10 replies to this topic

[reelynyceguy]

I'm embarassed to tell you this, but maybe it'll serve as a head's up to someone else.
Customer bought a brand new Kenmore in-wall A/C. Big and heavy, he had it mounted in a pre-existing case at floor level, plugged into an outlet beneath it. The symptom was when turned on, the blower would start, but as soon as the compressor tried to start the display would flash "8's", then shut down. This pattern would keep repeating itself. He had new trim installed around the A/C , so I couldn't remove the unit from the wall without first removing the trim. He proceeds to holler and yell how expensive the trim was. Was I going to pay to have it removed? On and on. Yell and yell. I told him to remove it and I'd return.
I come back that night and he's like old friends. 'Course he has company standing around to impress. Even had the unit resting on a blanket on the floor. I tear into it. After an hour of head-scratching and trying to make sense of weird voltages to the compressor, I figure it must be a bad control board. Ordered up said board. Another tech arrives few days later to install board. Same symptoms. He calls a Tech support line who advised him to order display board. I return few days later, installed display board. Still flashing 8's.
I take another voltage reading at the compressor and THIS time find 120v to EACH of the compressor contacts. A light slowly begins to dawn.
I check his house recept and find 220 Volts wired to a 120volt outlet!
When I informed the guy why his A/C, a 120v unit wouldn't run on twice the voltage, HE LOOKED AT ME LIKE I HAD TWO HEADS AND TOLD ME IT'S OUR FAULT WE NEVER TOLD HIM HE HAD A 120V UNIT AFTER FIRST TELLING ME HE DIDN'T KNOW THERE WAS 220V AT THAT PLUG!

From now on, I NEVER assume the customer knows the first thing about hooking up an appliance, but check voltage and polarity right off the bat.

By the way, the customer refused to pay for any of the parts and labor.

[jumptrout]

Good story.
BUT, Remember rule #1 of appliance repair: VERIFY VOLTAGE FIRST.

[Samurai Appliance Repair Man]

Brethren, let us open our Appliantology Hymnals to the page 101, The Prophecy, wherein it is written, "Never, ever trust customer diagnostics." You have to start troubleshooting from square one and it begins with verifying a valid power supply before going inside the box, as Brother jumptrout mentioned.

Can I hear an, "Amen?"

[SANTA]

Amen brother Ben!. I think we've all been in that spot before. Happened to me a few years ago on a dishwasher getting 240 volts. More voltage doesn't mean better cleaning power.

[Budget Appliance Repair]

It doesn't? I thought more of anything was better!!!!!!

[SANTA]

That only pertains to sex and booze.

[Scottthewolf]

And coffee!

[Nick@AegisAppliance]

AMEN! Hahaha! Oh, I've been there before, one of the few instances where the first time was the charm!

[RegUS_PatOff]

Fool me once, shame on you.
Fool me 237 times, shame on me.

[megadan66]

Anymore I tell customers who argue with me. To find another Tech. And I hang up or walk out. Stupid peoples money just isnt worth the headaches they cause me anymore.

[Chat_in_FL]

Remember rule #1 of appliance repair: VERIFY VOLTAGE FIRST.

Open neutrals get me once in awhile, takes me a minute to figure out why I have power when I measure voltage to ground (as I forget to verify the neutral)...