An Inside Look at the Whirlpool Vertical Modular Washer (VMW) By Scott M. Brown, Samurai Appliance Repair Man,

Transcription

1 An Inside Look at the Whirlpool Vertical Modular Washer (VMW) By Scott M. Brown, Samurai Appliance Repair Man, I'm getting my notes and photos together from an excellent United Servicers Association regional training in Albany, NY. If you're not taking advantage of the regional training, you're short-changing yourself! The training opportunities are one of the biggest reasons I'm a USA member and the upcoming ASTI in San Antonio is an event not to be missed. Anyway, Whirlpool Corporation was one of the manufacturers participating in the training conference. Dave Shertzer, from Whirlpool, was the instructor and held a great training session on the Whirlpool VM washer. This is a very easy machine to work on; tears down in about 10 minutes, 15 minutes if you're one-armed, one-legged, or one-eyed. What I'm going to do here is give you a look inside the machine from the tear down we did in class and pass along some training tips from the class and other seasoned veterans of hand-to-appliance combat with this beast. Figure 1: You're gonna want a set of these Pomona test leads to facilitate electrical measurements on those teeny-tiny wire harnesses. Get 'em from your local Radio Shack. They are a must! Here's why: The mode shifter motor and pump motor will appear to have voltage present there at all times if voltage tests are not done under load. This is because the supply voltage is controlled by triacs on the board (including stand-by mode) and if there's no load present, the triacs shut down power to that circuit and you'll read either no voltage or junk voltage. Then you'll think you have a bad board when you really don't. YOU MUST HAVE WIRES ON for any voltage test to be valid. You can not get into the pump molex connector with normal leads with the connector on-- shifter yes, pump no. I have heard of multiple call backs on techs pulling wires off and getting fooled. Figure 2: Inside the control panel of the VM washer. This panel comes apart differently from other washers. Two clips in front, either end. You can press in with a putty knife or credit card while pushing back on the panel. Special Trick : you can also undo them by reaching underneath the top panel.

2 Figure 3: Looking into the tub with the top panel removed. Kind of a funky z-maneuver to get the top panel off. You have to remove the hinge screws in back and then do the z-maneuver to lift off the top panel. Figure 4: Looking at the drive guts underneath the washer, laying on its front panel. The only two ways you'll be working on this machine: through the top or the bottom, as shown here. DO NOT REMOVE THE BACK PANEL!

3 Figure 5: Belt cage and belt removed, showing motor and main yellow drive pulley. Figure 6: Main yellow drive pulley removed. Seeing part of the splutch assembly. Figure 7: With splutch removed.

4 Figure 8: Splutch assembly. Figure 9: Mode shifter motor. Shifts the splutch between spin and agitate modes. This has been a common fail item so far in this machine. Very easy to replace. Some other tips: Calibration and Diagnostic Mode: DON'T FORGET TO RUN THE CALIBRATION CYCLE AFTER CHANGING MOST PARTS. Mostly control, basket, gearcase, etc. The procedure is in the tech sheet which is in a pouch behind the front panel, left hand side. You can download and watch a video that shows how to put the washer into diagnostic mode here ==> (35 MB,.mov file)

5 You can download a copy of the service manual/job Aid for this washer here ==> 20modular%20washer%20%28VMW%29%20training%20manual%20W pdf Most Common Failures to Date: Mode shifter (now truck stock for me) Lid switch (truck stock) Splutch (truck stock) Control (not truck stock for me) and most common issue is... drum roll, please... LOOSE WIRES!! It's crazy how often I hear about and find loose wires to the control or motor assembly. Don't forget to check this out when you're troubleshooting a problem with this machine. For more help from your Brethren in The Craft, come see us in the Appliantology Academy at me, samurai at appliantology dot org, and let me know you read this article and that you're a USA member and I'll give you a complimentary upgrade to Master Appliantologist which gives you access to service manual downloads, tech-only forums, and lots of other goodies. Happy Fixing! Scott Brown Samurai Appliance Repair Man