Anyone have experience fixing an old washer?

[newbieinCT]

Hi everyone,

Just found this forum! I never scrolled down past the Wood stove and pellet forums...what was I thinking? There are so many more boards to spend my time on (instead of doing "work")

I figured I would see if anyone can help me with diagnosing the issue with my Maytag top-loading washer. It's model number: sav365zaww -- not that is means much, but it's from ~2004. Not sure of the details except it came with the house when we purchased it. It worked well for the 1.5 years we have owned the house - but last week it stopped agitating.

I know absolutely nothing about washers. I've just been looking youtube and various websites to try and diagnose it. We don't want to pay for a repairman to come in and rip us off, if it's something we can do ourselves.

We checked some of the basic stuff. The belt is on and turns. It seems to be in good condition. Removed the belt and turned the pulleys, they are spinning the tub.

Removed the agitator cap and bolt, pulled off agitator, checked splines. All in good condition (a bit dirty and gross, but nothing some elbow grease can't fix). Don't know where to go from here. I fear it's the transmission but I don't know how to check to see....any suggestions?

thanks in advance!! I hate that our machine is broken but I love learning about this stuff. My husband thinks I'm nuts but he's willing to go along with us if it will save us some money

 

[heat seeker]

There is a clutch in the gearbox that may be bad. Suggest you go to YouTube and search for your machine, or others like it. There are tons of great videos there that show you step by step how to repair about any appliance.
The transmission is not that complicated, and parts are generally available.

Sample video:

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It doesn't show the transmission repair, but narrows the problem to the transmission. They just replace it instead of repairing it.

Transmission removal and view inside:

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[newbieinCT]

There is a clutch in the gearbox that may be bad. Suggest you go to YouTube and search for your machine, or others like it. There are tons of great videos there that show you step by step how to repair about any appliance.
The transmission is not that complicated, and parts are generally available.

Sample video:

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It doesn't show the transmission repair, but narrows the problem to the transmission. They just replace it instead of repairing it.

Transmission removal and view inside:

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Wow! this is exceptionally helpful! Thank you so much. I'm going to go home tonight and watch it and see if I can narrow it down. Unfortunately, searches for my specific machine and the transmission were coming up empty. Everything was about the agitator and the belts...those are easy enough to fix Once I confirm it's the transmission, I guess I have to figure out if we are going to replace (for $200) or buy a new one, considering the age. My gut says fix it - the machine may run for a long long time. The other part of me says, just get a new one and be done with it. My wallet says: keep doing laundry at my parents for the news few months till I finally make a decision

 

[heat seeker]

You're quite welcome!
Another point to consider - the newer machines may not be as well built as yours, if they are like most other things these days. About the only other expensive part would be the timer (control).
You may be able to get parts for the transmission, if you want to dig that deep. They are probably available from the manufacturer; I don't know.

Repairclinic.com has transmission parts. The nylon gear shown in the video is about $75. A typical transmission is close to $200, as you know.

Keep us posted, especially if you decide to fix the old machine!

I have a front loader, and it has no transmission because the motor and drive do all the work. However, those parts are quite pricey too, so it's 6 to one, half a dozen to the other. Maybe I ought to join a nudist colony and skip the laundry bit altogether…

ETA: Just had a thought - some top loaders have a solenoid near the transmission that tells the transmission what to do. See if you have one, and if it's in working order. You just might get lucky!

 

[newbieinCT]

You're quite welcome!
Another point to consider - the newer machines may not be as well built as yours, if they are like most other things these days. About the only other expensive part would be the timer (control).
You may be able to get parts for the transmission, if you want to dig that deep. They are probably available from the manufacturer; I don't know.

Repairclinic.com has transmission parts. The nylon gear shown in the video is about $75. A typical transmission is close to $200, as you know.

Keep us posted, especially if you decide to fix the old machine!

I have a front loader, and it has no transmission because the motor and drive do all the work. However, those parts are quite pricey too, so it's 6 to one, half a dozen to the other. Maybe I ought to join a nudist colony and skip the laundry bit altogether…

ETA: Just had a thought - some top loaders have a solenoid near the transmission that tells the transmission what to do. See if you have one, and if it's in working order. You just might get lucky!

@heat seeker -- Thanks a ton for all this info. It's little bit of info (like the solenoid) that are really helpful but are tough to find on a regualr DIY site. They assume people know all this (and I don't but between my husband I, we are pretty handy).

We took a day or two off from trying to fix it. Had leaves to rake, dogs to care for, work to be done. I'm going to research and tackle it again this weekend. Try and figure out if it is the transmission, which it just might be, if the solenoid is there and broken....and whether or not to fix it or buy new.

Thanks for the repairclinic website - I've seen it before but didn't think I was going to need it :/ Not sure if $200 part is worth it. I meant to call Maytag. I read online that they have transmissions guaranteed for 10 years. Of course, I do not know when it was purchased but we are guessing around 2004. If it's any newer, they might have that info on file and then they would fix it for us. Which would be awesome...but the chances of that are 0-1%

Thanks again...I'll report back this weekend. This is one of those things we have to fix but I'd rather just hang out in the stove room and be toasty.
-Jen

 

[heat seeker]

And I thank you for the update. I have kept our old dryer, inherited with this house, going, and various other appliances, etc. It's a (paying) hobby of mine. Our Maytag front loader is only about 6 years old, but if/when it ails, I'm ready!

Enjoy your stove room in between sessions with the washer - that's what I do - try to make it a little fun and not get stressed out.

BTW, what breed are your dogs? I'm a sucker for dogs…don't have any right now, though.

 

[Flightguy]

Does it sound like it is trying to agitate but doesn't? Probably the agitator dogs. Quick, cheap, and easy fix.

 

[maverick06]

i fixed my washing machine 5 years ago,.... wish i didnt.

I have since replaced it with a high efficiency one. based on my water bll alone, it will payfor its self in 5 years, not to mention the savings in power for putting more dry laundry into the dryer.

If it is a non-efficiency one, I would suggest just replacing it. You will save yourself money. Some power companieseven give you rebates for high efficiency.

 

[briansol]

at $200 + time to not even be sure, i'd just go for a refurb for a few bucks more
http://www.searsoutlet.com/d/store.jsp?md=srh_md&stxt=5072&cid=0&store=4324

 

[SONOCATIVO]

ours quit and I fixed it, was just bad dog legs in the aggitator in the tub. You can buy the parts on amazon for $5

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[Whitepine2]

Tried to fix a sears years ago was a PITA so I fixed with a 16 pound sledge and took the parts out of the cellar and to the junk yard,job well done I say.

 

[Retired Guy]

Maybe he should have put the "spare" washer back in too.

 

[rwhite]

I'm trying think this trouble shooting through in my head so bear with me. If you remove the agitator and run a cycle does it spin in a circle or not run at all? If it will run but not agitate then it could be the dogs. My 2007 Maytag quit a few months ago. It would fill with water then do nothing. If I turned the knob to spin it would work. Anyhow the timer was bad. About an $80 fix if I recall.

 

[Thislilfishy]

It's a crap shoot. I fixed my old washer as the pump went in it. Cost me a whole $25 and about two hours of sweat equity. Ran great for several years after that until we sold the house. It's a matter of cost, if it's a transmission I'd just grab another used one, as a used one will be about that cost. They can be a bugger to disassemble and put back together, specially if it's in a tight space like my laundry room was.

As far as trying to find videos for that exact model don't bother. If you search for parts for your washer you'll see that a hundred different washers use the same part. Being that there's only a few major manufacturing plants and they build washers for all the brands. So try to find a video for a similar but different brand washer.

Ian