$1600 Kenmore washing machine dead. What would you do?

[HardDrive]

A little less than 2 years ago, the wife and I bought the best washing machine Kenmore made at the time, Kenmore Elilte HE5t. I think we got some cash back, bringing the cost down to $1400, but I can't recall. We did not get a service contract. Why would we? Surely a $1600 washing machine should last for decades, yes? (Yes, this is the point where you can start laughing at how naive we were.....)

One day before we are leaving on a trip, it dies. Just DOA, no lights. When we return, I check the fuse, its fine. There is power making it to the 'main board'. I call Sears home service. They screw me over and don't show up for an appointment (I posted here about this). Others suggested I check around for alternative services to fix it.

Now here is were is gets rather disgusting. No one will touch this thing. Even though the Kenmore is really just a rebranded Whirlpool, folks that fix Whirlpool won't touch it. All of them told me to call Sears. One explained that Sears re-numbers all the parts making it difficult for anyone outside of Sears to order parts.

So I call Sears home service again. Amazingly a kid with a bag of tools shows up. So I explain whats going on, and he says, "Oh man, I hope its not a controller board, those things are expensive." So he sets about trying to diagnose the problem. How does he do this? He places a cell phone call to a technician back at Sears, who walks him through a series of checks! Thats right, the guy has no manuals, no wiring diagram, nothing. He is just there to place a multimeter where ever the guy on the phone tells him! Conclusion (after all of 5 minutes), is that that the main board is dead. $550 to fix it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2 Year old washer, and they want $550 so some kid can install a controller board that prolly cost them $20. And they can't get the part here for 2 weeks. I tell him thanks, but no thanks.

I find it intersting is that every single employee I spoke with pushes a hard sell for you to get the warranty. The kid who came to fix the machine was innocent enough, and basically said that it would be 'crazy' not to have a warranty because they break so much.

So here is the deal, I was going to order the part and install it myself. I have found it for less than $300 from a couple sources. This of course assumes that their diagnosis was correct....

But now I am not so sure. Why bother? Why not look on Craigslist and find a 30 year old washing machine that still works, and buy that $50? You know, the ones that were all mechanical, where really the timer was the only piece of gadgetry in the whole thing. Will it use huge amounts of water and electricity? Sure. But I won't be sinking $500 into it ever 2 years. I don't give a rats ass about being green, I just want out clothes to be washed. Hell, I could go out and probably buy 2 new cheap top loading washers for $550. When one breaks, just throw it out. This is America, right?

I'm not really mad, just disgusted that we were taken so badly. Any recourse with Sears is pretty much laughable. The company is barely hanging on, and everything I have read indicates they could care less about their reputation at this point. They will do nothing to help you.

What would you do?

[WolfeMacleod]

China. Great, isn't it?

[rick-l]

Originally Posted by WolfeMacleod

China. Great, isn't it?

Something that big is more likely made in Mexico.

[WolfeMacleod]

Originally Posted by rick-l

Something that big is more likely assembled in Mexico.

Fixed that for you. Parts made in China, I'll bet.

[HardDrive]

The controller was made in Italy. Fix it again Tony!

[WolfeMacleod]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

The controller was made in Italy. Fix it again Tony!

Now that's unusual!

Ok.. I'll bet that the transistor or chip that failed is Chinese. Or Indonesian.

[HardDrive]

Jeezus....the thing is made in Germany

[WolfeMacleod]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

Jeezus....the thing is made in Germany

Terrible...

[nota]

like the CPU's and relays in cars
open it up and check the solder joints
some times you get lucky

$ 1600 CPU controled washing machine !!!!!!!!!!!
yikes

thats why I buy used
simple older made in USA stuff
note USA made not branded
and for sure not CPU controled
hot warm or cold
gentile mid and fast speeds
how hard it that to set ????????

KISS or pay the piper

[9dreizig]

I would do some Googling.. There has to be a website on this stuff and a BBS to go with it.
T

[Scuba Steve]

I'e had great luck with their mid-line top loaders. But mine are 5 years old and probably mechanical on the inside because it's all a bunch of knobs pretty much like my mother's that she bought about 25 years ago.

Might as well give the solder points a try. I've brought back a DME or two that way.

[rick-l]

I searched The Samurai Appliance Repair Forums and this is all I found.

110.47088600 Kenmore He5t codes: F28 & F71 - The Laundry Appliance Repair Forum - Do-It-Yourself Appliance Repair Help - ApplianceGuru.com: The Samurai Appliance Repair Forums

Have you looked for a manual?

[nynor]

that sucks. quite an expensive piece of machinery to die after two years. i'd be a bit annoyed, for sure.

check on ebay, you might find what you need there cheaper.

[Joe Bob]

That's what I thought when I bought a Vovlo and a room full of Whirpool appliances. The front end had to be rebuilt with 42K miles, the turbo cooked itself at 50K, the dishwasher has been replaced 3 times at 2-3 year intervals, I'm on my fifth microwave that die right after the warranty....

They don't make stuff like the used to..........

[88-diamondblue]

Mike you are right about that. I have a Maytag washer that is 30 years old. I got another used Maytag 5 years ago figuring that the washer was ready to die any day. Still stored in the garage. It doesn't show any signs quitting

[Looking_for_911]

Originally Posted by mikez

That's what I thought when I bought a Vovlo and a room full of Whirpool appliances. The front end had to be rebuilt with 42K miles, the turbo cooked itself at 50K, the dishwasher has been replaced 3 times at 2-3 year intervals, I'm on my fifth microwave that die right after the warranty....

They don't make stuff like the used to..........

Truer words never spoken!

In my house, the house my great-grandfather and great uncle built in 1955 sits the stove that my grandfather bought - an American Motors - in 1961 when he married my step-grandmother. It works like a charm. We've only changed the lower heating element in the oven once. The oven door hinge is a little weak now, but could be easily fixed.
Until I met my last girlfriend the original, 1961 vintage washer and dryer were in the laundry room. She came with a new fangled front loader set. We gave my '61's to her sister and when we split she let me keep the front loaders.
The refrigerator is the only thing from 1961 that has died. I replaced it about three years ago.

[john walker's workshop]

my kenmore (maytag) dishwasher circuit board burnt up and could have burnt the house down, had the wife not been there. it kept smoking after the breaker was turned off, so she called the FD. i had a sears repair guy come out to fix the electrics on my gas range. duh, spent a hour fiddling around, ordered a part which didn't fix it. i took a guess and put a switch in myself and it worked.

[porsche4life]

Send it my way... I'll take care of it....

Refrigerator

[Dave L]

Our Kenmore fridge is on its second ice maker and its broken again and needs to be replaced. The fridge is 4 year old. I would say it will be our last appliance purchase from Sears but I dont know that any of the other manufacturers are any better.

[H.G.P.]

The reason I avoided the more expensive models.

Our washer went this summer, went to Lowes bought a G.E. similar to this GE at Lowe's: 3.2 Cu. Ft. Capacity Top Load Washer (Color: White), ......and paid around 60 extra for their 2 yr/ service contract.

Pretty basic, had it since only early September, so no recommendation on it yet, but does the job for for a final $486.59 with the 2 yr. service coverage. (they offered longer).
Delivered the following day, and free removal of the old one.

Best to you.