Maytag Washer is a piece of S#&*!

schwarcw

I've had this Maytag "Proforma" model washer for about three years. It never has been right and Maytag just thumbs their nose at me. I gave up trying to deal with them. I bought the extended warranty, but they say it's not the washer's problem. This machine cannot maintain balance during the spin cycle with two wash cloths in it. Washes just fine, but cannot spin out the water. I am continuously moving wet clothes around trying to rebalance the load. It is especially sensitive to light loads as opposed to heavy loads. I have leveled this thing and checked the level repeatedly. Every time it tries to spin with an "unbalanced" load, the drum will bang the side of the washer like a madman on a Chinese kettle. High School marching bands can't reproduce the banging this washer makes when unbalanced. I never had this problem with the many washers I had. I thought I was buying the best when I bought this Maytag. I have come to learn that this is a generic problem with Maytag "Proforma" models. Maytag won't stand behind this product. Give me a cheap Kenmore!!!!

dorokusai

It all happened when Maytag chose "Mr. Carlson" for the spokesperson over Jesse White.

Some of you folks may pick that up....care to work your brain and not the internet?

heiney9

Yeah, Mr. Carlson should have stayed in Radio. Hey Gordo are you lonely now?

H9

dorokusai

H9 - Right on... - Venus Flytrap

SCH - Sorry about your experience, believe me it extends to EVERY manufacturer, it's just numbers.

schwarcw

I expected better customer service from Maytag, all hype! There are some brands out there that do try. Some retailers too. My wife's out of town, I'm taking about 40 lbs of clothes and dropping them off at the laundramat tomorrow. I'll pick them up after work washed, dried, it's not worth the aggravation. A new washer is coming soon!

Carl

brettw22

Call and file a report with the BBB. If for nothing else, they will call and try to resolve the problem, but if they don't, you can keep the report out there for others to be aware of. For some reason, they seem to actually respond if a 3rd party is involved.

Frank Z

Got the same one here. Ours doesn't spin out too well either. Balance hasn't been a problem, but it doesn't like oversized loads...you can hear the clutch cranking away if you put to much laundry in it. If you haven't already done so, pick up a spare tub drain hose and a water pump hose. Mine pissed all over after just about 2 years of use.

If you have the matching dryer, lift the top and unhook the two wires to the door switch. Remove the two 1/4" screws that hold the front panel on and vacuum that sucker out. I'd strongly suggest that you also remove the drum and vacuum out/blow out the motor while your at it. Ours is already showing signs of burning out...the windings are starting to look pretty dark.

BTW, Make sure you unplug it first.

dorokusai

Whirpool.

schwarcw

Thanks for the tips guys. I was going to check the BBB website to see if there are any class actions on this piece of junk. I will post a complaint. Fotunately, I have a GE gas dryer. Never any problems. Except the time the baby rabbit fell in the window well where the dryer vents. Little fur ball crawled under the flapper, into the vent and croaked inside the dryer. It took three days to figure out where the smell was coming from What an ugly experience.

Carl

Frank Z

Still worth the effort to open it up and clean it out. Doing so will save you some coin on your utility bill and help prolong the life of the dryer.


You should also clean out the dryer vent at least annually, you'll be amazed at how much better it will work.

schwarcw

+1 on that Frank. My brother and I tore the GE down totally into pieces onto the floor this Spring. Cleaned it thoroughly! All the gaskets and wires were good, no heat deterioration, drum rolled smooth. We had no parts leftover after reassembly Lint in dryers is a major cause of house fires. You have good advice!!

CArl

Early B.

Today's brand named washers and dryers suck. The ones I have now are supposedly a "professional" model with all the bells and whistles and they never worked as well as the units they replaced -- a set of el cheapos I bought used for $75 each. A single load of clothes take over an hour to dry. Next time I'm gonna do it the old fashoined way -- a washboard, some string tied from one tree to another, a bucket of clothes pins, the sun and the wind.

Mike Reeter

dorokusai wrote:

Whirpool.

We just picked up a Whirlpool front loading wash/dryer...can do 3 times the laundry in half the time:D

ND13

We've got the same series W&D and experience the same issue on occassion. The problem that REALLY pisses me off is when the spin cycle comes to the end and the "brake" engages, a SUPER loud screech happens. It doesn't happen every time, but over half the time. It's loud enough to make you jumkp out of your seat. It's also loudenough to get dogs, that live within a house or two, to start barking. We've had the washer for about 6 years and the dryer for 4. The dryer hasn't had any major problems. One time it was drying slow, but I cleaned out the lint hose and exhaust port outside the house and all was well.

I'll be getting either a Bosch or LG the next time around, even if they cost quite a bit more. I was thinking about the front loading washer for the repalcement.

hoosier21

as God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly.

Frank Z

hoosier21 wrote:

as God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly.

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!
One of the greatest lines ever spoken on TV!!

A close second is "I've got a monkey on my foot!!"

bobman1235

Pablo

Turkeys are smashing into cars like wet bags of cement! Oh the humanity of it all!

I believe Maytag was bought out by sears in the past few years (not positive it was sears, but I know they where bought out), and that's when they went down hill. I have an older maytag (about 9 years), and it still runs great. I recently had a swtich problem (it wouldn't drain), and called in the repair man. He told me the older maytags are worth there weight in gold. And if I'm ever getting rid if it to call him, and he would buy it in a second. He said the new ones (almost all new washers) are pieces of crap. They look nice, have lots of cool features, but never seem to work (he said most of his appliance repair work is new washers with big problems, and the old ones are ussually just $20 switches and timers).

madmax

Whirlpool and Kenmore (made by Whirlpool) are the only ones I'll ever consider. The parts they use today are the same ones they used 20 years ago. These things last a good 15 to 25 years. If you have a 20 year old one you can walk into a Sears service center with a part and chances are someone will hand you a replacement part before you even talk to them. (Speaking mainly of the mid line top load washers and front load dryers).

madmax

heiney9

madmax wrote:

Whirlpool and Kenmore (made by Whirlpool) are the only ones I'll ever consider. The parts they use today are the same ones they used 20 years ago. These things last a good 15 to 25 years. If you have a 20 year old one you can walk into a Sears service center with a part and chances are someone will hand you a replacement part before you even talk to them. (Speaking mainly of the mid line top load washers and front load dryers).

madmax

Yep, I have a pair of 20 year old Kenmore's. The pump went out about 4 years ago and that's the only problem. I bought these used from a friend about 8 years ago and have been very happy with not only the performance but the reliability. (better find some wood to knock on just in case) I have all the books and reciepts and it seems this was the first repair since new.

H9

nadams

We've got a 15 year old Kenmore washer, and a 30 year old Kenmore dryer. Both have had about 2 minor repairs to them... both times were just some minor plastic part that wore out and needed to be replaced. Both have seen a TON of laundry through them (family of 5)

schwarcw

A Kenmore is in my future! I bought the Maytag to replace my old Kenmore that I bought second hand. What a mistake!

Carl

scottnbnj

madmax wrote:

...Sears service center...

sears parts has been bugging me out for quite a few years now. i've always liked the convenience of sears parts and have made many large purchases there through the years, partly, because of that factor. but, their prices have been consistently making me feel like i'm getting gouged.

it took, iirc, four deliveries (wife says five, but i'll give them the benefit of doubt on this one) with the kenmore frig a couple of years ago to get one that didn't have a creased side panel from being dropped. that didn't piss me off nearly as much as a couple dollar not in stock plastic water filter cover that parts wanted something like $40 for the replacement.

i think i'm about ready to make my break with them.

)

madmax

scottnbnj wrote:

i think i'm about ready to make my break with them.

)

Yea, but... Look at the alternative. No place to get the part at all is a big possibility. If you do find it the price will be close, some higher some lower. I do a part time gig selling this stuff and find a LOT of people who have looked everywhere and can't get what they need. They end up at sears parts as a last resort. Of course I always mention "It's a shame you didn't buy a Sears model because then I could get it for you". I normally try to find on the internet for them but that is hit and miss and most of the time you have to go by pics rather than exact part numbers. It's a gamble at best. This goes for pretty much any appliance or lawn equipment.
madmax

scottnbnj

madmax wrote:

Yea, but... Look at the alternative.

i know where you're coming from. but, i'm just tired of being indebted to sears parts for all of the big favors they've done for me through the years.

i've had decent results with local parts suppliers and digging up info about troubleshooting and what i need on the net my last few goes at appliance repair.

)

apc

That's what we're looking at to replace our Maytag Neptune washer. We bought the Maytag based on reputation when it first came out, but it turned out to be a lemon. We applied for compensation via the class action suit and have received nothing. The Neptune is on it's last leg and I'll be @#$% if I'm gonna sink another dime into it for repairs. The F & P has a solid reputation in Europe and Australia, very similar to a front loader in terms of efficiency and a 2 year parts and labor warranty.

Anyone have any experiences with this one before I invest?