Attention Maytag Neptune Front Loader Owners No Door Lock / No Spin symptom
Posted: Saturday, December 01, 2007
by Jeff Hartman
http://www.neptunewasher.com
If you own a Maytag Neptune front loader washing machine you need to be aware that there is a potential failure waiting to happen. The affected models include the Neptune Stacker 2000, MAH3000, MAH4000 and the MAH5500A models.
There is a small actuator that locks the door before the spin cycle located in the door latch assembly. This actuator is called a wax motor, Maytag part # 12002535 is the redesigned part. It works by heating a ball of wax up which causes the actuator pin to push out and lock the door. It takes around 45 seconds to extend so it is rather slow compared to a typical electromechanical solenoid. The older wax motors have a brown actuator pin while the newer version has a black actuator pin.
The wax motor failure is caused by moisture penetrating the wax motor (older design) over time, which causes the electrical resistance to drop to such a value that the small Q6 triac located on the upper control board overheats and shorts out internally. The triac is essentially an electronic switch that is controlled by a low control voltage, which is provided ultimately by the processor U1. The R11 overheats because the failed Q6 is allowing 120 volts on the triac's center control pin. When this happens, R11 burns and opens up electrically. Sometimes Q6 still looks normal and other times the plastic case ruptures after the failure. However, a burnt R11 is the telltale sign that you have had this failure and the Neptune washer should be left off to prevent further damage to your upper control board.
To inspect your control board you need to do the following:
1. Unplug your Neptune's power cord.
2. Remove three Philips screws along top of washer console.
3. Pull top of control console towards you while pushing bottom of console away from you.
4. Control board is located behind timer assembly on back panel.
5. Inspect the R11 resistor located near the left control board mounting screw.
If your R11 is burnt, you have two options. The first is to repair the control board and the second option is to replace the control board. To repair your control board you will need a 25-watt pencil type soldering iron, solder, diagonal cutters, needle nose pliers, replacement Q6 and R11 components. Whether you repair or replace control board I would not power up machine until the new wax motor is installed or you risk damaging your repaired or new control board again.
If you have not experienced the No-Spin problem consider yourself lucky because you are now aware of the issue and can replace the wax motor before you have a failure. You need to inspect your door lock wax motor and make sure you dont have the older style with the brown actuator pin. Note: If you identify that you have the older brown pin wax motor you need to replace it a.s.a.p. so you don't experience the R11/Q6 failure. I would not use machine until the original wax motor is replaced. Look for a second article from me on how to inspect/replace the wax motor.
There is a small actuator that locks the door before the spin cycle located in the door latch assembly. This actuator is called a wax motor, Maytag part # 12002535 is the redesigned part. It works by heating a ball of wax up which causes the actuator pin to push out and lock the door. It takes around 45 seconds to extend so it is rather slow compared to a typical electromechanical solenoid. The older wax motors have a brown actuator pin while the newer version has a black actuator pin.
To inspect your control board you need to do the following:
1. Unplug your Neptune's power cord.
2. Remove three Philips screws along top of washer console.
3. Pull top of control console towards you while pushing bottom of console away from you.
4. Control board is located behind timer assembly on back panel.
5. Inspect the R11 resistor located near the left control board mounting screw.
If your R11 is burnt, you have two options. The first is to repair the control board and the second option is to replace the control board. To repair your control board you will need a 25-watt pencil type soldering iron, solder, diagonal cutters, needle nose pliers, replacement Q6 and R11 components. Whether you repair or replace control board I would not power up machine until the new wax motor is installed or you risk damaging your repaired or new control board again.
If you have not experienced the No-Spin problem consider yourself lucky because you are now aware of the issue and can replace the wax motor before you have a failure. You need to inspect your door lock wax motor and make sure you dont have the older style with the brown actuator pin. Note: If you identify that you have the older brown pin wax motor you need to replace it a.s.a.p. so you don't experience the R11/Q6 failure. I would not use machine until the original wax motor is replaced. Look for a second article from me on how to inspect/replace the wax motor.
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About Neptunehelp.com
Neptunehelp.com provides online information for Maytag Neptune Owners to help keep their washers running reliably. For more information about your Neptune washer, visit http://www.neptunehelp.com .
Hear the funny Neptune Help Song at www.neptunehelpsong.com which explains the faulty door latch wax motor issue.
About Neptunehelp.com
Neptunehelp.com provides online information for Maytag Neptune Owners to help keep their washers running reliably. For more information about your Neptune washer, visit http://www.neptunehelp.com .
Hear the funny Neptune Help Song at www.neptunehelpsong.com which explains the faulty door latch wax motor issue.
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Top-level comments on this article: (6 total)Very niceThank you! I will be posting more Neptune related articles in the near future... Please check back often. Jeff
My neptune just stopped working this weekend. I noticed the machine would not spin the clothes properly so I ended up with a soaked load of clothes and attributed the problem to the door no longer locking. I am not technically savvy in any way. How much would an appliance tech charge for this type of repair???? just curious - might just scrap the washerHello, If you bother the lonely Maytag repairman it will cost anywhere between $375 - $475 to replace the machine control board and the wax motor. You can do it yourself for much less! See www.neptunewaxmotor.com. If you don't want to do the board repair (soldering) I can get you a new Neptune control board and wax motor for $195 including shipping. The control board and wax motor are not difficult to change. Jeff H.
Worked as you said....Thanks it cost me $220.00 for the board and motor I just couldn't wait for the parts...but your advice was excellent...is there a market for my old board that has the burnt r11?
I replaced the wax motor but the door is now locked permanently (I left the door light activator switch in its original position instead of moving it to far left). How now do I open the door.Turn off machine and unplug. Remove (4) screws under soap dispenser lid and remove soap dispenser lid and bezel. There should be a colored plastic cord in one corner closest to the front. Pull on this cord and it should unlatch the door.Check the wax motor installation . Make sure the white plastic piece is in the slot on the wax motor actuator tip. If it is setting on the 'tapered' section of the tip it will keep the door locked...JeffThanks Jeff. Only problem is the soap dispenser is immovable. I know the cord you are talking about. Can't think of getting to it without ripping the soap dispenser with a jigsaw.
I would have thought deactivating the relay that locks the door would be an easier solution.There are 4 philips screws that hold the soap dispenser lid / bezel in? You can't open the lid and take them out to remove it which will expose the door latch pull cord?Thanks so much for the advice! You saved me TONS of money!
I have replace the wax motor as well as the two for the fabric softener, I have stretched the z coil and still I have issues. Machines washes and rinses with spin (which indicate bearings are fine) but does not spin at the end cycle. The control board does not reveal any damage front or back. Any other suggestions?
I found this washer has a recall on them. what do they do to a recall
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