[neustkg]

My Maytag Washer has been making a grinding sound for about 4-6 months (sounds like bearing wearing out). Last night, it stopped spinning, but will agitate. During the agitate cycle, it is making a very very loud grinding sound now. As I mentioned, it will not spin and will not drain.

Can anyone give me advice on what might be wrong and if it is worth repairing, and if it is a do-it-yourself repair? I figure if the bearings are gone, it might not be worthwile for me to repair.

[neustkg]

Thought I would offer a little more info.

I was able to manually drain (siphon) the water out of the washer and tilted it to see if the belt was intact. It looked just fine. I was able to separate the top part of the washer from the base (2 clips about 1" from each side in front) and tilted it back. I was able to manually move the inside basket and decided to try the spin cycle again. When I turned the dial to spin, it worked this time, with quite a loud noise (bearing sound again). So I loaded the washer and ran a normal wash cycle. Both the agitation cycle and spin cycle were loud, but they seemed to work. When the wash was done, the towels were wrung like normal and weren't overly wet. I suspect the washer may work for a while, but I expect it will freeze up again in the near future. I am starting to suspect transmission.

[PS Volunteer - Appguy]

Pull front panel off and chech above tranny for leaking tub bearing. If so you probably have bad bearings,seals and transmission. Really bad news.
If not you have bad brake shoes and housing. A rather labor intensive job.
Ill look up repair instructions and post later.
Please respond with the above test results. Note: this washer "performa" has a sad history of failing and needing expensive repairs.

[PS Volunteer - Appguy]

You could have a bad pump,please check.

[neustkg]

Well, as I mentioned above, was able to get it working again, although it was extremely loud. I found some info on how to check if bearings are bad: Lift top (not just lid) and while holding inner tub, turn dial to spin. If the loud noise stops, bad bearings. If not, transmission, brake, or pump. The noise continued, so not bearings.

Tonight, the washer froze up and I could not get it working again. I popped the top again and tried to spin the inner tub, but it was really frozen.

I talked to a local Maytag repair tech two days ago who told me he thought the problem was the pump (said the transmissions rarely go bad, ha ha). He mentioned that the pump always runs when the washer is on. I think he's trying to get out of a service call (transmission is covered for 10 years, but I pay labor). My question is this: Since I cannot budge the inner tub, does that mean it probably isn't the pump? Does this narrow it down to transmission? If transmission is covered, does that mean if the brake and housing are bad, are they covered, too? Basically, what is included in the 10 year transmission warranty on my Maytag?

Any idea what the a ballpark price would be for just a service call (if transmission is covered, but labor is not), or price for labor plus brake and housing (if brake and housing parts aren't covered)?

[PS Volunteer - Appguy]

Remove belt from tranny and try to turn the tranny wheel each direction,one way agitate,othe way spin. If tranny locks up in spin you have sticking brake shoes. Please post results.

[neustkg]

Well, it took me a little while after siphoning then bailing the drum out from the failed final wash load.

I took off the belt and turned what I thought was the transmission pulley (pulley in back) -- I actually turned all three pulleys just to make sure. The back pulley stuck in one direction slightly, but became free with a very small amount of effort and then turned both ways equally well. Actually, all pulleys were able to turn in each direction. I then turned the washer on the spin cycle to see if I had freed up the transmission. Unfortunately, the washer was still mostly frozen. Turning just a little with a burning smell (belt I am assuming).

At this point I am heavily leaning towards a new Kenmore or Whirlpool (have heard from other repair people that Kenmore and Whirlpool have the least complaints for service) frontloader at my local Sears. I was able to find out what is involved in a transmission replacement (if mine probably needs replacement) and I would rather put the money into a new more efficient washer.