Check out these electronic discharge machining images:
Whirlpool Duet ghw9150 or Kenmore
Image by mysteryonion
F11 Syndrome on Whirlpool and Kenmore
TO MY FELLOW "F11 Syndrome" Sufferers (edited once again to be more readable)
It start off like this:
In fall 2005 or two months soon after the warranty crapped out was when it began its difficulties for us. We known as the Whirlpool help (hah) number and the individual mentioned later “it’s fine”. I stated you had to put a load in and see it throw the code. Later, motor error and DL "you will want a new motor and wires "…you know the rest. Lucky point I was as well low-cost to play the pay game. My wife still likes the machines… so… I had to get it fixed. Surfing for answers and based on other folk’s accounts and information (see below) up and down the web. They described the identical symptoms.
NEW UPDATES: FRETTING/oxidized connections Study further below.
DISCLAIMER NOTE: THE Added SOLDER NOTED ABOVE WAS DUE TO MY ORIGINAL TRIAL AND ERROR OF CLEANING AND PRODDING. Extra SOLDER Might DISTORT OR Harm THE CONNECTOR, PLEASE Read OTHER Data POSTED BY Other people…thank you.
Having absolutely nothing to loose:
You will see the yellow circles exactly where discovered indicators of difficulties for the solder operate recommendations as described on the net.
Semi Legal Mumbo-Jumbo…(skip to subsequent section otherwise read):
The following information is only an men and women (my) knowledge with a certain item and in no manner must it be construed as a statement of universal fault of the solution nor does the data inside this post assure that you will achieve the very same final results. Following the advise or examples located here will be at you personal risk and harm is possible if you are not familiar with simple procedures. The author does not cover any damages if you fry your control board… People are reminded that you should not error any overtones as a condemnation of the certain product or in any way does it make any accusation towards a company’s lack of duty towards the good quality of the item and is in fact a condition that is usually outside the warranty of the machine and is consequently the duty of the owner for any and all expenses toward repairs (we are on our personal) and such that statements are individual observations and are not substantiated by formal data published…blah…blah…blah… Ok, the ugly part is accomplished for now…
…Appear, if you have the F11 issue, the following data could void your warranty… not that any of us had this come about whilst beneath warranty… physical exercise caution and care… OH! AND UNPLUG YOUR MACHINE Just before YOU MONKEY Around INSIDE IT!!!
Also, IN RESPONSE TO SOME REMARKS (a DIY forum and about me)…
IT IS Correct… I AM NOT AN APPLIANCE REPAIR Expert…(nor do I play one on tv), I AM A DUET OWNER AND HAVE HAD THIS Come about TO ME. I AM SHARING SOME OF THE Info I Identified AND OR RECEIVED… Practically nothing MORE… NOR, DO I WANT Anything IN RETURN. (though I am curious about how old was your machine when it occurred, so do share that in the comments if you never thoughts… thank you)
Receiving a Manual:
Appear for Whirlpool publication L-68 in pdf form and download before its gone
( secured.whirlpool.com/Service/SrvTechAdm.nsf/2cd44500d572… ).
comply with information on acquiring in machine. Also, note when you are prying out the ccu board, be cautious as the plastic is brittle (cheap). I’ve snapped off a handful of bits here and there thanks to my rush so be a little ready.
DIY-desoldering & Security note:
You ought to have safety glasses on to execute the following… It is straightforward to do soldering oneself. A can of compressed air is needed (safety glasses) and the trick to blast the solder off although its molten Try a solder sucker rather (caution: lead primarily based solder, so never breath in smoke and this is not suggested if you are pregnant or guys have to be careful or you may start off firing blanks). Heat the make contact with point of whichever element and as it shine up in the molten state, give it a rapid blast (not at yourself, away from other people and things and pets).
Dealing with the RELAY switches:
Contemplate one particular of your missions is towards the relays. It is hard to see in my picture above, but my example is with 2 – OMRAN G5LE-1-VD in the white and 1 OMRAN G2RL-1A-E relay in black given that we never have a heater so two spot are left empty. (if viewing in member flickr mode, further notes are listed). When you desolder them off the board it is less complicated to pull the covers off and it requires just a slight pinch their tiny latches. Acquiring inside will permit you to clean the get in touch with points if not replacing. I also swapped the two relays for each and every other individuals position. Permitting the significantly less carbonized 1 to sit in the hot seat for a even though, this is mostly why I desoldered them off. Once more, solder them back in with a great silver solder and don’t overheat. If you are able, do replace them both with new ones. Update: See beneath from "CJRECHE" about different relays and larger amp rating.
DIY soldering:
When re-soldering, use a good silver/tin solder as an alternative of the inexpensive lead/tin crap they utilized. It is a soldering temp of 370+ degrees so cautious! I purchased a Radio Shack 15-30 watt iron and it worked fine for me. Butter the tip a little and use a damp sponge to clean off any sludge from the rosin/flux burning. The tip would be then prepared to touch the area for soldering. Not a dainty touch, but adequate to allow heating up the connection to melt the fresh solder from the spool as you touch it to the heated location and do not more than do it. Just sufficient to cover.
Further Error notes:
My Door Errors and Motor Errors can be traced back to the very same point in the CCU. Mainly nothing at all moves with no the ccu involved in the approach. So it would not be a surprise if the repair guy misdiagnoses and repairs the dilemma Door or Motor and you still have the exact same problems. Beneficial is to beef up the solder coated contacts as circled above. This cuts down on the chance of vibrations wiggling off these flimsy plugs.
Other items that lead to trouble over time:
RF connection gets loose or slightly corroded and that sends shivers up the CCU too.
Door wire harness at the door finish gets a small wiggly
Scraping from the drum (critical issue see Spider Bracket)
Passing along more info:
If you know far more about the various elements on this board beyond this small soldering subject, please keep me up to date if it is component of the dilemma. Such issues like poor high quality components and suggestion for far better… that sort of stuff. Also if you have other websites that have much more information on the subject, pass them on so I can incorporate them here. Otherwise, I hope some of this assists. I’ve heard talk in the past that Sears will replace the boards on Kenmore washers…good… take them up on it if its totally free or near free of charge! Whirlpool…I’ve not heard a issue however.
Unique Thanks:
Thanks to the others whom have done the trail blazing of diagnosing the lead to and posting the solutions "crabboy","kevintrisha" and "Sonnysideup" Also read "Littleman23" on the epinion message board he seems to have more info for disassembly. Hey, check out "tanksalotcs" "SPIDER BRACKET"…’youtube’ below kenmore, front loader washer, topic is spider bracket failure! Also, Special-Particular Thanks to CJRECHE for his efforts and cool microscope pictures. Particular-Special-Special thanks to MONETTSYS for his details and links (see under).
History to date:
Quantity of Loads given that repaired in April of 2007:198 loads as of January two, 2008 with no troubles. Now 400ish loads and a year has passed considering that completion of repair. I hope all you other f11 sufferers are possessing luck with some of the information above. If it has not occurred to your machine yet, hope it never will.
Update:
03/16/2009 – nevertheless no issues considering that my solder job (440+ loads).
ten/12/2009 – still no troubles and about 500ish loads.
04/20/2010 – nonetheless no difficulties … lost count 550?