Many homeowners find it frustrating to have a loud KitchenAid washer. The noise is not only an inconvenience to your everyday routine, but it can also signal a larger issue in the KitchenAid appliance. There are simple ways to get your KitchenAid washer to run again. In this post we’ll look at the main causes of an unsettling KitchenAid washing machine and offer easy-to-follow suggestions and tips for resolving the issue. If you’re experiencing an ear-splitting, slamming or rattling sounds, we’ve got the solution for you. So, let’s get started!
Pump & Motor
The drain pump in a KitchenAid washing machine is designed to push water from the tub during and after the spin cycle. It can be motor driven or belt driven, or even an electric motor. If your KitchenAid washing machines produce the sound of a boom during or after spin cycles this could mean that the drain pump isn’t functioning properly. How to inspect and replace the pump’s motor of theKitchenAid washing-machine:
- To identify the pump, unplug the KitchenAid washer, then take it out of the cabinet or front panel. Plug your washer back in and run it through a cycle to ensure that it is the pump that is the cause of the sound. Be careful as you’re now exposed to moving components as well as electrical circuits.
- If you are able to confirm that the noise is coming from the pump, take out the inlet hose to the pump.
- Check the impeller on the pump for any signs of foreign matter that could be the cause of the noise or for damage to the impeller. To make sure that the impeller isn’t damaged or worn out, also try to manually turn it. Get rid of any foreign objects from the pump.
- If you spot any indications of wear or damage, or if your impeller appears to be damaged, you’ll require to get a replacement pump motor. KitchenAid washers with front loading typically employ a self-contained electronic drain pump. The motor might be worn or damaged and will require an entire KitchenAid replacement pump.
Drive Belt
The drive belt connects the drive motor with the transmission in the top load KitchenAid washers and the drive motor to the wash basket in most front load KitchenAid washers. The drive belt is used to connect the drive motor to the transmission in some top load KitchenAid washers as well as the drive motor to the basket of wash in all front load washers from KitchenAid. The drive belt can be or be a single V-shaped belt or a multi-rib belt and is normally comprised of rubber but could have a cover made of fabric. The belt drive for front load washers by KitchenAid is generally an ribbed multi-rib belt. It is made to fit tight. On belt driven top load KitchenAid washers, the drive belt is typically an X-shaped belt that has the cover of a fabric that allows for some slippage , or it might be a covered rubber belt fitted with an idler pulley as well as a device for tensioning to lessen the amount of friction when the motor starts up. How do you tell if yourKitchenAid washing machines drive belt is wearing?
- Disconnect your KitchenAid washer from its power source, and then take off the access panel or cabinet.
- Find your drive belt. it is connected to the drive motor on the other end. Once you’ve found it, you can remove the clamps that secure the belt in position and take it out in order to inspect it.
- Examine the drive belt for any signs of fraying, burning, wear, or any other damages.
- You will need a replacement KitchenAid drive belt in the event that you experience any of the following symptoms.
Direct Drive Motor Coupling
Some top load washers from KitchenAid use direct drive motor coupling to transfer power from the motor into the transmission. The drive coupling joins the motor to the transmission. It consists of two drive forks made of plastic and a rubber coupling between them. One drive fork is connected to the shaft of the drive motor and the other is attached to the transmission input shaft. As the shaft turns the rubber coupling between the drive forks absorbs pressure to prevent the forks from breaking. The coupling will wear out over time. The drive forks may slip, eventually causing a vibration. The coupling might fail if the transmission becomes stuck , or the spin basket is not able to move freely. This can cause the sound to vibrate. How to check the direct drive motor coupling of a KitchenAid washer’s direct drive motor coupling:
- Unplug the KitchenAid washing machine.
- To locate the motor coupling on your KitchenAid washer, you need to open the cabinet. It is dependent on the model you have you might need remove the drain pump or motor to access the motor coupling.
- Examine the motor coupling for any signs of cracking wear or damage. You will need a replacement KitchenAid direct drive motor coupling if you see any of these.
Shock absorbers
All front-load KitchenAid washing machines have shock absorbers which are used to reduce the movement of the tub in the spin cycle. To gain access to the shock absorbers or struts you’ll need to take off either the front or rear panels. The KitchenAid washing machine may make loud noises when it spins if the shock absorbers become weaker or damaged. This can cause damage to other components. How to examine the shock absorbers in the KitchenAid washing machine:
- Connect the KitchenAid appliance form the source of power.
- Take off the rear or front panel, based on your model, in order to locate the shock absorbers.
- Check the shocks for damaged attachments, leaky fluids, or weak dampening.
- If any of your shocks show any of the above signs, you will need KitchenAid replacement shock absorbers. You should replace both shocks at the same time even if only one shows the signs mentioned above since they wear at approximately the same rate.
Tub Dampening Strategies
Top-load KitchenAid washers can make use of tub dampening straps order to help cushion the tub’s motion throughout spin cycles. The tub’s top and every corner of the cabinet is secured by four straps. These straps are made of rubber and can fail with normal usage. If the straps get stretched or damaged and the tub is damaged, it can touch the cabinet during rotation and produce loud banging sounds. The straps can become stressed when they are subject to a lot of pressure. How to inspect the tub dampening strap of the KitchenAid washer:
- Open the cabinet of the washer once you have disconnected your KitchenAid appliance’s power supply.
- Locate your tub dampening straps. There are four connected to the tub and on the corner of the cabinet.
- The straps should be inspected for fraying, wear, or damage.
- If any of the straps exhibit the above indications then you’ll require four KitchenAid replacement tub dampening straps. It is recommended that you change all four straps at the same time because they wear at approximately the same rate.
Drive motor
The main drive motor that is found on top load KitchenAid washer used to drive the transmission that spins the wash basket and , on some KitchenAid washers, to control the pump, too. For front-load KitchenAid washers the drive motor runs via a belt, which is then driven by the pulley of the wash basket. The most frequent indication of a damaged drive motor is a humming or buzzing sound once it begins to. Sometimes, this may be accompanied with a distinct burning smell. The drive motor is equipped with a thermal overload that will remove power from the windings if it detects this overcurrent condition, and the motor will stop. The motor’s drive motor may have failed or the motor could be defective. What you can do to check the motor in a KitchenAid washing machine drive motor with the aid of a multi-meter
- Unplug your appliance prior to starting it since you’ll be handling electrical components.
- Locate the motor that drives it by taking the cabinet from the KitchenAid washer. When you find it, you must disconnect all wires and take it out from the washer to test it.
- Your multimeter should be set to Rx1 and the probes on the terminals will test for continuity. You should receive a reading of zero or close to zero.
- To test for ground connection With one probe connected to a terminal, connect the other probe to the aluminum housing that houses the motor. You shouldn’t get any result from this test.
- If your test results are different from those described above, you need an KitchenAid replacement drive motor.
Drive Motor Pulley & Pump Pulley and Transmission pulley
On belt-driven KitchenAid washers the motor pulley will support both the drive belt and occasionally the pump belt. The transmission and the pump will feature the same pulleys. The grease, rubber compound or dirt may accumulate on these pulleys, causing the sound of a squealing or thumping sound as the motor is switched on. If your washer is making this type of sound when spinning, draining, or agitating, then you should inspect the pulleys in search of signs of dirt accumulation or damage. How to check the pulleys of your KitchenAid washing machine:
- Before starting, disconnect your appliance from its power source.
- Remove the cabinet and find the pulley that is in question. Untangle the belt from the pulley in order to be able to inspect the pulley.
- Be on the lookout for signs of fire or wear or damage. Also, look for buildups of dirt, grease or other substances, then clean anything you find off the pulley and the surrounding area.
- You will need a replacement KitchenAid pulley in the event that you discover any damaged.
Pump Belt
On belt driven top load KitchenAid washers the pump belt drives the pulley on the drain pump. The belt may crack or fray with time, which could cause a loud squealing during draining or spinning. This may be accompanied by a burning rubber smell or a blocked drain as well. How to tell whether the pump belt of aKitchenAid washing machine is in need of replacing:
- After unplugging your KitchenAid appliance, you can open the cabinet to allow to find the pump belt. The pump belt will be joined to the pulleys of the drive motor, one-on-end.
- The clamps that are holding the belt in in order to inspect the belt. You’re looking for evidence of wear, damage or fraying. Also, burns and burns.
- If you discover any of these the above, you’ll need an KitchenAid replacement belt for your pump.
Tub Bearing
Both top and front load KitchenAid washing machine feature tub bearings that allow the basket for washing or the tub to rotate without restriction. Top load washers typically contain a single bearing at the bottom of the transmission or the input of the transmission, as well as another at the shaft connection to the inside tube. Two bearings are utilized by front load KitchenAid washers to help support the wash basket shaft. They are situated at the rear end of the tub’s outside. The bearings are shielded from the water that is poured into them by a tub seal. Continuous use, exposure to detergents that are harsh and extreme conditions can result in the seals of the bearing to break down which allows water to enter the bearings and eventually causing the bearings to fail. How to examine the tub bearing of a KitchenAid washer:
- Remove your KitchenAid washer from its power source.
- Find the tub bearing by taking off the KitchenAid washer cabinet. You may need to remove the tub, the wash basket, or transmission, depending on the type of washer you have.
- The tub bearing should be inspected to look for signs of cracking, rust, wear, water damage, or any other indication that the bearings are failing.
- If you notice any of the above symptoms it is time to get KitchenAid replacement tub bearing. It is recommended to change your tub seal at the same time especially if the bearing shows signs of corrosion or damage from water.
Agitator Directional Cogs & Dogs
Agitator directional cogs, sometimes referred as agitator dogs, are usually used to operate the upper end of dual-action agitators. The cam-shaped dogs are able to are able to engage the cogs on the inner surface of the agitator while they rotate in one direction. They then release when it reverses direction. This permits the upper half of the agitator to “ratchet” in one direction while the bottom part will be agitating in both directions. The directional cogs, which are made of tough plastic, will wear out over time. They could slip if are not smooth enough to connect the cogs in the agitator. The top of the agitator might not be as smooth or even at all, you’ll notice this. How to check agitator cogs in KitchenAid washing machine:
- Similar to any other inspection, disconnect your washer from the power source before beginning.
- If your KitchenAid washing machines have a fabric softener dispenser it is possible to open the lid to access the cogs. To access the cogs on the model that doesn’t have a softener dispenser, you’ll need to remove the cover of the agitator. You might also have to take off the top and/or base to gain access to the cogs according to the model.
- Examine the cogs to find indications of wear, damage or discoloration. You should also check for missing cogs.
- You’ll have to replace the directional cogs within KitchenAid If you run into any of these problems.
Clutch Assembly
Top load KitchenAid washers come with a clutch assembly that connects the shaft of transmission input to a wash basket drive during spin cycles. As time passes, the continual friction of the clutch pads against the housing could result in the wear of the clutch and generate a sound of scraping. In fact, wearing the clutch on your KitchenAid machine can cause it to stop spinning, or make it spin slower. It could also leave your clothes wet after every cycle. Other signs may include a burning sensation, loud noises during spin cycles as well as shavings or brake dust in the underside of the surface of your KitchenAid washing machines, and the slight smell of burning. How to inspect the clutch component in a KitchenAid washing machine:
- Unplug your appliance prior as you will be handling electrical components.
- Locate and remove your clutch assembly for inspection. The clutch assembly is typically found beneath the basket drive assembly and is connected to the outside tub. You’ll need to take out the cabinet, the drive motor, and the transmission assembly in order to gain access to the clutch.
- Take a look at the clutch assembly for any indications of wear, damage or burning.
- You’ll require a new KitchenAid clutch assembly in the event that you experience any of these symptoms.