sheryl Posted May 6, 2013 Share Posted May 6, 2013 Our 8 yo front loading Sears he3 washing maching is not the blitz again. It malfunctioned several years ago and we had it repaired to the tune of $200 - 400. I know that's a big range, but don't remember which one, but I think it was "either" 2 or 4. Now it's not working again and I can't justify spending another 2-4. If this keeps up we'll be paying in repair bills what it would take to buy a new machine. **** The wash cycle fills with water, spins. I'm not sure if it's draining. BUT, it gets down to so many minutes and an F2 error/suds code displays. I press cancel and start to "restart" the cycle and the timer then resets to so many minutes. That's the glitch...it repeats from here on. It NEVER completely drains and completes cycle to 0 minutes. Any ideas? My dh took off pump and cleaned out hose and it's still not working. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmoira Posted May 6, 2013 Share Posted May 6, 2013 Did he clean the pump inlet as well? http://www.fixya.com/support/t1225379-f2_error_code_kenmore_elite_he3_washer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheryl Posted May 6, 2013 Author Share Posted May 6, 2013 nm....I don't know, but will ask. I really appreciate your input. It's a fine machine except for this issue and I just can't see spending money on a new/used one. seeking any/all suggestions! thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparrow Posted May 6, 2013 Share Posted May 6, 2013 We paid Sears $$ to dump our clean-out once, too :(. Ridiculous. Since that time, we had an F2 error again. We knew to check the clean-out on the pump. When we still were having problems, we discovered the impeller was broken. We ordered a new drain pump from Amazon, got it shipped in 2 days with Prime, and dh had it fixed within an hour. It saved us over $200. Here is an informative video on the drain pump clean-out: Here is the drain pump we needed to order: http://www.amazon.co...0?ie=UTF8&psc=1 ETA: ours is an HE2 Plus, so check what part you need here if you need to order a new pump: http://www.searspartsdirect.com/partsdirect/brands/Kenmore-Parts Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheryl Posted May 6, 2013 Author Share Posted May 6, 2013 We paid Sears $$ to dump our clean-out once, too :(. Ridiculous. Since that time, we had an F2 error again. We knew to check the clean-out on the pump. When we still were having problems, we discovered the impeller was broken. We ordered a new drain pump from Amazon, got it shipped in 2 days with Prime, and dh had it fixed within an hour. It saved us over $200. Here is an informative video on the drain pump clean-out: Here is the drain pump we needed to order: http://www.amazon.co...0?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Good luck! Got it - thanks so much for this too! My dh is "somewhat" handymanish and may be able to fix the machine. It will take identifying the problem and determining if he can. I'll show him these replies and hopefully we can manage this ourselves. We were told that front loaders last longer.....20 years or more I thought we were told. And, Sears products are made by whirlpool. ?????????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheryl Posted May 6, 2013 Author Share Posted May 6, 2013 Sparrow, Can you pm me with the link? It doesn't show up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itsheresomewhere Posted May 6, 2013 Share Posted May 6, 2013 Check repairclinic.com for parts if amazon doesn't have them. Appliances are not made to last long at all anymore. I think even for a fridge now the avg life span is 5.5 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparrow Posted May 6, 2013 Share Posted May 6, 2013 Got it - thanks so much for this too! My dh is "somewhat" handymanish and may be able to fix the machine. It will take identifying the problem and determining if he can. I'll show him these replies and hopefully we can manage this ourselves. We were told that front loaders last longer.....20 years or more I thought we were told. And, Sears products are made by whirlpool. ?????????? Yes, they are. Kenmore and Whirlpool are one and the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheryl Posted May 6, 2013 Author Share Posted May 6, 2013 Check repairclinic.com for parts if amazon doesn't have them. Appliances are not made to last long at all anymore. I think even for a fridge now the avg life span is 5.5 years. True, appliances are not made like they used to be. We now have plastic parts for many, etc. But, I did think the front loader was supposed to last longer partly b/c of the design, etc. This irks me. For us, it's ok to pay to have it repaired once, but honestly, to keep repeating this as a "repair" will almost be the price of a new one. IF we continue to repair. More suggestions welcomed. I'm wanting to give as many suggestions to my dh as possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dahliarw Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 That happened with our old kenmore. It was the computer in the machine that had gone out and it was something like $450 to replace it. We got a new machine, a bosch (which they no longer make) and it is fantastic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthwestMom Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 I hate my 8yo Kenmore front loader. I'm never buying Kenmore again! Sorry. I have no helpful ideas, but plenty of sympathy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyStoner Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 This is a straight forward code. Make sure the hose isn't kinked. Clean the filter on the drain pump. Make sure the electrical connections on the pump are working. If you do all that and it's not working, replace the pump. Not hard to do and not all that expensive. This code does not mean the washer needs to be replaced. It's more like needing a new starter on your car, not needing the transmission and the engine replaced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheryl Posted May 7, 2013 Author Share Posted May 7, 2013 Thanks all. Katie, I think he checked in to all of these, but I'm not sure. I'll ask him. If we need to replace I hope it's only the pump and not cpu - yikes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Punks in Ontario Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 We don't have a Sear's machine, but we found the error code book in the service area of the machine and just research the error codes on the internet. We've replaced the wiring harness one time after an expensive repair call. The last time sounds much like your incident. The videos show what you're looking for. We also had to replace the pump motor since the impellor busted. Dh found that when he started taking things apart. We figure it would have cost at least a couple of hundred dollars to have the repairman out, but fixed it with an $85 new motor from amazon of all places. Some of the price difference is because Canadian costs are higher and we ordered the part from the U.S. It's worth the time to start googling. And remind me never, never, never get a Maytag (Inglis) again. What a lemon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaKinVA Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 Yes, they are. Kenmore and Whirlpool are one and the same. I hate to be the bearer of bad news...but only SOME Kenmores are Whirlpool. Some are also made by Samsung, and there was one other company that also made Kenmore...just cannot remember which one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheryl Posted May 7, 2013 Author Share Posted May 7, 2013 We don't have a Sear's machine, but we found the error code book in the service area of the machine and just research the error codes on the internet. We've replaced the wiring harness one time after an expensive repair call. The last time sounds much like your incident. The videos show what you're looking for. We also had to replace the pump motor since the impellor busted. Dh found that when he started taking things apart. We figure it would have cost at least a couple of hundred dollars to have the repairman out, but fixed it with an $85 new motor from amazon of all places. Some of the price difference is because Canadian costs are higher and we ordered the part from the U.S. It's worth the time to start googling. And remind me never, never, never get a Maytag (Inglis) again. What a lemon. Punks, Hi. Yes, we lived in MI and used to jump the border (pre-passport) to visit Canada.....more exp. I used to see Canadians jump the border and shop at our mall b/c it was less expensive. I appreciate your reply. I/we have researched and researched until we're blue in the face. It helps to hear from others what it might be. It's more straight forward than all of the possibilities. What I've noticed is, most of y'all are relating the same issue, so it's those that we're checking into first. I would REALLY like to not be subjected in spending hundreds of dollars again on this machine. We did once or twice already. At some point it won't be worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheryl Posted May 7, 2013 Author Share Posted May 7, 2013 Lisa K, really? I learned something new. I thought Samsung was supposed to be made well. Maybe their focus is on refrigerators. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaKinVA Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 I have two front loaders, the original we purchased 11 years ago. We replaced the pump in year 8...the only problems we've ever had with the washer had to do with the apron(?) getting holes, a clogged hose, and the pump burning out. Our dryer, we had to replace a little temp gauge (I found the instructions -- and video -- on the internet, and my brother did it...$10 part, $400 repair normally...because you have to take the dryer completely apart to replace it), and maintenance. There is a wetness sensor that doesn't seem to work very well...so I always use Time dry on that one...and since I dry nearly everything on low...my dry times are loooong. The early ones had a few more glitches. My new ones (2 years old) don't seem to have any of the issues my original ones did. After our $1500 GE Profile refrigerator died after just 6 years :cursing: , I'm still loving my Kemore HE's... I hope it's an easy fix... :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaKinVA Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 Lisa K, really? I learned something new. I thought Samsung was supposed to be made well. Maybe their focus is on refrigerators. Thanks. It's been a few years...and it does depend upon whether you're looking at a fridge, dishwasher, stove, double convection oven, or washer/dryer :p a quick Google reveals that in the past 10 years, Whirlpool made them, but couldn't keep up with demand, then Samsung was tagged (they made the Candian version), then LG (mine might be LG or Samsung, I don't remember which...) and as of 2011, Electrolux. Different models are made by different manufacturers...I don't believe any of those makes all of the Kenmore options for Laundry. Bosh and Whirlpool make the dishwashers... LG, Frigidare and Whirlpool make the refrigerators... Of course, as I type...the manufacturers making the Kenmore lines may have changed again...lol Lisa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheryl Posted May 7, 2013 Author Share Posted May 7, 2013 It's been a few years...and it does depend upon whether you're looking at a fridge, dishwasher, stove, double convection oven, or washer/dryer :p a quick Google reveals that in the past 10 years, Whirlpool made them, but couldn't keep up with demand, then Samsung was tagged (they made the Candian version), then LG (mine might be LG or Samsung, I don't remember which...) and as of 2011, Electrolux. Different models are made by different manufacturers...I don't believe any of those makes all of the Kenmore options for Laundry. Bosh and Whirlpool make the dishwashers... LG, Frigidare and Whirlpool make the refrigerators... Of course, as I type...the manufacturers making the Kenmore lines may have changed again...lol Lisa LOL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy in TX Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 Just a PSA for anyone with front-loaders from Sears: ALWAYS PUT YOUR SMALL ITEMS (SOCKS & UNDIES) IN MESH BAGS! Small things get trapped in the hose and cause all sorts of random error codes. We've had this happen twice. The first time it happened, the repair bill was $250. The second time, there was an error code that the repairman told me over the phone meant the controller needed to be replaced. My dh opened up the washer, found a pair of my son's underwear stuck somewhere, put the washer back together, and the error code was gone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WishboneDawn Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 Yes, they are. Kenmore and Whirlpool are one and the same. Not always. Whirlpool generally makes the higher end ones but Frigidaire also makes appliances for the Kenmore brand. You can google to find out how to tell, by model number, which is which. We always check so that we don't get stuck with a Frigidaire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoobie Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 Got it - thanks so much for this too! My dh is "somewhat" handymanish and may be able to fix the machine. It will take identifying the problem and determining if he can. I'll show him these replies and hopefully we can manage this ourselves. We were told that front loaders last longer.....20 years or more I thought we were told. And, Sears products are made by whirlpool. ?????????? Sears contracts with different manufacturers for different products, but Kenmore is always another brand under private label. You can google and find out who made your particular model. Appliances just aren't made to last very long now. Sadly, 8 years sounds like a good run for a well-used washer. :( I was able to google the error code on our old dishwasher and replace the control panel with a part from repairclinic as someone mentioned above, and I'm not overly skilled. I hope googling turns up a quick, easy, cheap fix. I probably wouldn't spend over $50 on a gamble to repair an 8 year old washer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmichigan Posted May 7, 2013 Share Posted May 7, 2013 I have the Whirlpool Duet set from ten years ago (they made some of the Kenmore too so I'm not sure which one is yours). The error codes, complete repair manuals, and often even videos are online if your husband is mechanically inclined. We spoke to the local repair guy when we ordered parts for our dryer a few months ago, he said that these are some of the last models of washers and dryers that are easy and cost effective to repair if you can do it yourself, with some of the new dryers if it's not one particular part they are basically a throw away appliance anymore. He recommended hanging on to the ones we have a long as possible because parts, with a few exceptions, are reasonable. I would look up the repair manual and error codes online and see if your DH can repair it himself. I've had an error code a few times lately on my washer so DH has it on the agenda to tear that apart soon, so I can feel your pain, but after our experience repairing the dryer I am hopeful that we will have the same result. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheryl Posted May 7, 2013 Author Share Posted May 7, 2013 OK, thanks for these 2 most recent replies. I'm not a sucker for a sales pitch b/c I used to work in a retail store, but I did think that these styles of front load washers were more efficient and would last longer. Sigh! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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