Appliance Repair Wisdom for the Ages

Tuesday, July 19, 2005

Appliance Repair Revelation, Mystery Leak from a Frigidaire (Kenmore 417.xxxxx) Front Loading Washer

So, you did your due diligence and eliminated all the usual suspects: water supply hose, drain pump boot, door seal boot, but you still get that pesky leak. What's a grasshopper to do?

Ahh, Grasshoppah, have you considered the tub gasket? Observe:

Note the wet-warped envelope that holds the tech sheet. This is a sure sign that the tub gasket is leaking in a Frigidaire-built front-loading washer (also sold under the Kenmore brand). Click the picture for larger view.

Loose tub bolts will make a leak. Ya sure, ya betcha. Yep, I fixed this one by reachin' waaaaay up in the tub and crankin' down on those tub bolts. Got half a dozen turns on three o'them bad boyz. Problem solved. We bad!

Now go git 'em!

Samurai Appliance Repair Man cast these pearls at 20:52 ET.  [permalink]

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19 Comments:

Can you show me on the picture where are the tub bolts located???

By  Trung, at September 13, 2005 2:39 PM  

Can you advise us houw to replace the tub gasket. Thanks

By  Anonymous, at October 14, 2005 8:23 PM  

This post has been removed by a blog administrator.

By  Anonymous, at October 16, 2005 4:54 PM  

Ratcheer.

By  Samurai Appliance Repair Man, at October 16, 2005 6:10 PM  

My leak source falls way outside all the suggestions I've found here --and I'm not sure how I can fix it...

I found a leak on the evacuation pump from between the gasket and the motor spindle holding the impeller. Strings and gunk from the wash collect and wrap around and push up against the gasket. A very slight, yet ever growing leak forms. I've cleaned it before and leak goes away--but only for a while.

I believe a tighter gasket would prevent this, but have yet to find a replacement (short of ordering a whole new electic motor many $$)

John

By  john geremia, at April 01, 2006 11:52 AM  

John, the pump parts are not sold separately. You may be able to find a third-party source. For an OEM replacement pump, click here.

By  Samurai Appliance Repair Man, at April 01, 2006 2:29 PM  

So I think that I have determined that it is loose screws causing my leak. But how do you get to the ones way up on the right? There is a hose with some foam around it. That gets really wet. So I think the leak is farther up. Can I access it by taking the top off? Any other recommendations?

By  Anonymous, at April 13, 2006 3:22 PM  

The easiest way to access the higher tub clamp screws is to simply remove the top panel of the washer.

By  Samurai Appliance Repair Man, at April 13, 2006 3:55 PM  

Tightening the screws fixed the leaking! You rock!!! Thanks for the great site.

By  Anonymous, at April 20, 2006 11:58 PM  

Cool! 8)

By  Samurai Appliance Repair Man, at April 21, 2006 12:29 AM  

Hi ... The document in the link below is corrupt. Is there another source for it?

Thanks!

http://fixitnow.com/documents/pegi/RearBearingV6.pdf

By  Anonymous, at May 09, 2006 12:16 PM  

Try this link.

By  Samurai Appliance Repair Man, at May 09, 2006 5:45 PM  

Perfect!!

Thanks.

By  Anonymous, at May 11, 2006 8:07 PM  

Great info.... I almost gave up on my machine and bought another... I had my Frigidair front loader for 5 years now and love it... The only bad thing I have to say is the door could be bigger.

Mine started to leak about a month ago and after close inspection, it was clear it was the tub center seal. I tightened all the bolts I could reach from the bottom, but that did little to solve the problem... I finally got ambitious enough to pull the machine out and take off the back and top... It was a piece of cake from there... I was amazed at how much of a gap had formed in the seal up there. There was a section where the gap approached 1/8 of an inch... After tightening all the the bolts, everything was water tight once more...

Basically, if you have a philips screw driver, a 3/8 wrench and enjoy yoga, you'll easilly save yourself $400-500 or the cost of a new machine....

Thanks for the info... V-man

By  V-man, at June 10, 2006 6:03 PM  

Insightful comments, V-man, thanks for posting 'em. :)

By  Samurai Appliance Repair Man, at June 20, 2006 9:26 AM  

Tightening the screws on my front load Kenmore did not fix the problem. Leak is coming from bolts at 6 o'clock location. Any other ideas or is a gasket replacement inevitable for me? How would you rate this type of repair?

By  one i'd mark, at October 01, 2006 6:20 PM  

I too have a Kenmore 417.xxxxx washer. The dribble leak is obviously coming from bottom of the door. However, the door seal looks like new. Could the door hinge or door latch be wearing out so they don't hold door securely to seal? Thanks for any help. Curt

By  Curtis, at December 16, 2007 1:35 PM  

My kenmore is leaking A LOT of water from the top of the machine (wear you put the soap in), the door, pretty much everywhere. We are talking ALL the water. This is no dribble. There is a dryer atop the washer. I would like to check out the screws but not sure where this panel is on the picture? I am happy to purchase a 3/8 wrench and give it a whirl before the repairman comes on Thursday- any other places I should check? I ruled out the pipe on the back since it is leaking from the machine. HELP?
Thanks,
broke 26-yr old single (daughter of a Builder- your directions are much easier to follow) homeowner with dirty clothes.

By  Jackie, at December 17, 2007 4:15 PM  

Huge HUGE props and thanks to the Samurai! I am highly proficient in fixing things around the house and i can tell you that i would NOT have been able to solve the leaking washer problem without your easy to follow direction. What a terrific resource you are! I tightened all tub screws (only shaving one knuckle in the process) and the problem seems solved. I was impressed, but this is nothing compared to my wife, who was envisioning a several hundred $$ repair. Again, THANK YOU!!

By  Schneider, at February 04, 2008 12:36 PM  

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