GE Washer (WHRE5550K2WW) Replaced Mode Shifter - Stuck in "Spin" Mode

[DJGray]

Original Mode Shifter (a.k.a. clutch assembly) was grinding badly. Replaced it with new OEM part. Worked great for two weeks.

PROBLEM: New Tub Seal that came with new Mode Shifter failed. Water all over inside and out.  Replaced both Seal and Mode Shifter again.

The new seal is holding and the machine appears to be working with one exception.  The Mode Shifter is stuck in "Spin Mode" which means that rather than just the agitator moving back and forth, the entire basket is shifting back and forth and high speeds. The washer is under great strain as this happens.  

SLEUTHING: While the above was happening, I unplugged the power lead from the motor to the Mode Shifter and replugged it. No effect. It seems the signal from the motor to the Mode Shifter telling it to magnetically disengage the basket during agitation is not being sent. 

SUSPICION: Did water get into the motor when the original tub seal failed? Seems unlikely, but it could have.

 

[Vance R]

44 minutes ago, DJGray said:

Did water get into the motor when the original tub seal failed?

Probably no water getting to the motor, but the coil in the mode shifter did get wet.  Check for blinking led on motor circuit board.

[DJGray]

Thanks Vance, I'll look, but this mode shifter is new. The vendor replaced both when the original seal failed for that very reason (water running down the shaft into the mode shifter). 

So, you're saying there may be a blinking LED on the PC board that sits on top of the motor?

[DJGray]

Vance!!  You nailed it!!  There is indeed a green LED atop the circuit board that sits above the motor.  While filling the tub, it flashes four times, pauses, flashes four times, etc. 

What is this signal telling me?

[Vance R]

Let me restate - your seal leaked and got the mode shifter wet. The mode shifter has a coil that got soaked with water. That coil is attached to the circuit board on the motor. As you probably already know water and electricity don't mix.

26 minutes ago, DJGray said:

What is this signal telling me?

4 blinks is mode shifter circuit failed. Tech sheet doesn't give a resistance value for the mode shifter coil - remember it is around 100 to 200 ohms. Ohm out the coil on the mode shifter - if the coil ohms good then the board is most likely bad. The board is part of the motor assembly.

[DJGray]

Thank you, my friend. I'm on it. 

 

[DJGray]

I apologize for continuing to ask questions. I cannot get my multi-meter to register anything on either of the two new mode shifters. It defaults to "1" on power up and worked fine when I tested it on a car speaker (registered 7.6 ohms). When I test both mode shifters it just stays on 1. 

What level of current can I feed the mode shifter to activate that coil and see it retract the gear?  I really don't want to drop $300 on a new motor if that's not the problem.

One other note (that indicates the circuit board is the problem)  -  when I plug the washer in, and do NOT have the mode shifter connected, I still get the four-flash pattern on the LED.  That seems to indicate the motor is diagnosing a problem on its own board.

 

[Vance R]

Just make sure your meter is on auto ranging or at least the 2,000 (2k) scale. Google the coil resistance and it should be 98 ohms. Manual lib has this manual:https://www.manualslib.com/manual/761921/Ge-Wccb1030hwc.html?page=29

Being to look like you need mode shifter and motor.

[DJGray]

Thank you Vance.  That reply is a gold mine.