My washer just died..........

**WV_mom_of2** · 03-30-2009, 02:27 PM

man when life sucks, it REALLY sucks doesn't it? I think my washing machine just died. I was washing a load and I heard a noise but didn't think anything of it. The wind is howling and my house is old and it creaks, the wind blows furniture across the front porch and that makes a scraping sound, etc. When I went to get the load out it washed but didn't spin. There is no water in the machine but the laundry is dripping wet. I tried turning it on to the spin cycle and it makes the noise but doesn't move. I wrung the lighter stuff (tshirts, etc.) by hand and put them in the dryer but I will have to wait to do the two pairs of heavy pants that are in there.

Now what? We have no money to replace it, even with used right now. It will be at least the middle of May before I get paid and can get a new one. I guess it's off to the laundrymat for me until then. UGH!

**sabrelvssammy** · 03-30-2009, 02:36 PM

Originally Posted by WV_mom_of2

man when life sucks, it REALLY sucks doesn't it? I think my washing machine just died. I was washing a load and I heard a noise but didn't think anything of it. The wind is howling and my house is old and it creaks, the wind blows furniture across the front porch and that makes a scraping sound, etc. When I went to get the load out it washed but didn't spin. There is no water in the machine but the laundry is dripping wet. I tried turning it on to the spin cycle and it makes the noise but doesn't move. I wrung the lighter stuff (tshirts, etc.) by hand and put them in the dryer but I will have to wait to do the two pairs of heavy pants that are in there.

Now what? We have no money to replace it, even with used right now. It will be at least the middle of May before I get paid and can get a new one. I guess it's off to the laundrymat for me until then. UGH!

do what i would do....(you should probably stop reading about now...lol).... anyway...i simply REFUSE to accept things that don't go my way....(isn't that awful)....i don't mean it like that.... get on the internet and search out how to troubleshoot your washer problems....many times you can figure out what is wrong with something yourself and possibly fix it...if you can't...you can't....but what is the harm in trying anyway..... it's worth the trouble....

good luck to you and i hope its something small and you are back running in no time.....

**frugalfriend** · 03-30-2009, 02:56 PM

OK, I just did some digging for my checkbook register from about 18 months ago, because that sounds like exactly what happened to our washing machine about 2 months after we moved in.

It was the water pump and a belt was also replaced. The cost to repair it was $182.70. Looking back, I wonder if we should have just replaced it, but we didn't know how old the machine was (it came with the house) and went ahead and fixed it.

Is your dh handy? Maybe he can put in a new water pump if you are able to determine that is what the problem is. Good luck!

**WV_mom_of2** · 03-30-2009, 03:10 PM

Originally Posted by frugalfriend

OK, I just did some digging for my checkbook register from about 18 months ago, because that sounds like exactly what happened to our washing machine about 2 months after we moved in.

It was the water pump and a belt was also replaced. The cost to repair it was $182.70. Looking back, I wonder if we should have just replaced it, but we didn't know how old the machine was (it came with the house) and went ahead and fixed it.

Is your dh handy? Maybe he can put in a new water pump if you are able to determine that is what the problem is. Good luck!

My dh is the most UN handy man you'd ever meet. I lovingly refer to him as Tim the Toolman LOL. He tries, he really does but he just never learned to do things. I don't think there is any way he'd even attempt to fix it. It's also 16 years old so it's probably about shot anyway. I will probably just wash the laundry in the bathtub and wring it by hand, then dry it until I start getting paid in May, then buy a new one. All I need is one of the "old fashioned" top load ones. They aren't that expensive now I don't think. I'm also going to call my mom and sister and see if they might have an old one they don't want. I know my sister got new machines a few months ago but I don't know what she did with her old ones.

I should call my worthless brother and tell him I need to borrow his when his tramp isn't home. Then I should use his detergent and run up his water bill and not offer to pay for it! Man I'm mean! PMS is killing me today!!

**sabrelvssammy** · 03-30-2009, 03:23 PM

hey try this...first unplug it... count to 20...plug it back in.....

then try to turn the 'agitator' by hand forcing it around...it may just have something stuck underneath.... if you have more than one 'spin-cycle'...dial the dial all the way around once and try to set it on another spin or back on the original...and turn on....

**LastDragonfly** · 03-30-2009, 03:30 PM

oooh I'm sorry...sounds like the pump (dh did appliance repair for YEARS for 2 large appliance companys)...don't buy a new one yet...look around and see if you can find a small appliance repair person in your area.....I talked to dh at lunch...he said it shouldn't be too expensive if it sounds outrageous...call someone else he said.

**pinetree** · 03-30-2009, 04:07 PM

We have alot of places around here that will help you fix them, look in your yellow pages and see if you can find one. Here they call it "for do it your selfers" They will help you figure out what is wrong, then tell you or show you how to replace it.

Try craigs list see if you can find a really cheap or free one.

**IntlMom** · 03-30-2009, 04:11 PM

wow....there have been several of us who lost their washing machine lately here (......raising my hand....) it must be contaigous!

Hope you get it figured out!

**WV_mom_of2** · 03-30-2009, 04:41 PM

I tried everything. I unplugged and replugged it. I tried starting a new load right from the start. It will fill up, but won't agitate at all. I tried moving it myself, won't budge. I tried setting to the spin cycle, won't move. It's so old that it's probably just shot.

I looked in the yellow pages for small repair people. Nothing at all in my area. I called the new thrift/consignment store in town and I JUST missed one! The girl said "oh man we just sold one! They literally just loaded it on their truck and pulled out!" I left my name and number in case they get in another one and my mom is on the lookout for one at the thrift store where she volunteers.

My mom said "just go to the furniture store and get a new one. They have all those programs where you buy one and don't make a payment for a year, etc." I said "nope, I refuse to charge one. I will NOT buy one until I have the cash to buy it". She thinks I'm nuts but oh well LOL. I will wash the clothes in the bathtub until then! Heck if pioneer women could drag their clothes to the creek and beat them on a rock, I can wash mine in the bathtub!

**Gabe** · 03-30-2009, 04:48 PM

Try a different cycle. Try delicate. If normally you don't try it.

**craftypam** · 03-30-2009, 05:30 PM

Originally Posted by sabrelvssammy

do what i would do....(you should probably stop reading about now...lol).... anyway...i simply REFUSE to accept things that don't go my way....(isn't that awful)....i don't mean it like that.... get on the internet and search out how to troubleshoot your washer problems....many times you can figure out what is wrong with something yourself and possibly fix it...if you can't...you can't....but what is the harm in trying anyway..... it's worth the trouble....

good luck to you and i hope its something small and you are back running in no time.....

This is very true. We have a place where we live and they will help you figure out what it is because they want you to buy the parts from them. My husband has fixed our appliances several times. 2 days ago someone had a washer in front of their house and it said it works on it. I think they were giving it away. LOVE your attitude sabrelvssammy about not accepting things not going your way!!!!!

**Jilly** · 03-30-2009, 06:04 PM

Originally Posted by IntlMom

wow....there have been several of us who lost their washing machine lately here (......raising my hand....) it must be contaigous!

Hope you get it figured out!

I know...right? Ours went ka-put in January after almost 19 years (I got it as a baby shower gift for DS)! Believe me when I say that it pained me to get rid of it. It was a great machine, not to mention I knew it would throw me off budget since I didn't have a large enough EF at the time. But I bit the bullet and purchased a whole new set as an all-out last resort. There's never a perfect time for anything like this to go wrong. Do what you can, make the best of a bad situation and hang in there! This too shall pass.