Geriatric appliances :O

[808 Vibes]

I still have the original appliances that came with the house (1994). Refrigerator has no issues (knock wood) but the washer tub will fill up with water, but not start agitating until I open/close the lid like 6 times. Weird. I haven't heard this for awhile, but it started up again today:Stove makes a buzzing noise previously only when using the oven, but now when I use the burners too...it seems to be coming from the area with the clock timer (??) Is there a way I can disconnect some wire to that, just to shut it up? I never use those little timer things. Even if the stove/oven is NOT being used, it still buzzes. I can't stand the noise, so I shut it off at the circuit breaker box.What do you think? Can I do a frugal, earth-friendly (and if possible DIY) fix? Thanks.

[Kari]

Have you tried using the timer once to see if the buzzing will stop? Our dryer will do that sometimes if the knob isn't turned to "off" when it's not being used. Maybe the timer mechanism is in a bind or something.

[psiu]

Quote, originally posted by HawaiiPontiacLover »What do you think? Can I do a frugal, earth-friendly (and if possible DIY) fix? Thanks. Are you handy with tools and electronics/mechanical things?Pull the oven out, take it apart, look for anything bad, try to find schematics or repair manual online and maybe do testing with a multimeter. Or find the buzzer and cut the cord of course.Washer sounds like the switch that gets triggered when the door closes is bad, shouldn't be too expensive to replace actually.If you have a hot water heater from 94, you should just replace that on principle at this point.I thought this was going to be about appliances for old people.

[jake75]

Quote, originally posted by psiu »Are you handy with tools and electronics/mechanical things?Pull the oven out, take it apart, look for anything bad, try to find schematics or repair manual online and maybe do testing with a multimeter. Or find the buzzer and cut the cord of course.Washer sounds like the switch that gets triggered when the door closes is bad, shouldn't be too expensive to replace actually.If you have a hot water heater from 94, you should just replace that on principle at this point.I thought this was going to be about appliances for old people.Yeh - I have some parts like that.

[808 Vibes]

I can do basic stuff like I just replaced all my smoke detectors and put in a shower sprayer, have changed oil, plugs, filters, headlights, bulbs, etc. in cars, so tools I can do, schematics I can't do. The water heater is the only thing that was already replaced.Edit: Here's a reply I got on my blog:*generally,* what you described with the washing machine, and buzzer on the oven, is due to a faulty switch that gets stuck in "safe" mode. I've googled appliances at the manufacturer's site, and drilled down to find a specific part. You might be able to mail order the part that needs to be replaced. If, after the replacement part is (properly) installed, and the buzzer still sounds, that would indicate a problem somewhere else. It's worth the effort and money saved to clean off or sandpaper the contacts on a suspect switch, itself, if you're able to get to it. There's usually some corrossion in that area, or they'll even arced together. Be forewarned that if you do try to buy a replacement part locally, the seller might gouge you $50.

[KNINE]

My washer does the same tinng. There's a safety swith that won't let perform certaind functions when the lid is open. Mine has a tab on the lid that presses on the switch when closed. I take a screwdriver and jam it down in the switch. That gets it going again. I don't recommend that you do that. I'm a trained unprofessional.

[808 Vibes]

It does it with the lid closed. So I have to go over and open/close again and again until it starts agitating. After that, it's fine, goes through the whole wash with no problems.

[KNINE]

Yep. Sounds like that safety switch going bad. It should be located on the top of the washer, under the lid. Maybe it's a botton sticking up next to the rim. Mine sits in a slot next to the rim. There's a tab on the lid that pushes down on the switch in the slot when the lid is closed. When you keep closing the lid, the switch eventually makes contact and the washer runs again.

[808 Vibes]

OK, now you got me curious. I think I'll take the lid off this weekend (again...did it to install the new aluminum vent tube) and take a look around for the switch, check the contacts for rust. Thanks (tosses KNINE a milk bone)

[djkeev]

Quote, originally posted by HawaiiPontiacLover »OK, now you got me curious. I think I'll take the lid off this weekend (again...did it to install the new aluminum vent tube) and take a look around for the switch, check the contacts for rust. Thanks (tosses KNINE a milk bone) Hi, This is a helpful sitehttp://www.repairclinic.com/ap...Xb3NAA good parts source as well as acceptable repair clues and advice. You can also get schematics of how things go together.On the stove, unscrew the panel with the clock, you'll find a plug going into the clock. Unplug it. That should kill the clock buzzing yet still give you oven and stove use. (it would be a good idea to unplug the stove before poking around inside, same with the dryer)Good luckDave

[808 Vibes]

Oh thank you! I will try that this weekend