Whirlpool WTW4816FW3: Bad control board and Lowes warranty issues

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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.

 

 

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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.

 
 
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
 
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.

 

 

 

 
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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.

 

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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.
 
Jerome I would say Whirlpool's best washers were Kenmore and Kitchen-Aid with the wash/spin selector combination switch and dual action agitator. In fact I'd say these were the best washers ever created over-all in that it they were very strong in all categories. Higher end Kitchen-Aids and Kenmores  offered all the wash/spin combinations you could ever need, all the cycles you could ever use, cleaned the best, had excellent capacity, lasted 15-20 years easily, and had a great suspension system. They were easy to fix too. As with every perfected timeless classic it was short lived. Whirlpool eventually discontinued these perfected high end direct drive Kenmore and Kitchen-Aids. I bitterly miss them.     
 
Reply 37

Jerome, what do you think about single cycle washers? A hearty deep rinse cycle fits nicely on a 48 increment, 7.5 degrees per step, incremental advance timer. Those are my favorite timers. 

 

 

1 step equals 60 seconds in the following sequence.

 

 

1 step lead in

 

6 steps fill

 

14 steps wash

 

2 steps spin

 

1 step spray and spin

 

1 step spin

 

4 steps fill

 

4 steps deep rinse

 

8 steps spin

 

1 step timer lead out

 

6 steps timer off period

 

 

With the timer dial landing 3 steps from off when set to start the fill period before the wash is about 4 minutes. So the cycle time is 38 minutes total. There is no spray rinse after the final deep rinse so your softener stays put. Long wash for dirty clothes and a hearty final spin for big towel loads.

 

Do you like it Jerome? Let me know if my concept comes out ok in text to voice. You've got the best tastes in laundry. 

 

 

 
 
When it comes to top loaders, sure I'd agree that the DD models were not only the company's best but also the best ever on the market. I own a Kenmore 90 Series myself. But I have used a different Whirlpool washer that was better than a DD and that would be a Duet, still to this day it was the best machine I've ever used. The only front loader that's really close to the Duet would be my LG. If I could bring back one washer of any kind, it'd no question be the Duet.

panasonicvac-2025032012075807338_1.jpg
 
Alex, I agree with you 1000% regarding duet.And everything else you said about current wash or versus vintage. I'd take a duet WF W97H. E! X anyday.
 
Unfortunately, this is a common issue with this model. All the newer Whirlpools seem to be known for control board failures.

All of the belt driven Whirlpool washers use a computer board, older models tend to use a better control board than the new models.

It’s best to avoid the new Whirlpool appliances and to get something else.
 
washer reviews

I have read many washer reviews and most say that these washers can't get clothes clean. Forget about trying to wash farmer, construction, or just plain dirty play clothes in that shallow pool of water. Why do you think most consumers with common sense choose Speed Queen Classic Clean? Chet, if you're reading this, this one's for you. HE has caused so many health issues due to clothes not being adequately clean. You would never see these stupid pieces of stupid crap in a common laundromat, and now I know why. You need water to clean and cover your clothes, along with aggressive agitation. All low water washers do is just spread filth around. That's it! End of story!
 
Jerome you are so full of nonsense it’s not even funny.
Here’s a list of 18 washers, that are all HE top loaders, that have four stars are more in reviews.
This took me 2min. to look up, while laying in bed.

https://www.abt.com/LG-Top-Load-Was...g-5.5-Cu.-Ft.-in-White-WT8400CW/p/203923.html

https://www.abt.com/Whirlpool-4.6-C...-With-Built-In-Faucet-WTW5010LW/p/165947.html

https://www.abt.com/GE-Washer-With-....6-Cu.-Ft.-in-White-GTW480ASWWB/p/205156.html

https://www.abt.com/Samsung-Washer-...ed-Wash-in-White-WA52DG5500AWUS/p/202644.html

https://www.abt.com/Maytag-4.8-Cu.-Ft.-White-Top-Load-Washer-With-Deep-Fill-MVW6200KW/p/153825.html

https://www.abt.com/Samsung-4.5-Cu....uction-Technology-WA45T3200AWA4/p/148673.html

https://www.abt.com/Maytag-5.3-Cu.-...th-Extra-Power-Button-MVW7232HW/p/142561.html

https://www.abt.com/LG-Top-Load-Was...Cu.-Ft.-in-Matte-Black-WT8600CB/p/203926.html

https://www.abt.com/GE-Profile-5-Cu...gy-And-FlexDispense-PTW600BSRWS/p/173250.html

https://www.abt.com/LG-Top-Load-Was...Cu.-Ft.-in-Matte-Black-WT8400CB/p/203922.html

https://www.abt.com/LG-5-Cu.-Ft.-White-Top-Load-Washer-WT7150CW/p/165694.html

https://www.abt.com/Whirlpool-4.6-C...lt-in-Faucet-in-White-WTW5020SW/p/217987.html

https://www.abt.com/LG-Top-Load-Was...y-4.3-Cu.-Ft.-in-White-WT6100CW/p/210026.html

https://www.abt.com/Maytag-4.8-Cu.-...sher-With-Extra-Power-MVW5430MW/p/182670.html

https://www.abt.com/Maytag-5.3-Cu.-...th-Extra-Power-Button-MVW7232HC/p/142562.html

https://www.abt.com/GE-Profile-Top-...t.-in-Sapphire-Blue-PTW800BPWRS/p/213540.html

https://www.abt.com/Samsung-Top-Loa...-System-in-Ivory-WA55CG7500AEUS/p/202641.html

https://www.abt.com/Whirlpool-5.3-C...ller-in-Volcano-Black-WTW6150PB/p/196413.html
 
Oh for cryin’ out loud Jerome, have you actually used an HE Top loader?

My 6 year old Roper (built by Whirlpool) RTW4516FW2 on the Auto Sense water level uses just enough water to cover the load by approx. 1-2” and I can guarantee you that this bad boy has gotten EVERY load that I’ve washed in it spotlessly clean and well rinsed for the last 6 years. I wash 3-4 loads per week. The equivalent Amana TL is the NTW4516FW2 and the reviews on Lowes website gives these washers 69% 5 star reviews and 17% 4 star reviews.

IMO this washer uses approx the same level of water that my ‘97 White-Westinghouse FL used and that was an excellent washer.

My Roper has a Deep Fill option and it fills right to the last row of holes in the tub and with its dual action agitator it has the turnover of an old school TL. I seldom find the need for the Deep Fill, only for extra large items like cal king sized blankets, comforters and bedspreads which it handles with ease. It’s the best of both worlds. Plus it has NEVER failed to go into a balanced spin!

Eddie

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Amana-3-5-cu-ft-Top-Load-Washer-with-Dual-Action-Agitator-White/1003201568
 
Eddie, your washer is based around an old school deep fill washer and essentially does just that. The clothes in your washer are suspended in water. I think what Jerome is referring to are agitator-less impeller washer that mimic the water consumption of a front load washer.

 

@John300m: I guess you've never heard of cherry picking. Or people payed to review products. Or AI moderation. Or terms of service which essentially forbid having a sharp tongue or a critical review. Reviews on company sites are the Walt Disney World equivalent of public opinion. 
 
Chet yes my washer is based more on the old school design but on Auto Sense fill, Normal/Regular cycle it essentially operates like an HE TL and in fact on the lower left corner of the control panle it dies indicate HE/High Efficiency.

I can put an entire 3.5 cu ft laundry basket full of clothes in and it’s loosely packed to the top of the dual action agitator. The Auto Sense fillls until the load is compacted at the bottom with about 1” of water on top of the clothes and then begins to vigorously agitate. It’s amazingly effective.

I owned a Kenmore direct drive 22 years ago (Shredmore) and it was aptly named. One of the worst washers out of 23 that I’ve owned, couldn’t get rid of it fast enough. The worst I ever owned was probably a Whirlpool Cabrio that I had in 2010. It had an impeller plate and always went out of balance on the rinse drain/spin and instead of signaling an unbalanced condition it refilled over, and over again attempting to balance itself. Never again!

Eddie
 
I think HE comes from the normal cycle using spray rinses instead of a deep rinse. In addition to (possibly) restricted hot water use on the normal cycle. I like the concept of spray rinses, I think it works well with typical loads to the point all washers should have at least one realistic spray rinse cycle. 

 

 

Auto fill works well and Whirlpool perfected on your machine.

 

 

 

What model and year was your Kenmore? It sounds like you either had a single speed machine or one where the cottons/normal cycle was fast/fast. Around 1994(ish) Kenmore re-labelled the fast/fast cycle as "Heavy Duty" and made a slow/fast cycle labelled "normal" This concept carried through until the DD line came to an end. On the Whirlpool side of things both high and low agitation was included in a normal cycle instead of just fast agitation as done previously.
 
Chet, my Shredmore was a 2000 model and it was a two speed. Slow wash was too slow, nothing really moved around at all, and fast was too fast and it literally tore the sh*t outta the clothes.

On my Roper the Normal/Regular cycle does have tempered hot water washes and spray rinse. But should a load have excessive suds it intuitively knows to use a fill rinse and just extends the cycle time by a few mins. A very effective and water saving cycle. But should the need arise for more water I have the option which I use sparingly to conserve water.

I realize that its not as conservative as an FL water wise, but it strikes a happy medium while being a helluva great performer.

Eddie
 

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