My 2010/2011 Duet began symptoms oof not spinning over medium speed at best October 2021. That's when I decided to get the LG. This was November of 2021. The matching dryer arrived August 2021 after the death of my 1994 Dependable Care dryer.
Whirlpool WTW4816FW3: Bad control board and Lowes warranty issues
- Thread starter ryner1988
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ryner1988
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Bob, that's right around 10 years, pretty good run for a control board I'd say
Mine going out just over a year in is outrageous. If anyone thinks I'm exaggerating, go and look at the reviews on Lowes' website for this model. I'd guess about 80% of the reviews on the first couple pages could have been written by me. Same exact issue and close to the same timeline. Very strange.
The weird thing is that the lower-tier Amana washer, which I believe is the exact equivalent to the Roper ea56/Eddie has, doesn't seem to exhibit the same problem. There are a few bad reviews, but people seem to have an overall more positive experience with that machine. Certainly there isn't review after review from disgruntled customers stating that their computer boards blew out after a year. I find that odd, because one would think that the board is the same with slightly different programming to support the extra cycles that my Whirlpool has, considering they're the same machine mechanically. Makes me wonder if I would have had a different experience if I'd just gone with the Amana, rather than electing to buy the slightly higher-tiered unit.
Mine going out just over a year in is outrageous. If anyone thinks I'm exaggerating, go and look at the reviews on Lowes' website for this model. I'd guess about 80% of the reviews on the first couple pages could have been written by me. Same exact issue and close to the same timeline. Very strange.
The weird thing is that the lower-tier Amana washer, which I believe is the exact equivalent to the Roper ea56/Eddie has, doesn't seem to exhibit the same problem. There are a few bad reviews, but people seem to have an overall more positive experience with that machine. Certainly there isn't review after review from disgruntled customers stating that their computer boards blew out after a year. I find that odd, because one would think that the board is the same with slightly different programming to support the extra cycles that my Whirlpool has, considering they're the same machine mechanically. Makes me wonder if I would have had a different experience if I'd just gone with the Amana, rather than electing to buy the slightly higher-tiered unit.
It's possible there was been a change in the source vendor of the board or a revision in one or more board components involved in the point of failure.
tim
New member
Thanks for the information!
Hi Ryne and everyone. While searching about our Whirlpool WTW4816FW3 washer going out, I found this thread. Our washer was purchased from Lowe's in August 2023 and started with the same behavior indicating a failing control board about three weeks ago (March 2025), so about 6 months after the 12 month warranty period.
At first, I was going to just replace the W11603810 control board (replaces W11578565), but was concerned that a replacement board might fail in a year or so. I also noticed that board inventory was dropping at a few online suppliers (Trible's & All Brand Online were two). My wife suggested we just invest in a new (not Whirlpool) washer.
After seeing some comments about Speed Queen TC5, I checked out our local appliance store and was impressed by the cut-away model and comparison to other brands on the floor. It has a 5 year parts & in-home warranty:
https://speedqueen.com/products/top-load-washers/tc5003wn/
While a new TC5 might not be the best solution for everyone, I have three daughters that wear every item they own, then compete to see who can use the washer and dryer the most - nonstop. I should have bought the coin-op version.
Anyway, I just wanted to drop by and thank Ryne and everyone for the discussion.
Best regards,
Tim
Hi Ryne and everyone. While searching about our Whirlpool WTW4816FW3 washer going out, I found this thread. Our washer was purchased from Lowe's in August 2023 and started with the same behavior indicating a failing control board about three weeks ago (March 2025), so about 6 months after the 12 month warranty period.
At first, I was going to just replace the W11603810 control board (replaces W11578565), but was concerned that a replacement board might fail in a year or so. I also noticed that board inventory was dropping at a few online suppliers (Trible's & All Brand Online were two). My wife suggested we just invest in a new (not Whirlpool) washer.
After seeing some comments about Speed Queen TC5, I checked out our local appliance store and was impressed by the cut-away model and comparison to other brands on the floor. It has a 5 year parts & in-home warranty:
https://speedqueen.com/products/top-load-washers/tc5003wn/
While a new TC5 might not be the best solution for everyone, I have three daughters that wear every item they own, then compete to see who can use the washer and dryer the most - nonstop. I should have bought the coin-op version.
Anyway, I just wanted to drop by and thank Ryne and everyone for the discussion.
Best regards,
Tim
I actually have another 4816 coming today. Got it cheap and looks like it was hardly used. It's really just to play around with. These were pretty good machines when I had them. I got mine from place that does refurbs. If it fails not much is lost.
Old fashioned Electro-mechanical controls and timers
In a world with Joy, Liberty, Freedom, Beauty open to the ideals of human progress; this what the controls in Ryne's washer would actually look like:
Ryne, considering your current washer is so new the rest of the components should be able to last a good 5-10 years. I'd replace the electronic control and as others have said I'd use the money for other needed essentials.
[this post was last edited: 3/15/2025-11:05]
In a world with Joy, Liberty, Freedom, Beauty open to the ideals of human progress; this what the controls in Ryne's washer would actually look like:
Ryne, considering your current washer is so new the rest of the components should be able to last a good 5-10 years. I'd replace the electronic control and as others have said I'd use the money for other needed essentials.
[this post was last edited: 3/15/2025-11:05]
It looks like I'll be returning the 4816. It has a faulty board also. I was only able to get through two loads and the pump just keeps running.
Press the power button. Hold it in for 3 seconds and it shuts off but then 3 seconds later it comes right back on.
What is it with this company and their faulty control boards ?
Unplugged it and tried to see if that would reset it but then it just comes right back on after about 10 seconds of being unplugged.
Thankfully, I have three older machines that are in good mechanical shape.
If I actually have to go buy a modern GE washer, then I know it's really bad.
At least for cheap machines though they're giving you options of water levels, a true dual action agitator and soil level options.
Whirlpool keeps pedaling those fake dual action agitators that couldn't make a tempest in a teapot.
Why is Whirlpool so out of touch?
They seem to be pretty obstinate in their doubling down of those useless 2 in 1 agitators. I believe it's all by design.
Press the power button. Hold it in for 3 seconds and it shuts off but then 3 seconds later it comes right back on.
What is it with this company and their faulty control boards ?
Unplugged it and tried to see if that would reset it but then it just comes right back on after about 10 seconds of being unplugged.
Thankfully, I have three older machines that are in good mechanical shape.
If I actually have to go buy a modern GE washer, then I know it's really bad.
At least for cheap machines though they're giving you options of water levels, a true dual action agitator and soil level options.
Whirlpool keeps pedaling those fake dual action agitators that couldn't make a tempest in a teapot.
Why is Whirlpool so out of touch?
They seem to be pretty obstinate in their doubling down of those useless 2 in 1 agitators. I believe it's all by design.
Whirlpool is out of touch since the people running the company and working for Whirlpool don’t have a clue. It seems as though Ohioans and Michiganders don’t know as much about quality control as Iowans do, especially Newton Iowa.
Then again, Michigan and Ohio are past the Mississippi River, must be something in the water and air past the Mississippi River that makes people oblivious to reality and gullible beyond belief.
Then again, Michigan and Ohio are past the Mississippi River, must be something in the water and air past the Mississippi River that makes people oblivious to reality and gullible beyond belief.
Yes, Whirlpool is not "giving us their best"
Whirlpool's Best
If everyone was like me, Whirlpool would have long ago (at minimum) re-tooled their direct drive lineup putting forth what people actually desire. This right below would be their best selling model in 2025. Full user control, Metal Invensys timer, no electronics, direct drive mechanism, DA, spin-drain, white porcelain on steal basket, porcelain coated spill proof top, commercial grade clutch and motor coupler, 1 HP motor, fast charge fill water valves, 5 year parts and labor warranty. With consumers demanding it, it would happen.
Better yet, actually, if everyone was like me the dependable cares would be back in production with zero cheapening. One can only dream absent a revolution.
If everyone was like me, Whirlpool would have long ago (at minimum) re-tooled their direct drive lineup putting forth what people actually desire. This right below would be their best selling model in 2025. Full user control, Metal Invensys timer, no electronics, direct drive mechanism, DA, spin-drain, white porcelain on steal basket, porcelain coated spill proof top, commercial grade clutch and motor coupler, 1 HP motor, fast charge fill water valves, 5 year parts and labor warranty. With consumers demanding it, it would happen.
Better yet, actually, if everyone was like me the dependable cares would be back in production with zero cheapening. One can only dream absent a revolution.
Chet in your design here.. would there be the option to override that "water saving spray rinse" ?
In this particular concept model, no. All 3 cycles come with with a spray rinse only. However, there would be other models where some or all the cycles offer a deep rinse.
The beauty here is that you have two options to remedy this.
First all these various models would have a molex connector separating the top and standardized bottom half of the wiring harness. If somehow you ended up with a spray rinse only washer on your property, you could order a complete control panel (that also comes with an upper harness) at a reasonable cost and just swap the whole control panel for a deep rinse version.
The other option would be just replace the timer with a deep rinse version. Contacts 0TM-12TM are standardized and would be physically interchangeable with about 14 other timers having the same contact sequence and position. Of these 14, two other versions which give deep rinsing would technically fit the fascia markings as well.
So transplants would be easy, and even the norm in service work.
The beauty here is that you have two options to remedy this.
First all these various models would have a molex connector separating the top and standardized bottom half of the wiring harness. If somehow you ended up with a spray rinse only washer on your property, you could order a complete control panel (that also comes with an upper harness) at a reasonable cost and just swap the whole control panel for a deep rinse version.
The other option would be just replace the timer with a deep rinse version. Contacts 0TM-12TM are standardized and would be physically interchangeable with about 14 other timers having the same contact sequence and position. Of these 14, two other versions which give deep rinsing would technically fit the fascia markings as well.
So transplants would be easy, and even the norm in service work.
Control Panel with Upper Harness
Here is an example of what a complete control panel would look like using Speed Queen as an example with its molex connector:
Here is an example of what a complete control panel would look like using Speed Queen as an example with its molex connector:
The positions for the temperature settings are not logical. Cold-cold and warm-cold should switch positions.
Molex main harness connectors
Have been used in many appliances over the years, usually for assembly ease, so the control panel can be assembled in one section of the plant and the rest of the machine assembled elsewhere, and then the machine mated together going down the assembly line.
They are mostly out of favor now as they add to the cost of the machine and definitely caused the machine to be less reliable, there’s two great a chance of bad connections and even burned up connectors and possible electrical fires, so most manufacturers have figured out a way to build machines without this extra reliability issue .
John L
Have been used in many appliances over the years, usually for assembly ease, so the control panel can be assembled in one section of the plant and the rest of the machine assembled elsewhere, and then the machine mated together going down the assembly line.
They are mostly out of favor now as they add to the cost of the machine and definitely caused the machine to be less reliable, there’s two great a chance of bad connections and even burned up connectors and possible electrical fires, so most manufacturers have figured out a way to build machines without this extra reliability issue .
John L
John, I appreciate your constructive criticism and I have to say I agree with you 100%. While in my inference I think a harness molex connector is far less likely to fail than those flimsy undersized modern board connectors; a molex connector is still one more component which can fail that would otherwise not fail if it were not present.
This is what I like about your insight, you're good at identifying potential failure points.
What I would keep standard across a dozen models is the timer connector. A single timer block would be able to electrically, physically and functionally mate with a dozen differing timers.
This is what I like about your insight, you're good at identifying potential failure points.
What I would keep standard across a dozen models is the timer connector. A single timer block would be able to electrically, physically and functionally mate with a dozen differing timers.
Reply 30
Agiflow, I went back to the drawing board and took your wish into account.
I added a regular cycle with a deep rinse and a generous 1 minute spray rinse to compliment that. I also sub-divided the sprays in the water saver cycle to better aid in detergent rinsing. Let me know if this is better, and what you would like to see offered.
Of note, I know that the wash fill periods are 6 minutes in duration, but in reality they would be around 4 minutes before the start of agitation. The timer typically lands about 2 minutes into the fill period from the lead in period to account for error and decal variants.
OP, keep your washer as it offers both deep and spray rinse cycles IIRC.
Agiflow, I went back to the drawing board and took your wish into account.
I added a regular cycle with a deep rinse and a generous 1 minute spray rinse to compliment that. I also sub-divided the sprays in the water saver cycle to better aid in detergent rinsing. Let me know if this is better, and what you would like to see offered.
Of note, I know that the wash fill periods are 6 minutes in duration, but in reality they would be around 4 minutes before the start of agitation. The timer typically lands about 2 minutes into the fill period from the lead in period to account for error and decal variants.
OP, keep your washer as it offers both deep and spray rinse cycles IIRC.
deep rinse
I always prefer a deep rinse over a spray rinse. I just feel that it's more effective, since I use softener anyway. I still prefer it even if I didn't use softener. I want all the soap rinsed out through a deep rinse through agitation.
I always prefer a deep rinse over a spray rinse. I just feel that it's more effective, since I use softener anyway. I still prefer it even if I didn't use softener. I want all the soap rinsed out through a deep rinse through agitation.
whirlpool's best
What was Whirlpool's best washer? It's a shame that GE competed with them.
What was Whirlpool's best washer? It's a shame that GE competed with them.
