Maytag Neptune Washer; Mod# MAH5500BWW; SN 71769287ZM

[danellis]

Samarai san,

Lr error code; odor like rotten eggs (surfuric acid?); don't know how or where to get inside the machine in order to obtain the diagnostic instructions.  

Your help would be most appreciated as to what to do next.  Am I correct to assume that Maytag won't cover any of the expense of repair?

Dan Ellis

302.541.4450 (at beach house)

703.405.2502 (poor reception at beach)

[Samurai Appliance Repair Man]

Hi Dan, I've emailed you the link to the service manual for this washer.  In case it doesn't come through, here it is again.  After consulting the manual, your first order of bidness will be to open the control console, remove the tech sheet and run the diagnostic tests on the motot.  And it does sound like a bad motor/motor control board.

[danellis]

Honoable Samurai,

Have taken "Mini-maual" lout of control panel, gone into Service Mode,  and done the following:

i) Quik service cycle test - in which I'm not sure if rotor turned or not, but at end of test "Lr" was displayed.

ii) Ran diagnostic codes and got "06" display, indicating Locked Rotor. 

Have started to run Diagnostic motor/motor control test.  First, I am supposed to perform a Machine Control Board Output Test by going into Service Mode and accessing Board Output Test by pressing "stain cycle".  This is supposed to send sig. to motor control to operate motor, thus testing the board relay for 120 VAC output to motor control bd. However, motor won't operate because the door is not locked.

Q: am I supposed to meter this output or somehow get motor to run without the door being locked?

Next is the Motor & Motor Control Test. in which step 4 says "Press Help and Back function to activate Service Mode.  I am unable to find buttons for those functions.  The next step is to run the Board Output Test.  I'm going to try going into Service Mode via "heavy soil" and "delicates" and then press "stain cycle" to test for rotor rotation - what do you think?

 

 

 

[Comstock_Services]

As the samurai said it may be a control Issue but better check to be sure. Did it maybe smell like a burnt match head? You can take the 4 screws out that you see with the door open, that will lower the front pannel. 2 on one side through plastic or metal clips, 2 on other side through the hinges of the door to the washer. Then lower the front pannel, and to your right there will be a box or a piece of plastic over a board with wires running to it. unplug the machine and remove the cover look for burned resistors, or relays on this board. If all is well then replace the front pannel, and move to the rear of the machine, remove the 4 screws that hold the cover on the back of the machine run a spin test, and watch to see if the pulleys turn on the back of the machine.

[Scottthewolf]

If the lower motor control board is "burnt toast" you need to install the motor conversion kit, part #12002039,which includes the motor control board, the motor and the wiring harness linking the motor and control board together.

I've installed at least 20 of these kits when I worked for Maytag Factory Service. It's a very common problem on these machines.

 

[danellis]

Thanks for your reply.  Motor Board appears to be fine. I payed special attention to the fuse and 6 heat sinked semiconductors.  Do you know the easiest way to get to the motor windings to check continuity? 

The only odor I've noticed from the machine is one of "rotton eggs". Any idea what would cause that?

Also, I opened the back of machine and was able to turn rotor by hand with no obstruction.  Will try spin test when I get back there (Tuesday morning). 

Additionally, on System Control board I was able to meter "line in" (120 VAC) at P6, but not "line out" at P8.  I think this was because door was not locked, but I'll have to review the schematic to see if that makes sense.

Thanks again,

Dan

[danellis]

Scott,

Please see my reply to "Comstock Services".

Thanks,

Dan

[danellis]

Scott,

I am unable to distinguish which original manual to download (from the list on Xdrive)which corresponds to the MAH5500B bulletin you sent.  The Bulletin refers to service manual 16008373 as the one I should refer back to.  I can't find mention of it in the Xdrive list.  Is it available in your files?

Thanks,

Dan

[Samurai Appliance Repair Man]

Dan, here's the direct link to the service manual for this washer.

[danellis]

Scott,

Thank you for again sending file: Maytag_Neptune_Washer_5500.pdf, which is a supplement to the Basic Service Manual 16008373 ( as indicated on the face of the supplement you sent).. 

I need to get to the motor in order to remove the motor control harness from the motor connector (see Figs 4-8 and 4-9) in order to meter the winding.  The supplement doesn't indicate how to get to the motor in order to do the continuity check. I was hoping the Basic Service Manual  16008373 would be helpful in that regard as well as the possible need for pulling and replacing the motor. 

If the Basic Service Manual 1600873 is not available, I'm hoping someone can just tell me the easiest way to get to the motor for the continuity check.

This apprentice is very thankful for your indulgence and help.

[danellis]

Scott,

Thank you for again sending file: Maytag_Neptune_Washer_5500.pdf, which is a supplement to the Basic Service Manual 16008373 ( as indicated on the face of the supplement you sent).. 

I need to get to the motor in order to remove the motor control harness from the motor connector (see Figs 4-8 and 4-9) in order to meter the winding.  The supplement doesn't indicate how to get to the motor in order to do the continuity check. I was hoping the Basic Service Manual  16008373 would be helpful in that regard as well as the possible need for pulling and replacing the motor. 

If the Basic Service Manual 1600873 is not available, I'm hoping someone can just tell me the easiest way to get to the motor for the continuity check.

This apprentice is very thankful for your indulgence and help.

[Samurai Appliance Repair Man]

I can't remember whether it's easier to get to it from the front or the back panel.  A sequence of disassembly starts on this page and continues for five more.