Whirlpool LAT1916AAE Timer WP22002181 - contacts appear to be degraded, skips portions of the cycle, can it be repaired?

[endeitz]

I have a Whirlpool LAT1916AAE that has run great for over 25 years. It now will randomly skip portions of the cycle, my limited expertise has concluded that the contacts on the timer are no longer reliable. I can't find the timer part WP22002181 online new or used. Was looking for advice on any path forward:

1. Could there be another model timer that would work, even though there is not direct replacement?
2. Should I try just spraying contact cleaner into the timer to see if that could get it going?
3. The timer appears to be stamped metal construction, I'm not sure if I could take it apart successfully for better cleaning of the contacts. Does anyone here have experience with that type of fix?

Thanks so much for any help you can provide.

 

[pierreandreply4]

did you check on ebay for the part you need?

 

[DADoES]

LAT1916AAE is a Maytag-built machine, before Whirlpool bought Maytag in 2006 and discontinued production of the Maytag design. Maytag part numbers have been segued to Whirlpool by appending WP. Some Maytag-specific items are as-yet available, some are not presumably after existing stock was depleted. eBay is a good source for discontinued parts, as suggested above, although sometimes it takes a while for a hard-to-find item to appear, if it ever does.