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I have a Sears Kenmore Elite HE3 front loading washer that we got in May, 2003. The last few nights, the washer has stopped working while making a strange sound (sounds like it's trying to vacuum out the water) during the rinse cycle. After turning it off & letting it rest overnight, it works again, and completes the cycle. I suspect there is a drainage problem -- we have a dog & I have noticed dog hairs remaining in the tumbler after washing her towels. Occasionally, there is some remaining water in the tumbler as well. How can we check & fix this?

Submitted: 799 days and 23 hours ago.

Category: Home Improvement

Value: $30

Status: CLOSED

Posted by Suzanne 799 days and 17 hours ago.

Info Request

It sounds like we need to get into this unit. I need to know how handy you are please.

799 days and 16 hours ago.

Reply

Thank you for your response.
I'm not sure how to answer. There was a time about 25 years ago when I learned how to tune my car and change the oil. My boyfriend, Jim, has taken apart machinery & put it back together again (and it works). How involved do you think it may be?

Posted by Suzanne 799 days and 16 hours ago.

Info Request

Well I would say on a scale of 1-10 a 5 to 6. It's not hard but moderately complicated. Multi piece kid toy or put together furniture desk with filing cabinet hard. It sounds like he may be able to do this - it only has a swearing factor of 4!

799 days and 16 hours ago.

Reply

OK. Jim says he thinks he should be able to do it -- & I would be confident about a kid toy myself. Also, I have the Repair Parts List & it has blow-up pictures of the machine.

Accepted Answer

Excellent! Lets snap on the gloves and get to it!
Unplug the washer.
Remove the 3 lower panel screws at the base of the machine.
The pump is in the center.
Put down towels there will be water.
To remove the pump assembly, begin by opening the small door covering the wiring harness connector and disconnect the wiring harness from the pump motor terminals. Remove the screw securing the pump assembly th the washer frame in front of the pump. Once it is free you can remove the drain hose and tub outlet hose from the pump. The front of the pump is a knob turn it counterclockwise and pull. This is the large items filter, I am guessing you will find a small dog in here. Clean it out rinse it and reinstall. So far this repair is easy? Now you have to reverse the entire operation and much like Ginger Rogers do it backwards in heels. It is always harder to reverse it. After it is all back together plug it back in and try running the machine with no clothing for 2 full cycles to flush out any residual fur. You may wish to leave the kick panel off so you can clean out the filter with the pump in place (don't forget more towels).
Let me know how it goes! I have my pom poms out and will cheer from Ohio!

Accepts:
Expert:	Suzanne
Pos. Feedback:	100.0 %
Answered:	9/14/2007

Owner/ Appliance Technician

14 yrs in home experience - Appliance Service Field Technician

799 days and 15 hours ago.

Reply

Relist: I still need help.
(Jim has gone out, so I'm on my own for a while...) Hope this isn't too stupid...
The panel that I need to remove -- is this the small panel in the front (under the door?) or is it the entire panel from the rear. The parts book has the screws as tapping screws - will I need new screws to put it back together?
Thank you.

Accepted Answer

Panel in the front under the door. The screws are at the very bottom edge by the floor.

Accepts:
Expert:	Suzanne
Pos. Feedback:	100.0 %
Answered:	9/14/2007

Owner/ Appliance Technician

14 yrs in home experience - Appliance Service Field Technician

799 days and 15 hours ago.

Reply

OK! The panel's off... here I go! (The screws needed the funny star-like screwdriver...) Thank you!

799 days and 14 hours ago.

Reply

I'm back...
I'm trying to remove the wiring harness (has about 6 little black wires attached to it) from the pump motor -- is there a trick? It is not coming off very easily and I'm afraid I might break it. Do I have to remove the little orange wire connections as well - does that have a trick?

Posted by Suzanne 799 days and 8 hours ago.

Answer

The harness will come off of the pump terminals directly. There may be a pressure clip you press while wiggling. If you cannot remove it do not worry you can use the clean out from this point of the repair you will just have to leave the pump body attached to the wires.

799 days ago.

Reply

It's Saturday morning now -- I did manage to get the pump off & I cleaned out the filter -- unfortunately, there really wasn't much to clean out -- a small piece of cellophane paper and 1 (or 2) little beads (from one of my daughters?). I actually put the whole thing back together -- getting the hoses on was the most difficult -- and ran the machine again. The pump was making some noises but after a couple of stops & starts it did finish the cycle. I have ordered another pump and will put it in later today (can pick it up locally!). I'm thinking one of the little beads was caught up in the pump and may have caused it to malfunction. Thank you for you help, I would not have attempted this except for your guidance -- I feel SO EMPOWERED - we've just never had much luck with the appliance repair people here. As I write, I have still not received any call back from the one I left a message on yesterday. Thank you again.
Jean

Accepted Answer

I am so glad I could help! If you need more assistance please feel free to ask.

Accepts:
Expert:	Suzanne
Pos. Feedback:	100.0 %
Answered:	9/15/2007

Owner/ Appliance Technician

14 yrs in home experience - Appliance Service Field Technician

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Question

Info Request

It sounds like we need to get into this unit. I need to know how handy you are please.

Reply

Thank you for your response. I'm not sure how to answer. There was a time about 25 years ago when I learned how to tune my car and change the oil. My boyfriend, Jim, has taken apart machinery & put it back together again (and it works). How involved do you think it may be?

Info Request

Well I would say on a scale of 1-10 a 5 to 6. It's not hard but moderately complicated. Multi piece kid toy or put together furniture desk with filing cabinet hard. It sounds like he may be able to do this - it only has a swearing factor of 4!

Reply

OK. Jim says he thinks he should be able to do it -- & I would be confident about a kid toy myself. Also, I have the Repair Parts List & it has blow-up pictures of the machine.

Accepted Answer

Reply

Accepted Answer

Panel in the front under the door. The screws are at the very bottom edge by the floor.

Reply

OK! The panel's off... here I go! (The screws needed the funny star-like screwdriver...) Thank you!

Reply

I'm back... I'm trying to remove the wiring harness (has about 6 little black wires attached to it) from the pump motor -- is there a trick? It is not coming off very easily and I'm afraid I might break it. Do I have to remove the little orange wire connections as well - does that have a trick?

Answer

The harness will come off of the pump terminals directly. There may be a pressure clip you press while wiggling. If you cannot remove it do not worry you can use the clean out from this point of the repair you will just have to leave the pump body attached to the wires.

Reply

Accepted Answer

I am so glad I could help! If you need more assistance please feel free to ask.

Related Home Improvement Questions

Thank you for your response.
I'm not sure how to answer. There was a time about 25 years ago when I learned how to tune my car and change the oil. My boyfriend, Jim, has taken apart machinery & put it back together again (and it works). How involved do you think it may be?

I'm back...
I'm trying to remove the wiring harness (has about 6 little black wires attached to it) from the pump motor -- is there a trick? It is not coming off very easily and I'm afraid I might break it. Do I have to remove the little orange wire connections as well - does that have a trick?