48 2011-12-10 22:30 Fixing a Kenmore front-loader that won't spin
tips
Had a problem with a Kenmore 417-44252500 front-loading washing machine (made by Frigidaire apparently). During spin cycle the drain pump was working, but there was no high speed spin.
Google easily found lots of people with the same problem, but ascertaining the solution was a little harder, finding manufacturer's documentation harder still. I spent enough time online over this to be inspired to type it up into the page I
wish I could have found. Maybe it will be of use to someone else.
I managed to track down
JPEGs of the Tech Data Sheet, which I've put in PDF here:
Kenmore 417-44252500 Tech Data Sheet
That
should have been all I needed to track down the solution, but the plot thickens...
Ran diagnostics as directed in the data sheet. Everything worked including fast spin. (Fast spin only worked in diagnostics.) Checked the error code, got E47 which is "Board thinks the door PTC circuit is open during spin, refer to Test (9)." Performed the test, which consists of measuring the resistance of the PTC in the door latch. It was ~1500 Ohms, indicating a defective control board according to the data sheet (an open or shorted circuit would have indicated the door latch switch was defective).
However, after some Googling, I couldn't find
anyone online for whom replacing the control board fixed the problem! I found that with these symptoms (high spin working only in diagnostic mode) it's "almost always" the door latch but supposedly still
could be the (motor) control board (part # 134409900). Yet I found not a
single actual report of it's having been the control board.
So with the Tech Data Sheet clearly saying one thing but no evidence to be found online in support, I remained hesitant until I found
this post (thanks!) where even after passing the 1500 Ohm test, the fix
still involved replacing the door lock assembly.
I got a door latch switch (part # 131763202) that was in stock nearby, and it worked.
By the way, more useful info (found
on youtube) in case "you may know someone in a similar situation, or
you may be in a similar situation and if you're in a situation like that..."
To remove the door latch, you don't even have to move the washer. Use a pair of needle-nose plyers to remove the spring/wire band that holds the door gasket in place, pull a bit of the gasket out of the way near the latch, remove the two screws (save them, they're not included with the replacement part), and unplug the three wiring connectors. Put it back together in reverse order (except no need for the pliers).
And, paraphrased from the tech data sheet:
To check last error code without entering diagnostic mode, turn on the machine by pushing any button, wait 5 seconds, press and hold simultaneously both Start and Pause/Cancel. After a few seconds, last error code will be signalled until buttons are released. Note that signalling of the first digit (by the Lock, Wash, Rinse, and Final Spin LEDs and audible beep) may overlap the signalling of the second digit (by the Start LED).
To enter Diagnostic mode, turn knob to Drain/Spin, then press Pause/Cancel to turn off the LEDs, then within 5 seconds press and hold simultaneously both the Option and Pause/Cancel buttons until the LEDs begin sequentially chasing.
In diagnostic mode, when knob is set to:
...Drain/Spin, LEDs chase sequentially, and pressing a button will light all LEDs in that cluster
…Rinse/Spin, hot water should enter through detergent compartment
…Soak, cold water should enter the bleach compartment
…Wool, cold water should enter the softner compartment
…Sport, door should lock
…Heavy, door should unlock
…Normal, washer should fill and tumble
…PermPress, washer should fill and spin (leak test)
…Quick, door lock, drain pump and high speed spin (
DANGER, door only remains locked in this mode of diagnostics, and may be opened while drum is still spinning after performing this diagnostic!)
…Delicate, last error code will be signalled
46 2011-12-02 12:34 Wake-on-LAN Dell Dimension 8300 PCI Card
tips
I've long been using WOL (Wake-on-LAN) with my Dimension 8300's integrated fast ethernet (100 Mb/s) adapter. I was using BIOS version A01, and WOL worked fine with no special BIOS settings.
Aside: I used to have a gigabit PCI card, but needed the PCI slot for something else and, besides, hadn't upgraded the rest of my network to gigabit and thus had not much use for it (other than when I'd used two NICs at the same time occasionally, for ICS (Internet Connection Sharing) or for configuring network hardware).
Anyway, I've upgraded to gigabit and WOL didn't work with my WOL-capable PCI NIC. It seemed the motherboard was capable, as my switch still showed the NIC connected at 100 Mbps with the computer shut down (though no LEDs lit on the NIC).
Upgrading BIOS to the final version A07 (10/1/2004) didn't fix WOL (although, by the way, it did seem to fix the problem of USB keyboard working in GRUB only from reboot and not from cold startup).
The following, however, worked like a charm. First my notes:
- The DCCU didn't work in Chrome or Firefox. It worked in IE 8 (in compatibility mode, though I think that wasn't necessary).
- I used DCCU_3.1_MR1.exe, Dell Client Configuration Utility, version A003.1.1230, released 4/1/2010, http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/19/DriverDetails/DriverFileFormats?DriverId=R264520 or search Dell for "Dell Client Configuration Utility A00".
- Apparently the author had to use the DCCU to get his on-board NIC to WOL. I didn't need to do this for the on-board NIC WOL, just for PCI WOL. But again, I had been using BIOS A01. It's possible that upgraging to BIOS A07 made me lose on-board NIC's WOL function until I (re-)enabled it using DCCU, but I did not test it.
- I disabled the on-board NIC in BIOS (possible without DCCU). I doubt that this is necessary for PCI WOL, but I have not tested this yet.
from
http://telement.wordpress.com/2010/06/14/dell-dimension-8300-wake-on-lan/
Dell Dimension 8300 wake on LAN
2010 JUNE 14, 15:27 +8
How to allow the Dell 8300 to power up from hibernate and power off mode when receiving a Magic Packet via the network card, in Windows XP Pro SP3.
System
Dell Dimension 8300, BIOS A07 (circa 2003/2004)
on board Intel PRO/100 VE Network Card
*Disclaimer: The following instructions are provided without any warranty. Please do it at your own risk. The writer is merely sharing what worked for him, and your milage may vary.
To allow the 8300 to wake up from a hibernate (S4) or power off (S5) state, check the following:
ENABLE WakeOnLAN IN BIOS SETTING:
- Search for DCCU (Dell Client Configuration Utility) at Dell - http://support.dell.com/ (The DCCU version tested here was 3.1)
- Install and run it in Windows XP, set the following:
WakeupOnLAN 6 = Enabled for all NICs
*Recommended to change this item alone only. Leave the other settings untouched to prevent accidentally messing up your BIOS. This item is DISABLED by default, and it is NOT visible in the 8300 BIOS.
- If you do an Inventory reading (using the DCCU) of your 8300 BIOS, theWakeupOnLANMethod should be 3 (Magic Packet), and is unchangable (Just have a look to confirm).
- After setting the above WakeupOnLAN value 6, create the SETTING executable with the DCCU. Then run it. It will update your BIOS on-the-fly in XP.
- Perform a reboot after this. Go into BIOS.
- Check to ensure in BIOS > Power Management > Low Power Mode is DISABLED. (The BIOS help for this item says if left enabled, it will not power up from hibernate or off). Save BIOS settings and exit.
- Boot into Windows XP.
- In your Network Card Properties, Power Management tab, check Allow this device to bring the computer out of standby. Click OK to close the windows.
- You’re done. Put it into hibernate or shutdown, and the LAN lights should be still on (so will your network router’s indicator lights for the PC).
- Test it using another PC, with Magic Packet tools from http://www.depicus.com (Great Site!)
Extra Titbits
The 8300 have a soft power function. Meaning when in a power off mode (S5), it can be started by software.
Try this little fun exercise:
- Open up Start > Program > Accesories > System Tools > Scheduled Tasks, set it to run theCalculator program, five minutes from your current time.
- In the SETTINGS tab, tick the box marked Wake the computer to run this task.
- Click OK and shutdown your PC.
- Sit back and enjoy seeing your 8300 come alive in 5 minutes, all by itself. Pure magic!