Maytag A282 will not start, trips circuit breaker

A few days ago I removed the control panel and was adjusting the water level control. At the same time I disconnected the safety lid switch and put the two wires together and twisted them tight. Taped the ends with electrical tape. Replaced the control panel. Machine worked just fine for several days and many loads. Needed to adjust the water level again but this time when I plugged the machine in there was an arc and spark from over on the timer side and the circuit breaker had tripped. Unplugged the machine and reset the circuit breaker. The machine started filling, reached selected level, then would not start. It would not start in any cycle or function. Checked the circuit breaker and it had tripped. Reset the breaker and tried to start the machine and it tripped the circuit breaker again. I removed the control panel again and found one of the grey wires coming off the main power cord had come off or blown off and was slightly charred but still intact. Put connector back on tab and tried to start the machine. Another arc and spark and tripped circuit breaker. What I have done to my poor Maytag. Any help, or advice will be greatly appreciated. I have a guy who is also a washing machine lover and I was hoping to show it off this weekend.


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Post# 968081 11/15/2017 at 09:56 (2,343 days old) by Losangeles (Muscle Shoals, AL 35661)
Checkrate/Likes A few days ago I removed the control panel and was adjusting the water level control. At the same time I disconnected the safety lid switch and put the two wires together and twisted them tight. Taped the ends with electrical tape. Replaced the control panel. Machine worked just fine for several days and many loads. Needed to adjust the water level again but this time when I plugged the machine in there was an arc and spark from over on the timer side and the circuit breaker had tripped. Unplugged the machine and reset the circuit breaker. The machine started filling, reached selected level, then would not start. It would not start in any cycle or function. Checked the circuit breaker and it had tripped. Reset the breaker and tried to start the machine and it tripped the circuit breaker again. I removed the control panel again and found one of the grey wires coming off the main power cord had come off or blown off and was slightly charred but still intact. Put connector back on tab and tried to start the machine. Another arc and spark and tripped circuit breaker. What I have done to my poor Maytag. Any help, or advice will be greatly appreciated. I have a guy who is also a washing machine lover and I was hoping to show it off this weekend.

Post# 968186 , Reply# 1 11/15/2017 at 19:08 (2,343 days old) by potatochips ( )
Checkrate/Likes I would cut away the charred section of wire and start fresh from there. Any time rides arc or overamp and scorch like that it can cause the wires to become brittle or cracked and therefore a weak continuity, I would for sure cut back the burnt sections, clean up any soot and try again.

Post# 968234 , Reply# 2 11/15/2017 at 21:06 (2,343 days old) by Losangeles (Muscle Shoals, AL 35661)
Checkrate/Likes *Maytag will not start* That is the one thing that did not show up. There was nothing charred or burnt. There was only an arc and spark. Happened very quickly in less than a second. Nothing smelled burnt and there was no smoke. The contact was the only thing that showed any sign of being scorched.. I do not have a volt meter so I can not check out the wiring continuity. Hopefully I can find someone with a meter to check this out. Thanks for the advice. Tommy

Post# 968275 , Reply# 3 11/16/2017 at 04:57 (2,342 days old) by arbilab (Ft Worth TX (Ridglea))
Checkrate/Likes Go back and put a wire nut on that joint. I wouldn't put the screws back in anything held together with electrical tape. The entire nameplate current goes through that wire. Which gets slightly warm anyway. The least slop in the junction and it gets hot, which melts the ET adhesive, which ain't that hot to start with, and it lets go.

Post# 968287 , Reply# 4 11/16/2017 at 07:04 (2,342 days old) by Losangeles (Muscle Shoals, AL 35661)
Checkrate/Likes *Maytag will not start* I removed the electrical tape from the safety lid switch wires and cleaned any adhesive residue off the wires. I then put new tab connectors on the wires and reconnected them to the switch. Still nothing. I am taking the machine to a used appliance repairman today. He has a meter and can check out all of the wiring for continuity. Thank you for the advice.

Post# 968475 , Reply# 5 11/17/2017 at 04:03 (2,341 days old) by arbilab (Ft Worth TX (Ridglea))
Checkrate/Likes Shot in the dark, except always recheck when trouble follows a change. Let us know what it ends up being.