Replacing timer on direct drive Whirlpool washer

[ryner1988]

Good evening everybody! I noticed last night that during the rinse cycle, my washer skipped the motor pause after neutral drain and went directly to the spray rinse, meaning the washer never kicked into spin -- I had to lift and close the lid for that to happen. This only occurred once in three loads, but this tells me it's time (har-har) to replace the timer.

Fortunately, I have a new unboxed timer stashed in the bedroom closet, ready for just such an occasion -- I took the advice of several folks on here and bought one when I first acquired the machine.

This looks like a fairly simple job and I'd like to try to do it myself if I can. I can get my bro-in-law to come do it, but he lives in Ohio and we'd have to work out a time that would work well for both of us. Would someone here be willing to provide me written, step-by-step instructions on how to do this? Obviously, Youtube videos don't really help me due to my vision issues, but I believe I can follow written instructions if they are clear enough. I'm perfectly aware this might be over my head due to my blindness, but I would like to at least attempt it.

Timer part number that I have is WP8546685.

Thanks,

Ryne

PS: I originally had this in the modern forum but felt it was more appropriate here. Never can figure out where posts about DD's actually belong, given that their production spanned so many years.

 

[stan]

Ryne

It may not be the timer, you could have a neutral drain pak waring?
This can cause one to assume it’s a timer issue. It could be one or the other.
Let’s see what others here think.

 

[ryner1988]

I don't think it's the neutral drain pack. Neutral drain engaged just fine. The motor did not turn off after neutral drain at the proper timer point. Instead, it just continued on in neutral drain mode, but the spray rinses that happen at the beginning of spin occurred. It would have remained in neutral drain mode to the end of the cycle had I not lifted the lid, because the motor didn't pause as normal. It only happened once in three loads, others functioned normally, but my research points to the timer.

 

[DADoES]

 
The mechanical transmission components have no relation to the timer pausing the motor.

Replacing the timer is a matter of flipping open the console, releasing the lock on back of the timer that anchors the timer knob, removing the knob, removing the screw(s) that anchor the timer to the panel, pulling the timer out and removing the wire harness connectors.  Then reverse all of that for setting the replacement timer into position.

The replacement timer you have presumably, hopefully is a direct replacement, not an updated substitute that involves wiring changes ...

 

[ryner1988]

Here's what happened in sequence.

Rinse agitation ended.

Motor paused as normal.

Neutral drain began and proceeded to drain water as usual.

After two minutes, motor did not pause as normal to end neutral drain and begin spin. Instead motor kept running until spin spray rinse commenced, at which time I determined there was an issue and opened/closed lid to engage spin.

 

[ryner1988]

That last reply was to Stan, sent presumably while Glenn was sending his. Glenn, I think I can handle it on my own especially if it is a direct replacement. It said direct replacement when I bought it.

 

[DADoES]

 
Perhaps monitor a few more cycles to confirm if the misbehavior is consistent, although of course it shouldn't have occurred even the one time.

 

[ryner1988]

Yes, I'll be keeping an ear out when I do laundry this weekend to see if it keeps happening. If not, I'll likely wait and see if it becomes an on-going issue to deal with timer replacement.

 

[stan]

A while back

I had problems with my DD washer. I knew my neutral drain was acting up on occasion. I still suspected the timer because of the irregular cycles, my situation made it difficult to diagnose which one was the problem. Long story short, it turned out that my timer and neutral drain had both given up, so I replaced both..guess its why I’m circumspect about finding fault on either ND or timer.
In your case it’s easy enough to swap out the timer and see..but hang on to your old timer just in case.
I hung on to my old one in case it could be repaired one day.

 

[ryner1988]

Update: I ran a load of bedding this morning and the timer behaved as normal. I typically do actual clothes on Saturday or Sunday, usually two loads, so I'll report back what happens after that. If all checks out okay, I'll leave it for the time being. Not sure why it happened even the once, could be the timer is just starting to wear out but it's not a major enough deal to do something about it yet?

 

[stan]

I would say yes

to that question
You can wait and see. If it’s the timer, you know soon enough.
While I’ve never done myself ..it may be possible to take timer apart and clean contacts.
It’s why I think if you decide to swap out timer..don't throw out old one.
They ain’t makin more of them.

 

[ryner1988]

It occurred to me that it's been nearly a month since I reported on this issue and neglected to give a final update as to the state of things...

As it turns out, the issue I spoke on in the original post only happened that one time. I do an average of 3 loads of laundry a week and it hasn't happened since.

Leaving the original timer in for now. It's a mystery to me why the problem occurred once and not at all since.

*shrugs*