My washer makes a loud noise when it goes into spin cycle; but it doesn’t spin unless I lift the lid until it quits making the the noise and then when I shut the lid it starts spinning and sounds normal. I replaced the transmission because it was leaking oil on the floor and I thought it might be what was causing the problem. The noise was still there after replacing the trans so I replaced the basket drive assembly, the washer drive block and and the brake and drum assembly along with both coupler assemblies and it still does the same thing. It sounds like the transmission is whining trying to get into gear but it’s new?
Just a quick question, what is the temperature in the room where the washer is?
around 70 degrees
Sounds like it’s in neutral drain, a normal stage of the cycle. All Whirlpool direct drive transmissions have a neutral drain stage, however many older transmissions do not do it well or have stopped doing it.
1)The timer ends agitation and reverses the motor.
2)It pumps out but trans remains in nuetral. There is a distinct noise to this stage. To many it sounds like it’s straining.
3)After a few minutes (it may vary by cycle) the timer briefly removes power from the motor, this switches trans into spin.
4)The timer reapplies power and it spins.
By opening the lid you are simulating #3, so when you close the lid the trans will spin. Allow it to proceed without opening the lid while making this sound, if it is pumping out normally and switches into spin on its own you’re fine.
About neutral drain. It tended to fail as the trans aged and you may not have been hearing it before with the old trans. When neutral drain fails the trans flips into spin at the end of agitation or very shortly afterward and the machines spin and drain together. This put more stress on everything so there is the neutral drain stage to allow the water to pump out prior to spin.
I just replaced the transmission in the washer 2 weeks ago. the noise I hear sounds like the the transmission.
A few years ago the washer started making the same noise and I replaced the transmission and it fixed the problem. This time I replaced the the trans and it sounds just like the old one I took out.
You’d have to record the noise somehow then for farther analysis. These are very simple machines and I’ve fixed several thousand over the years, I’d probably recognize it. Perhaps take a video with your cell phone?
Can you make it make the noise by starting it at any one point in the cycle?
this is the noise that it makes
this is the noise that it makes
That’s the neutral drain period, it should not spin immediately after agitation. There is a 1-3 minute period called neutral drain. If you still have the tech sheet that was under the console and look at the timer cam sequence you can see this period, after which the timer opens the motor circuit briefly then closes it, and that will send it into spin.
If you let it go another few minutes without opening the lid does it briefly stop, then go into spin? If not your timer may be bad if it isn’t opening the circuit or the trans if it gets stuck in ND.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCLWPoEYesI
jump to 28:15 or 41:45 and let it play.
Note: This demo video has the lid switch bypassed so the machine believes the lid is closed. Most techs have a old lid switch plug wired to allow this, or you can hold the lid switch itself down with a pencil or something that fits through the hole and achieve same results.
Here’s a look at the inside of the trans showing the neutral drain assembly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieZ5y47TAMk.Skip to 2:10.
And finally here’s a link to an explanation of the process by another site
https://appliantology.org/blogs/entry/412-understanding-the-run-cycles-and-the-operating-sequence-of-the-neutral-drain-in-a-whirlpool-kenmore-direct-drive-washer/
I watched the videos, I also watched the video on how the trans works and how it was designed. The washer never made that loud noise before while it was washing clothes. The very first time it started making that noise it was covered under an extended warranty and the repair man replaced the trans and the noise was gone for years. When it started making the noise again it wasn’t covered under warranty so I ordered a new transmission from appliance parts pro and replaced it myself. The noise was fixed for a few years again. When the noise started again this past December I ordered another transmission. But this time when I replaced it the noise was still there. I started watching repair videos and researching noises and that’s when I ordered all the other parts and replaced them. If this washer would have made that loud noise when I purchased it I would have returned it. I purchased the Whirlpool because it says ( quiet wash) on the front; because our laundry room is right next to my daughters bedroom . I watched the video on YouTube how the transmission works and how to take it apart. The tech that made the video stated and demonstrated a few times with a drill that when the trans is spun in one direction it aggitates and when turned in the other direction it spins . I believe that the trans I ordered is defective! My wife and 2 adult kids will tell anyone that this washer was never this loud except when the transmission went bad!