Woohoo I fixed the dryer

[Bird]

I've finally quit working on those things myself, although I replaced heating elements in dryers, switches in washer, motors in dishwashers, etc. in the past, but now I pay for someone else to do it. Sears just replaced the motor, both fans, and a capacitor in a window unit A/C for me yesterday. I have no idea what that would have cost if I hadn't had a service policy on it, so it didn't cost anything yesterday.

 

[Shift4200]

The last time I had a dryer go out, it was a Maytag Neptune and almost 10 years old. We bought it at Sears and we called their repair service. They had a warranty program going for it which they explained was $200. A service call was $100 + parts so we decided the warranty was the way to go. Good thing, because it was a $400 computer board that went out. Nothing cheap in todays appliances or autos what with all the computer control boards installed.

I did the same exact thing this past Saturday. Maytag Bravo, no heat. Sprung for the 200$ warranty thinking it'd easily be more than that.

Problem ended up being the gas valve unit. Part alone was 250$ and the install required 2 techs, one for the dryer, and one licensed to disconnect the gas line from the dryer before the repair.

Total bill would have been $550 if we hadn't gone with the warranty deal.... to fix a 500$ dryer. Lol.

-J

 

[Pilot]

Not relevant, but I gotta tell this story.

Bought new Maytag washer & dryers plus a refrigerator back in '78. On the spur of the moment when we were looking at the refer we made a low ball offer. They took it! At the next store, we did the same thing for a washer & they took that offer also--and the dryer. Saved enough by bartering that we got the dryer for free. So always barter!

6 months later the Maytag washer quit. Hmmm....It's a Maytag, that shouldn't happen (well, they aren't as good these days). I had done a little work on washers before, but was impressed with the way things came apart easily on the Maytag. Easily found dog and cat hair had jammed a belt at a pulley, cleared that up, had the machine back together in 10 minutes and still have the same washer, hasn't had a problem since.

And we still have the Maytag dishwasher we put in our present house in 1992, no problems. But Maytag isn't what it used to be.

 

[JDgreen227]

As a diehard do-it-yourself guy, I have always encouraged others to at least TRY to make simple repairs yourself. To be honest, when I was doing most of my fixits in my younger days, YouTube did not exist, nor did phone cameras. Being deaf, YouTube does me zero good when it comes to learning anything...but my smartphone camera gets a real workout as I take something apart.

BTW, I have owned a Maytag Neptune washer and dryer since 2002...despite being used 3-4 times a week, they perform flawlessly.

I did have one relative whose Maytag washer comparable to mine failed (tub bearings) but that was because she persisted in using the non-HE detergents. Not a very intelligent woman...she never bothered to read the manual which clearly stated the type of detergent to use. DUHHHH.

 

[robbyr]

When I started the other nite I watched many videos and read several repair sites. The ones in the videos didn't look like mine and I finally found a site that said the back is not designed to come off on mine so had to pretty much take it apart from the front. Was being very cautious and taking my time. Many trips back and forth to the tool shed. I probably spent 3 plus hours on it. Then the next nite put it all back together in 30 minutes or less. It's just the initial trying to figure out how it comes apart.

 

[Bird]

And we still have the Maytag dishwasher we put in our present house in 1992, no problems. But Maytag isn't what it used to be.

We bought a new double wide manufactured home in 1997 that came with a new GE dishwasher. Three years later, it was leaking water in the floor. I figured that would be an easy fix, since I'd fixed a few other brands in the past, especially the old Gaffers & Sattler dishwashers. So I took that nearly 3 year old GE out of the house and out to the shop, saw where the pump was leaking, but couldn't figure out how to separate the pump from the motor. So I called GE. They are not made to be separated, and the pump & motor are only sold as a unit; a little more than $160 at that time. So I decided instead to go buy a new $200 Kenmore, but the day before we were going to get a new one, our two daughters showed up with a new Maytag as a gift. It was still working fine 2 years later when we sold that place.

6 months later the Maytag washer quit. Hmmm....It's a Maytag, that shouldn't happen (well, they aren't as good these days).

We bought new Maytag washer & dryer in 2005 from Sears and kept the service policy for 3 years. The first year the bearing on which the drum turned at the back of the dryer had to be replaced. Second and third year, everything OK. Then a guy from Sears called and said it would be $180 to renew the service agreement and I agreed. But my credit card was charged $205.56. I called and found he forgot to mention some taxes or fees or something, so I told them to just cancel the agreement and issue a refund on the credit card. They did, and three months later the washer died. A Sears technician decided it was the door lock and parts and labor would be about $250, but that didn't fix it, so then he decided it was the circuit board, so parts and labor would be about $725. We had only paid $665 for that washer new. Like you said, Maytag ain't what it used to be. We just bought a new Kenmore washer and dryer, and so far (7 years later) no trouble with either.

 

[JDgreen227]

Bird...sad thing is that most appliances today are s**t. They build them as cheap as possible, and if you have to have one repaired, it costs as much as a new one. I have an '82 GE 19 cubic foot top freezer fridge in my basement, it has been running since new and required nothing but light bulbs. Sure, it's an energy hog BUT ITS RELIABLE. They tout the "energy savings" in todays appliances but as far as reliability goes, anything with a downsized compressor (fridge, chest freezer, etc) will fail in a third of the time the older ones will run.

 

[ultrarunner]

We live in a throw away society... the skill of repair is a fading art.

 

[JDgreen227]

We live in a throw away society... the skill of repair is a fading art.

You CAN repair some things, but the cost of parts is obscene. I had a 4 year old Yard Machines 2-cycle weed trimmer....one of the tabs on the flywheel that engages the pull starter cracked and broke off. A new flywheel costs $48 plus shipping...and I could buy the whole d**n trimmer for $65 new. Why bother to repair it? Throw away society....yes.....and it is really screwed up.

 

[CowboyRon]

Youtube is a godsend for DIY'ers...if a picture is worth a thousand words...a video showing exactly what you need to do on the same appliance etc...is worth a whole lot more than a service call...!

...And look honey...No parts left over..!

Yes YouTube is a great tool. I remember " back in the day" if you wanted to fix something I would have to go to an appliance parts store and tell him my problem. They would tell me what they think is wrong and hopefully sell me the correct part.