KitchenAid top-loader with a bad attitude

Okay, helpful types, can any of you shed some light on this? My KitchenAid washer model KAWS850LQ is about 1 1/2 years old. When purchased it was KA's TOL TLer. (I picked it because it's got the triple dispensers and was the closest thing I could find to a modern-day Lady K.) Anyway, lately it has decided it doesn't wish to complete a cycle. (In dog/child equivalency years it's probably nearing that difficult pre-teen age.) When it gets to the rinse phase it fills and begins to agitate, but after about 30 seconds it just stops. Nothing. Nada. Zip. No one in casa. So I push in the control knob and give it about 15 minutes, and then it usually fires right back up again and completes the cycle. What gives? I haven't noticed any strange burning smells (as in the motor or wiring), and it's not making any unusual noises. Truthfully, I won't cry if it turns out to be something unfixable because that could be my excuse to get a new HE4t in that nifty blue color. I'm probably not that lucky, though. Does anyone have any idea about what has caused my machine to become a problem child? I mean, it's not exactly hanging out behind the barn smoking cigarettes or skipping school, but it would be nice if it could get through a complete cycle without requiring me to give it the evil eye.

I'll shut up now.


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Post# 56604 2/9/2005 at 11:38 (7,008 days old) by zipdang (Portland, OR)
Checkrate/Likes Okay, helpful types, can any of you shed some light on this? My KitchenAid washer model KAWS850LQ is about 1 1/2 years old. When purchased it was KA's TOL TLer. (I picked it because it's got the triple dispensers and was the closest thing I could find to a modern-day Lady K.) Anyway, lately it has decided it doesn't wish to complete a cycle. (In dog/child equivalency years it's probably nearing that difficult pre-teen age.) When it gets to the rinse phase it fills and begins to agitate, but after about 30 seconds it just stops. Nothing. Nada. Zip. No one in casa. So I push in the control knob and give it about 15 minutes, and then it usually fires right back up again and completes the cycle. What gives? I haven't noticed any strange burning smells (as in the motor or wiring), and it's not making any unusual noises. Truthfully, I won't cry if it turns out to be something unfixable because that could be my excuse to get a new HE4t in that nifty blue color. I'm probably not that lucky, though. Does anyone have any idea about what has caused my machine to become a problem child? I mean, it's not exactly hanging out behind the barn smoking cigarettes or skipping school, but it would be nice if it could get through a complete cycle without requiring me to give it the evil eye. I'll shut up now.

Post# 56619 , Reply# 1 2/9/2005 at 12:23 (7,008 days old) by coldspot66 (Plymouth, Mass)
Checkrate/Likes Sounds like a dead spot in the timer

Post# 56633 , Reply# 2 2/9/2005 at 13:08 (7,008 days old) by Unimatic1140 (Minneapolis)
Checkrate/Likes I agree with Coldspot66, it sounds like a contact in the timer is heating up to the point of bending itself slightly and not making contact with its mating slot during the proper time. When you stop the machine for 15 minutes, the contact cools down and now makes proper contact, when you restart the machine now everything works fine again.

Post# 56635 , Reply# 3 2/9/2005 at 13:31 (7,008 days old) by zipdang (Portland, OR)
Checkrate/Likes Each incident thus far has only occurred in the Normal/Regular cycle, since that's the only cycle I ever use, but I have tried restarting it on other cycle settings and it still takes the 15 minutes or so before it beams back down to earth. Is that consistent with the symptoms of a problematic timer contact? By the way, you guys rock.

Post# 56638 , Reply# 4 2/9/2005 at 13:38 (7,008 days old) by coldspot66 (Plymouth, Mass)
Checkrate/Likes Next time it happens, try jiggling the timer knob at the point where it stops to see if you can get any contact at all. If you hear anything, but doesn't stay running, the timer needs to be replaced. Prolly one of the crappy plastic shell timers that they now use. Hate 'em. Give me the old metal shell timers anyday! Just shows you that they cut costs in places you can't see. Hope this helps!

Post# 56640 , Reply# 5 2/9/2005 at 13:45 (7,008 days old) by zipdang (Portland, OR)
Checkrate/Likes Actually you can hear the timer when the washer stops. It's not a tick-tick-ticking sound, but an electrical humming sound. I haven't tried jiggling the timer without pushing the knob in, though. It's one of those stupid two-part knobs, � la a childproof medicine cap. (Probably created specifically to thwart the otherwise mischievious tendencies of people like me.)

Post# 56656 , Reply# 6 2/9/2005 at 16:04 (7,008 days old) by DADoES (TX,�U.S. of A.)
Checkrate/Likes If you don't do anything, does the timer continue advancing? If so, maybe it's the motor overheating?

Post# 56657 , Reply# 7 2/9/2005 at 16:05 (7,008 days old) by DADoES (TX,�U.S. of A.)
Checkrate/Likes Oops, hit Submit too soon. I recall reading/hearing that KAs sometimes tend toward overheating due to the extra sound insulation around the motor and tranny.

Post# 56675 , Reply# 8 2/9/2005 at 18:02 (7,008 days old) by gansky1 (Omaha, The Home of the TV Dinner!)
Checkrate/Likes Sounds like a timer, unless it's under warranty, you could try a rebuilt timer - tons cheaper. If you call your local parts supplier (or Whirlpool) and find out what the part number is for that timer, email me with it and I'll see if I have that one. I bought a rebuilt timer for machine I ended up stripping for parts to build another KA washer so I have this timer, never used...

Post# 56679 , Reply# 9 2/9/2005 at 19:02 (7,008 days old) by zipdang (Portland, OR)
Checkrate/Likes I have the extended warranty, but I'm not sure how much of a repair it covers (parts, or part plus labor). I'll see how much is covered and decide whether to use new parts or the rebuilt timer. Thanks guys for all your help!