[Griff Murphey]

We found a yellowed plastic piece about 3 1/2" long, loose in our Maytag shortly after it refused to start, hummed like it was jammed, and gave off a smell like an electrical fire. It looks to me like it belongs to a circular part about 5 1/2" in diameter, 1" high, about 1/8" to 3/32" thick. Looks like it might have been clear or whitish clear when new. I am wondering if it is a part of a seal or bearing washer that would be at the base of the agitator. My wife has found other pieces like this, at least two or three. The repairman looked at it today and said the piece could not possibly have come from our machine and we need a new motor for $300. The likelihood that it is a piece of trash from a pocket is about ZERO. Just kind of wondering if he is lying to us? Also wonder if other bits of it aren't up under the agitator jamming it up...

[PS Staff - Sheila]

Is there any way that you can send a picture of these pieces that you found?

Here is a link to your washer model MAV8000AWW.

[Griff Murphey]

I took the piece to a highly recommended parts supplier. He scrolled all the way through the schematics/exploded views and could not find anything like it. While we were doing that a repairman walked in and looked at the plastic bit. HE said he'd never seen anything like it in a Maytag. So I guess we are at square one.