You make the call: Maytag Performa Washer Model PAVT444AWW (circa 2004)

[NVRAMbo]

Hello all (*not a technician and don't pretend to be.),

Top load machine performed reasonably well for some 3-4 years but is now eternally out of balance. This isn't a leveling issue or a load balance issue at this point.

From online research/reading, appears to be a design weakness. (6) tub anchor springs are intact but the snubber ring is destroyed/powdered. Machine gets fairly heavy use of 1-3 loads per day.

Local technician blames design, says replacing snubber and springs won't guarantee the problem won't continue or return in short order and that we should consider a new machine purchase.

My wife picked this Maytag based upon name alone.

Our previous set (Speed Queen W&D) literally lasted 20 years.

So.....while the needed parts are <$20 US, the job is labor intensive and total bill may reach $100 or more.

Repair the Maytag Performa, or go out and buy another durable top loader Speed Queen?(ie: Model AWN412 as we need FUNCTION and length of service rather than "wow" factor.).

Sage wisdom/advice from the experts here would be greatly appreciated as I've been essentially "under-employed" for about 3 years and money matters.

Thanks again and I hope I've posted this to the correct forum.

 

[appnut]

I'd go get a Speed Queen. My sister had a similar problem with her Performa, she replaced it with a used Dependable Care Maytag.

 

[cycla-fabric]

The Speed Queen is a fine machine, but it has been reported on this site that the machines tub doesn't fill up with water to the top row of holes on the largest setting. If you want more water in the machine you will have to adjust the water level setting so the machine fills to that level or you could leave it be and enjoy it as is.

Doug

 

[mixfinder]

Performa

Mom had the first Performa that hit the market in the late 90s. Years of hard work and it never a had repair. Mom has Alzheimer's and developed a washing addiction so the poor old Performa went round the clock for several years. In the end it wouldn't spin because of going out of balance. Rather than fight it we bought her a used Maytag from the LAT series. It was loaded with features, has no late market restrictions and it was cheap. The entry level Speed Queen is $650 and up which is too much for our budget.

 

[NVRAMbo]

I'd almost be willing to perform the repair myself......

...if I were confident I could do so competently; AND if I thought the snubber and springs would give the Performa another two years of problem-free life. I've even found some fairly specific steps online for doing just that. Since I have mild to moderate mechanical skills in this area I can estimate it will take me much more time than a skilled pro and in the end I might wind up no better off - or worse yet breaking something else in the process.

Also considered checking local used appliance stores for a more affordable 'diamond in the rough'(models/reliability, good/bad etc), but I'm not perceptive enough to know exactly what I'm looking at; craigslist would be an even bigger risk for that reason.

I'm still digging/calling around to see if I can find a real technician to give me a reasonable estimate. I'd be willing to give a professional repair one shot.

FWIW, the prices at the local Speed Queen dealer (local folks)$599 -> $629 as you said.(AWN311 and AWN412 are what they show in stock online).

 

[mixfinder]

My Confusing Post

Mom bought a new Performa the first year they were offered for sale. I was a terrific and trouble free washer. In it's 10the year it went out of ballance almost every extraction cycle and was too hard to use. I found a very nice older Maytag to replace it and mom threw a fit. She didn;t like it, couldn;t run it and wanted her "new" washer back. To that end when thie current machine developed a problem we chose to repair it rather than go through the learning curve again. I washed 5 loads today and it is silent and does just what it is supposed to do. If the washer is quiet enough I can slip laundry past mom who gets upset when anyone uses water.