How to Remove Whirlpool Washer Cabinets, Maytag Recalls 1.6 Million Refrigerators

The DRSNews
March 2009

Happy Spring to you! (I am SO ready for Spring this year!)

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In this issue:

1) How to Remove the Cabinet From Whirlpool-built Top-load Washers
2) On the Lighter Side
3) Maytag Recalls Some 1.6 Million Refrigerators Due to Fire Hazard

1) I get asked about this a lot, so I thought it'd be worth going over the procedure.

To remove the cabinet from Whirlpool - built direct drive top-load washers for service:
(Whirlpool, Roper, Kitchenaid, Estate, Inglis, most Kenmore, and most newer Maytags)

Note: While some service procedures on these machines can be performed from underneath the washer without taking the cabinet off, it's almost always much, much easier to just pull the cabinet. You'll be pleasantly surprised by just how easily these cabinets come off, and once it's removed and out of the way, servicing one of these washers is a breeze!

Unplug the washer. Remove the 2 Phillips screws that retain the console. (On some machines, these are hidden under console end caps that must be pried off. On newer models, they’re on the back of the console, and don't have to be removed all the way, just backed out about halfway).

Rotate the console fwd to unhook it from the cabinet top, then up and back; it will hang back out of the way if the washer’s away from the wall far enough.

Unplug the lid switch plug, then use a large screwdriver to pry up the 2 large clips that hold the cabinet to the washer back panel.

Tilt the entire cabinet forward and it’ll unhook from the retainers on the base. Lift the cabinet off and set aside (it's not nearly as heavy as it sounds - or looks!)

To put the cabinet back on, open the cabinet lid, and, looking down through the lid opening, hook the cabinet front under the washer base while keeping the cabinet tilted slightly forward.

Rest your foot at the cabinet bottom to hold it in place, and tip it back down onto the base. Snap the 2 big cabinet clips back into place, and look down the back corners to ensure there are no gaps between the cabinet and back panel where they meet at the bottom. If one side’s gapped, it means the rear, bottom retainer on that side isn’t hooked. Pop the clip on that side, tilt forward slightly, and push the side down into place. Then reinstall the clip.

Plug the lid switch back in, rotate the console back down, reinstall its retaining screws, plug the machine back in, and pat yourself on the back! That's all there is to it!

2) From the 'I need to laugh more for the next 4 years' dept, here's one of the better ones I've heard lately:

Young Ben, in Montana, bought a horse from a farmer for $100. The farmer agreed to deliver the horse the next day. The next day the farmer drove up and said, 'Sorry son, but I have some bad news... the horse died.' Ben replied, 'Well, then just give me my money back.'

The farmer said, 'Can't do that. I went and spent it already.' Ben said, 'Ok, then, just bring me the dead horse.'

The farmer asked, 'What ya gonna do with him?' Ben said, 'I'm going to raffle him off.'

The farmer said, 'You can't raffle off a dead horse!' Ben said, 'Sure I can, Watch me. I just won't tell anybody he's dead.'

A month later, the farmer met up with Ben and asked, 'What happened with that dead horse?'
Ben said, 'I raffled him off. I sold 500 tickets at two dollars apiece and made a profit of $998.'

The farmer said, 'Didn't anyone complain?' Ben said, 'Just the guy who won. So I gave him his two dollars back.'

Ben grew up and now works for the government. He's the one who figured out how these 'bail-outs' are going to work. ;-)

3) Maytag Corp. is recalling 1.6 million refrigerators due to a possible fire hazard, after receiving dozens of reports from consumers saying that the appliance ignited causing damages to their homes, according to a press release issued by the company and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The recall is for certain side by side and top freezer refrigerators made under the Maytag®, Jenn-Air®, Amana®, Admiral®, Magic Chef®, Performa by Maytag® and Crosley® names. Refrigerators with freezers on the bottom are not included in the recall.

Check your refrigerator's serial and model number to see if it is included in the recall. The printed label with these numbers is located on the top middle or left upper side of the refrigerator liner and has the following model and serial number combinations:

	Serial Numbers ENDING with	AND Model Numbers BEGINNING
Side by Side Refrigerators	AA, AC, AE, AG, AJ, AL, AN, AP, AR, AT, AV, AX, CA, CC, CE, CG, CJ, CL, ZB, ZD, ZF, ZH, ZK, ZM, ZQ, ZS, ZU, ZW, ZY, ZZ	ARS, CS, JC, JS, MS, MZ, PS
Top Freezer Refrigerators	AA, AC, AE, AG, AJ, AL, AN, AP, AR, AT, AV, AX, ZK, ZM, ZQ, ZS, ZU, ZW, ZY, ZZ	AT, CT, MT, PT

The refrigerators were sold at department and appliance stores and by homebuilders nationwide from January 2001 through January 2004 for amounts ranging from $350 and $1600.

The problem with the refrigerators is caused by the relay - the component that starts the refrigerator's compressor - which can cause overheating and pose a serious fire hazard.

Consumers should immediately contact Maytag to determine if their refrigerator is included in the recall and to schedule a free in-home repair. Customers should not return the refrigerator to the store where it was purchased. Customers can call Maytag at (866) 533-9817, or visit www.repair.maytag.com for more information about model numbers and serial numbers of the recalled refrigerators.

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Hey, swing by and check out my new Appliance Terms Glossary Project if you haven't yet - it's still a work in progress, and the full downloadable pdf version's almost ready. Here's what I have so far: Glossary

PS - I'm thinking about renaming it the ''Illustrated Appliance Dictionary'', as some of you have suggested. What do you think?

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Thanks again for allowing me into your inbox! I don't take the privilege lightly, and needless to say, never share your name or email with anyone, for any reason.

May God richly bless you and yours in 2009,

Dave Harnish
Dave's Repair Service
www.DavesRepair.com
New Albany, PA

Amos 4:13

"The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money."
- Margaret Thatcher

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