Maytag washer MVWC400XW3 intermittent no spin

[wnee911]

I have a Maytag clothes washer, MVWC400XW3, that occasionally doesn't go into the spin cycle. Most of the time, it works fine and the cycle completes with the clothes well-spun. But we've had 3 occasions now in which the spin cycle didn't seem to run at all, and the contents of the washer are very wet with water dripping when we pull the items out. It seems to happen when there's a heavier load in the washer. Twice we had a load of towels, and once it was a bedspread. But we've also had occasions when a similar load ran through without any problems. I've removed the drive splutch assembly to inspect it, and it doesn't show any signs of wear. The motor doesn't make any unusual sounds when it's in the spin cycle. The door latches when the machine is running. 

When we discover that a load hasn't been spun, I've been able to turn the dial to the "drain & spin" position, press the Start button, and then the load does spin without any apparent problems. What could be the problem? Does it sound like a shift actuator with an intermittent failure?

[johntech]

Part number: WPW10006355

The shift actuator is the most common culprit for intermittent spin.

I normaly confirm by putting in diagnostic test mode and changing it from agitate to spin several times until it fails to shift. If you tilt the cabinet back and look up inside on the front panel you should see a bag with a service manual. That will have the diagnostic instructions. You will be able to pull error codes and run tests.

[wnee911]

Thanks for the advice. I tried diagnostic test mode but wasn't able to get it to fail and generate the failure code. But the part isn't too expensive and since it's the most common cause of the problem I described, I'm going to try replacing it. 

[darren412]

not sure why you could not get the current error code from the machine as John mentioned. It's possible your not putting the correct sequence in the control for pulling up the current code.   If the speed sensor actuator does not fix your issue ,  I did read that you felt that the washer had been over loaded.  It's possible that you had over loaded the machine causing the pulley at the bottom of the tub to rub against the cover that protects the pulley and belt. What happens is the tub bottoms out on the floor and causes the pulley to cut into the cover thus causing a lagging motion in the spinning of the tub.  That may be causing the speed sensor to trip one of the F7 error codes and the speed sensor actuator is actually ok and not malfunctioning. Maybe that's why it is intermittent and only happening when it's been over loaded. Check to see if there is any   Evidence of friction on the inside of the pulley and belt cover that you may have missed. 

 

 

 

 

 

[wnee911]

Thanks for the additional advice. When I went through test mode, the machine ran normally and it did go into Spin mode for a while. So there was no error code to see since the intermittent failure wasn't happening. The replacement part is on order, and I'll see how it works. 

I noticed a couple weeks ago that there was some rubbing on the belt/pulley cover. I determined that it was because the nut on the large pulley had loosened, and that was causing it to rub on the cover. But I fixed that, and spin failure happened again after running several loads successfully. I rechecked the pulley nut and it hadn't loosened, so I decided the problem must be due to something else. 

 

[johntech]

4 hours ago, wnee911 said:

noticed a couple weeks ago that there was some rubbing on the belt/pulley cover. I determined that it was because the nut on the large pulley had loosened, and that was causing it to rub on the cover.

Make sur you use loctight on the pulley nut to prevent reoccurance.

[wnee911]

On 10/13/2017 at 5:14 AM, johntech said:

Make sur you use loctight on the pulley nut to prevent reoccurance.

Good advice. Will do. Thanks.