Appliance Repair Blog

For a few years Whirlpool decided to try using a different style idler pulley (belt tension pulley) on their 29″ wide dryers with the lint filter located on the top of the dryer.  They did this for about 2-3 years, and then they decided to go back to the original idler pulley that they had used for years previously.

This poorly designed idler pulley uses a piece of stamped metal with a plastic/teflon piece attached to it where the belt rides to reduce the friction.  Over time this idler pulley will start to make loud squealing noises or even high pitched whines.  Sometimes the squeak will be louder when the dryer starts, and then go away.  Whirlpool has now gone back to the original design that uses a wheel that fixes this squeaking noise.

Bad Squeaking Idler Pulley

Part to fix the problem.  Part Number PD00002256  (mfg #691366)

For a little bit more you can get a maintenance kit part number PD00002464 (mfg#4392065), that includes the idler pulley, belt, and rear drum rollers.

On Whirlpool built direct drive top load washing machines (also built under the Kenmore, Estate, Roper, Inglis, Kitchen Aid, Maytag, and Amana brand names) the motor is directly connected to the transmission and no belt is used.  When people complain that the washer doesn’t seem to spin out the clothes as well as it used to, it is commonly the transmission leaking grease that causes this problem.  What happens is the seal on the top of the transmission goes bad and leaks grease onto the clutch.  Once the grease gets onto the clutch, the clutch doesn’t have enough friction to spin the tub.  Lighter loads will usually spin out better than bigger heavier loads. Continue Reading – To Find Out If Your Washer Is Leaking Grease…

On Whirlpool Duet and Kenmore Elite HE3 style dryers they will commonly build up with lint inside the blower housing.  The blower housing is underneath where the lint filter on the dryer goes.  To clean out the blower housing you can either stick brush down where the lint filter goes.  Or the better option is to unplug the dryer, remove the lint filter, remove the two screws that hold on the bottom panel of the dryer, and then remove the two-four (depending on the model) screws that hold on the blower housing.  Clean all of the lint out real well and then re-install.

When the blower housing is clogged with lint, the dryer will work less efficiently and clothes will take longer to dry.  Other things a clogged blower housing can cause is blown thermal fuses, heating elements to burn out, and its also a fire hazard.

Parts Dr offers free appliance repair help for most major appliances.  We have expert technicians that can answer most questions about repairing your appliance.  It free to register and use.

We love love helping Do-It-Yourselfers!

Check it out at http://forum.partsdr.com