Having the right technical document with you on a service call and knowing how to use it are the two key ingredients to getting an appliance properly diagnosed and repaired.
Does that mean that you should try to find a mobile device that is already pre-loaded with appliance repair technical documents? There are several downsides to this approach, including the fact that you don't know how current or relevant the pre-loaded docs are.
Instead, you can easily create your own information arsenal using a tablet of your choice and the powerful resource we describe in this video. It's easy, cost-efficient, and effective.
This video has a lot of helpful details, but if you want a quick written tutorial instead, try this Blog post!
If you have a Kindle Fire, you can follow the procedures shown in the video to download your documents at your desktop computer, then use this application to send the document easily to your Kindle.
Just got back from an excellent United Servicers Association (USA) regional training session (RSTI) in Boston, MA. If you’re not taking advantage of the RSTI near you, you might as well give yourself a lobotomy. Whirlpool Corporation was one of the manufacturers participating in the training conference. Dave Shertzer, from Whirlpool Corporation, was the instructor and presented a first-class training session on the new Whirlpool Alpha platform steam dryers and front-load washers.
If you can’t make it to the RSTI near you, you can benefit from my personal training notes from Dave’s session in Boston. Just download the PDF, copy and paste the password from the September 2014 USA e-newsletter (also at the USA blog) and you'll be able to read my training notes just like you were there!
In this journey into Total Appliance Enlightenment, Samurai Appliance Repair Man shows you how to troubleshoot a problem with a newer Whirlpool front load, direct drive washer (one of the new Alpha2 platform washers) that acts like it wants to start but won't. This one had a couple of curve balls:
It wouldn't even run any tests in diagnostic mode because the CCU (central control unit-- main microprocessor control board) won't run those tests if it thinks the door is open. So although I could enter diagnostic mode, I couldn't get the machine to to anything.
There were no error codes either in normal standby mode or in diagnostic mode.
The problem was intermittent (which I didn't show in the video for the sake of brevity and clarity). On the first trip out there for the same complaint (no start) I pulled the DCS3 connector off the CCU and tested the door switch and it tested fine. How did I know to do that? I explain that in the video. Anyway, the washer ran fine upon reconnecting the DCS3 harness. I figured it was a bad wire harness connection so I tightened up the tines in the harness connector, double checked proper operation and left. A week later, I got a call back for the same problem, no start.
Watch with shock and awe as I ruthlessly hunt down the miscreant part and guide you through the troubleshooting process both on the machine itself and on the schematic diagram, demonstrating killa troubleshooting techniques that every tech should know.
Okay, that's the solution to one scenario that could be preventing the washer motor from running. But what if you check that door switch and it's good? What else could be the problem? Excellent question, my fine, young apprentice! Let's look at that:
Building top-notch troubleshooting skills, reading schematics, and understanding the technology used in today's appliances are core teaching points in the Academy course, Fundamentals of Appliance Repair. All graduates of the Fundamentals course are well-versed in these skills.
And here's the Tech Bundle Care Package for these new Whirlpool Alpha2 front load washers that I promised you in the video. You'll need to register here at the Academy if you are one of the remaining few who haven't already (it's free!) and be logged in to download it.
