Maytag Dep. Care No Agitate

[CHolleman]

My maytag, model LAT9804AAE has a problem with the agitate cycle.  at first it started intermittently stopping and re-starting during the agitate cycle.  a cigarette lighter placed behind the knob (presumably to make better contact) temporarily fixed the problem.  now the agitate cycle does nothing at all.  the washer will fill just fine, and the timer will advanvce to the spin cycle, which it will and properly drain the clothes.  To the layman, all signs point to a timer issue, but I want to make sure before I start throwing money at it.  Electricity and electronics has never scared me
(it better not since it's part of my livelihood) so can anyone tell me which contacts i would need to test and what the proper values should be?  I have yet to crack open the cover.  

[AJ]

Hi,

Can you hear the lid switch click on and off as you open and close the lid?

That washer has two lid switchs. Even if you can hear a switch click on and off as you open and close the lid you should check both with a meter.

There is also a fuse (#10) in the lid switch assemby.
I would check the two lids switchs and the fuse with a ohm meter first.

If they are ok then we can dig into the timer.

Here is the service manual for the Maytag dependable care washers.

Service Manual

Let us know what you find.

[CHolleman]

thanks AJ.  i can definately hear the lid switch click.  i found the service manual and i think i read something that said the lid must be shut for both spin and agitate.  if i'm getting a spin cycle, wouldn't that rule out the switches or are they independent?  i will check the switches and fuse when i get home and let you know what i find.  Thanks!

[AJ]

if i'm getting a spin cycle, wouldn't that rule out the switches

Yes it would, sorry about that.

If it spins the lid switches and fuse are ok.

[CHolleman]

alright so how 'bout that timer?

[AJ]

Check to see if you have power to the motor when the washer should be agitating.

Put one meter probe on the white wire at the motor. Take the other probe and check for voltage on the orange wire and black wire at the motor.

Do you have any voltage to the motor?

Section 5 - Page 3 in the service manual has the wiring diagram for your model washer.

If you don't have voltage to the motor you can leave one meter probe on the white wire and trace back from the orange wire and black wire to see were you have lost the voltage. Looking at the diagram you will be tracing it back to the agitate speed switch then to the timer.

If you find you have no voltage coming out of the timer going to the motor then the timer is what's causing the trouble.

Did you try the different agitate speeds?

Something you can wiggle the timer knobs back and fourth on a bad timer to get the timer to kick in for a second.

Here is the timer for your washer.

Timer

[CHolleman]

well, i think i figured it out without much effort.  i took the front panel off and checked what you mentioned and everything that i could tell was fine.  i started a load, watched it fill and then stop when it should have been agitating.  i fiddled with the knob and tapped it and it started agitating.  i'm assuming the contacts in the knob/timer are worn out and should probably be replaced.  i may see if i can take it apart and clean/repair, but aside from that, it looks like just a timer.

[CHolleman]

aj, is that the Maytag part no. on that timer?

[AJ]

AP249816 is the AppliancePartsPros number.

[AJ]

22001023 is the maytag factory number.