HELP! Kenmore Catalyst Water Valve Failure?

[drummerboy928]

Hello everyone, I’ve ran into a big issue with my 2001 Kenmore Elite Catalyst. When I went to use it today for the first time since the beginning of winter, It sprung a massive leak from around the water valve. It also was allowing water through all four inlet points at once, rather than just the detergent cup. I took the cabinet off and it appears to be coming out of the top valve right around where the solenoid attaches to the valve, and only sprays water when it opens the valve. Is there anything a i can do to fix this, or does it need a new valve assembly? The picture attached is the water valve, and all of the water seems to come out right where that top solenoid goes into the valve. Any help would be very, very appreciated!

~Drummerboy

 

[drummerboy928]

Problem found, but what’s the solution?

I decided to take the water valve out of the machine as I knew at the very least it would have to come out, and in doing so I found the issue. I guess I didn’t see correctly, as it was the second water valve that had complete blown apart, with the solenoid ejecting itself from the valve body. Can this be fixed easily with something like epoxy, or does it need a whole new valve?

 

[repairguy]

My opinion is you need a new valve so you don’t have to worry about it being a continuing problem.

 

[drummerboy928]

Just found a new one online and went ahead and ordered it!

 

[tomturbomatic]

Do you suspect that some water froze in it over the winter and caused the damage?

 

[drummerboy928]

That I’m not sure. I was able to blow out most if not all the water from the machine, and it held water pressure for a second or two before it blew out the solenoid. I was recording when it happened and you can actually hear the point at which the solenoid came out of the valve, which was maybe two seconds after it had started filling.