes agitation. That setting was selected and was forgotten. As a result, the normal wash process could not be engaged.
I apologize for any inconvenience I might have caused.
It was a real learning experience for me anyway. I know a lot more about that machine now and most of the lint and collected dirt was removed in the process.
There is a lesson embedded in here somewhere.