Whirlpool Tech Questions

[mixfinder]

We have a Whirlpool Duet model WFW95HEX in the Seattle house.  More often than not it will not balance for the spin.  Repeated tries come up wet.  It happens about 50% of the time.  This washer replaced a Neptune after13 years of trouble free service without any balancing issues.  That said, we can take the exact soppy laundry from our new Whirlpool next door and put it in the neighbor's LG and it spins out perfectly.  Has there been a service bulletin or any known issue with this model having balancing issues?  Whirlpool is reticent to make a service call and says its a user issue.  We don't want to let it go out of warrantee before addressing the issue.

Thanks,

Kelly

 

[pulsator]

My dad bought this exact same washer from Lowes last December and it would usually take 2-3 hours to do a load vs the estimated 59 minutes. We called Whirlpool, they sent out a repair guy who had never seen these new machines and eventually we returned it to Lowes. Whirlpool contacted us a couple days before we returned it and told us that there had been a problem with the entire first batch of computer boards in these machines that they were being WAY too sensitive when it comes to balancing. Upon returning that washer, we ordered a new of the same one and have since had no issues. Perhaps your washer came from the batch with bad computer boards? Whirlpool is or at least was offering a free replacement of the boards. Hope this helps!

 

[combo52]

NEW WP FL WASHER

Hi Kelly yes I would keep after them about this and if not resolved demand a replacement machine, also let the selling dealer know about the problem. Good Luck call me if you need any help. John.

 

[pierreandreply4]

I think your better of calling your buyer and have them replace directly the problems today is with newer appliances repair tech push the consumer to replace there or you could always ask for a repair but show them your warrenty paper and original purchuse bill and say that under the legal warranty that your in right to a repair if not then ask the store where you bought your washer dryer set to replace your washer by a similar model or a model of the recent year with the same option you have now. But my best advice if you do replace replace it with a top load washer they are trouble free.

 

[mixfinder]

Grateful

Thank you for the good advice and insight.  The dealer, Albert Lee claims no knowledge of any known service issue and refers us to Whirlpool.  Whirlpool is agreeing to come but maintains its a user issue so we'll see what happens.

Kelly

 

[cfz2882]

solid footing

You've probably checked already,but do make sure washer is on a level and solid
footing so the washer cannot rock or move much when it spins-my mah3000 neptune
was sensitive to cabinet movement and would often abort the top spin untill i got it leveled up on a solid base-after that no ballance problems at all!

 

[brastemp]

I'd like to see videos of this washer, I think it's very interesting and seems very efficient. I want to see in particular the balancing process and spinning.

 

[mixfinder]

Solid Ground

Installed on a concrete floor by the delivery service and it is level and steady.  It pumps out and begins to do a slightly more rapid tumble, it will speed slightly and then go back to a slow a tumble and repeat the process before finally giving up and stopping with a load of wet laundry.  It has a difficult time with towels, comforters and heavier items.  A load of mixed apparel processes fine, but anything other then a FULL load will not spin.  Its irritating to have no flexibility in load size or content.  The worst part is that his sister who lives next door told him to buy an LG and on my advice he bought the Whirlpool.  Every time we go next door to spin the laundry in her LG he gets a lecture and I get the hairy eyeball.

 

[cfz2882]

technical defect

yeah,with the washer on solid level footing i can't see what kind of"user issue"
could be causing that problem-hope they bring some spare modules,etc.along when
they come look at it...

 

[appnut]

Well, as far as I'm concerned you have "inside information" based upon Jamie's comment and experience.  If he hadn't checked the thread, I was going to relate his dad's experience.  Hadn't forgotten it was early board production issues. 

 

[laundromat]

Just FYI, Some front loading washer owners have a tendency to , instead of loading each garment one at a time, they bunch everything up. usually by placing the loose items into a towel or sheet or bedspread and just throw the entire bundle in. this can cause some serious off balance issues and make the washer(s) take longer (sometimes never) to go into the spin. This also happens with loads that are too small or bulky.All of the current front loaders I've had did and still do this.My Miele will give me a middle finger (F52) when the tub can't reach the max 1400 rpms in the final trial.It buzzes loud and shows the "finger" to me. I then pull the plug, redistribute the load and try again. This usually works.

 

[arbilab]

I have a BOL Frigiwhite FL from 1997. It strongly resents a load of one heavy item but almost always works otherwise. Even pillows and blankets.

The balance sense works one of two ways. All these electronic motor controllers have tachometers. In the runup to spin (distribution) if the tach sees more variation than it likes, it shuts off and tries again. The other method is sensing motor current, you get exactly the same curve as tach.

The bug comes in where the computer decides it is 'out of balance'. It's not that easy a thing to decide. Mine bails out of spin at times when the balance is not that bad. And at worst, spins anyway and bangs the tub into the cabinet. Fortunately I'm always standing there and I stop it. But I'm an uber-user of FLs, watching them just short of 60 years.