I’ll be online for live help tonight from 7pm to whenever (New Hampster time). "Bring me your tired, your poor, your broken appliances yearning to be fixed." 
Live Help Update
Leave a reply
Author Archives: Samurai Appliance Repair Man
Beer Drinking Update
I dunno, she looked pretty fine when I was slamming down the suds last night at the brew pub.
Live Help Update
I was talking to a grasshopper on live chat the other night and he told me to tell my boss that I was doing a great job. So I shuffled upstairs to my wife and said, "Great job, Hon."
I’ve talked to several other people on chat who think Fixitnow.com is a high-budget operation with a staff of technicians and webmasters. I don’t know if that means I’m doing a good job or not. The truth is that this entire website, every little typo, every poorly-formed sentence, and all the pages you sift through looking for pearls of appliance wisdom are crafted by my boney fingers, and mine alone, and it all happens down in my basement. Yep, just little ol’ me down in my damp, dark basement, all alone. I’ve spent thousands of hours down here working on this website making it a comprehensive, useful, easy-to-use, and most of all, fun place for you to come and learn how to fix your appliances.
As for the budget, that comes from Beer Fund donations, which have been far too little to justify the time I’ve spent away from my family to work on this website. It’s amazing: people won’t think twice about shelling out a few bucks for an album or tickets to a movie, but somehow think that good, convenient appliance repair help should be free, "’cuz it’s on the innernet, an’ all." I can’t count the number of people who, when I absolutely nailed their appliance problem on live help, were very thankful, promised to donate to the Beer Fund, but never did. If I could pay real-world expenses on empty promises, I’d be living in a mansion right now.
But these fiscal challenges have created an excellent opportunity for me to develop a cool new program here at Fixitnow.com: Live Appliance Repair Consultations. I think it’s a great way for you to get personal, immediate help fixing your appliances while helping to ensure that I can meet my on-going operating expenses. Check it out.
"But wait," you cry, "I thought this website was supposed to be free?" To misquote the late, great Plato, "What is free, Phaedrus, and what is not? Need we anyone tell us these things?" Yes, the vast repository of appliance wisdom here at Fixitnow.com will continue to be freely available to all seekers of appliance wisdom. This includes the Online Repair Manuals, the accumulated wisdom in Moostafa’s Mecca of Appliance Repair and the many resources available at the Appliantology group, such as the repair photos and the help forum. But personal, live appliance repair consultation with me should certainly be worth a very modest, even ridiculously low consulting fee. The consulting fee is on a per-issue basis, so if you pay for a consultation on your dishwasher and you later need help with your dryer, it’s a separate fee. On the other hand, if it takes 27 chat sessions to solve your problem, there’s no additional charge–one fee covers one problem until it’s whipped.
And just what makes me so special that I think I can charge for advice? Well, I could start thumping my chest about my two engineering degrees and years of appliance repair experience but, honestly, I think that’s a little crass. The fact is that I have real-world, valuable appliance repair knowledge and I can absolutely help you fix it yourself, either through the free resources available on my website or via a live appliance repair consultation for a miniscule fee.
If you’ve donated to the Beer Fund in the past, I am grateful for your support and I honor your integrity. And to show my gratitude for your willingness to support this website, all past donors to the Beer Fund, in any amount, even as little as $1, will receive Live Appliance Repair Consultations on any appliance they’re working on for as long as they live…or for as long as this website lives, whichever ends first. Just identify yourself as a past Beer Fund contributor when you ring me up for live help so I can look you up (I have a record of all past contributors) and we’ll go to work fixing your appliance.
Ok, let’s get stuff fixed!
Appliance Tip of the Day: Microwave Oven Know-How
Working on your microwave oven? Check out the online microwave repair manual first and you just might find out how to fix it. If not, there’s more detailed help in these two fine references below. If you’re working on an American-made microwave (e.g., Whirlpool, Maytag, etc.) then get the Repair-Master microwave oven repair manual. If you’re working on a Sharp or some other brand, then you need Troubleshooting and Repairing Microwave Ovens.
Repair-Master microwave oven repair manual Specific repair help for most American-made brands. |
Troubleshooting and Repairing Microwave Ovens Includes fundamental information applicable to all microwave ovens, regardless of brand. |
Phone Sex
So you’ve heard of slamming, right? That’s where a phone company comes along and takes over your long distance service without you knowing it and then slams you with an whopping phone bill. Well, look out, there’s a newer, slimier practice emerging among phone companies called casual billing.
Casual billing is similar to slamming in that you get billed for services from another long distance carrier. But the difference is that they don’t switch you over permanently, they just bill you at outrageous rates for a few calls and their charges appear on your local phone bill.
MCI did this to me recently. I made four long distance faxes on our business phone, connect time of about 15 seconds each, and they charged me $5 per fax! When I called MCI, the trained liar I talked to said that it was because the calls were randomly assigned to a long distance carrier by my local phone company (Verizon) and the calls were charged at market rates because I wasn’t on a calling plan and, oh by the way, would I like to sign up? Smelling fecal matter, I told her that if MCI was going to screw me like that, I better at least get a kiss. Then I called Verizon. They confirmed that what the trained liar at MCI told me was a load of horse $hit and they deleted the charge. If MCI wants the money, they have to come after me directly instead of weaseling it through Verizon. 
With business practices like that, is it any wonder that MCI/Worldcom went bankrupt?
Look over your phone bill carefully. You have been warned. 
Appliance Tip of the Day: Oven Temperature Sensors Demystified
Everyone knows what thermostats do: turn something on and off based on temperature. If your range has an electronic range control (ERC) board with the digital LED display, it doesn’t have a thermostat. You know what I’m talking about, most ERCs look something like this.
Ranges with ERCs use a sensor to "feel" the temperature in the oven cavity and sends that information to the ERC. The ERC then makes decisions about about heating the oven and controls the burner (in gas ovens) or heating elements (in electric ovens). Typical styles of range temperature sensors are shown here.
Inevitably, your range will one day start acting goofy and you’ll need to check the oven sensor to see if it’s causing a problem. On most ranges, a big clue that the sensor is the problem is if you’re getting an F1 error code in your ERC display. So how do you check the sensor? Keep reading.
Oven sensors sense the temperature is the oven cavity by increasing their internal resistance, measured in ohms, as the oven’s temperature increases. This change in ohm resistance tells the ERC the oven cavity temperature and it turns the heating elements or burner on and off, as needed. Now, hang with me, grasshopper, ‘cuz we’re getting to the good part.
At room temperature, 70°F, the resistance of the most common sensors used today is 1000-1100 ohms. What this means is that if you pull those sensor wires to measure the sensor’s resistance and it reads slap-a$$ open, why, it don’t take a rocket scientist like myself to figger out that you got yourself a bad sensor! Wasn’t that easy?
Just for grins, I’ve included the table below to show you the sensor resistance reading at various temperatures. Viva la resistance!
| Oven Sensor Resistances | |
| Temperature (°F) | Resistance (ohms) |
| 100 | 1143 |
| 200 | 1350 |
| 300 | 1553 |
| 350 | 1654 |
| 400 | 1753 |
| 500 | 1949 |
To learn more about your range/stove/oven, or to order parts, click here.
Special Offer: Mega-Money Wealth Building System
For a limited time only, we’re offering the amazing Mega-Money Wealth Building System, at the drastically reduced price of only $20. That’s right, I said $20, and that includes free shipping! But you must act now!
Appliance Tip of the Day Encore: Genuine Appliance Manufacturer’s Repair Manuals
Yes, Grasshopper, your journey into appliance repair excellence begins with good technical information. While it’s true that Fixitnow.com is the Muthah of all appliance repair websites and offers an extensive online library of information, a do-it-yourself repair forum, and live help, there’s just no way we can reproduce all the esoteric information contained in genuine manufacturer’s repair manuals. Something about copyright laws, I dunno. Anyway, a good repair manual can be a valuable adjunct to the vast repository of appliance wisdom here at Fixitnow.com. Come git you some.
| Whirlpool / Kenmore Repair Manuals | GE / Hotpoint Repair Manuals |
| Washing Machine (Direct-Drive) Repair Manual | Washing Machine Step-by-Step Repair Manual |
| Washing Machine (Belt-Driven) Step-by-Step Repair Manual | Dryer Step-by-Step Repair Manual |
| Dryer Step-by-Step Repair Manual | Refrigerator / Freezer Step-by-Step Repair Manual |
| Dishwasher Step-by-Step Repair Manual | Dishwasher Step-by-Step Repair Manual |
| Ice Maker Do-It-Yourself Repair Manual | Electric Range Step-by-Step Repair Manual |
| Trash Compactor Manual | (this space intentionally left blank) |
| Refrigerator / Freezer Do-It-Yourself Manual | (same here, move along) |
| Maycor Repair Manuals | Speed Queen & Amana Manuals |
| Maytag, Jenn-Air, Magic Chef & Admiral Top-Freezer Refrigerator | Amana Washer Repair Manual (newer one-belt style) |
| Maytag, Jenn-Air, Magic Chef & Admiral Side-by-Side Refrigerator | Speed Queen Dryer Repair Manual |
| Maytag SE100 Stacked Washer and Dryer | Sub-Zero Technical Service Mini-Manuals |
| Maytag Neptune Front-Load Washer Repair Manual | Series 500 Models |
| Maytag Performa Washer Repair Manual | Series 600 Models |
| Maytag Atlantis Washer Repair Manual | Series 700 Models |
| Frigidaire Repair Manuals | (this space intentionally left blank) |
| Next Generation Side-by-Side Refrigerator Repair Manual | Microwave Ovens and Ranges |
| Front Load Washer Manual | Repair-master Microwave Oven and Ranges Repair Manual (covers most American built models) |
Appliance Usage Handbook
Ahh, yes, the Appliance Usage Handbook: the bible of optimal appliance usage. This fine comprehensive reference was compiled by Maytag and is invaluable for answering questions on using your washer and dryer, dishwasher, stove and refrigerator.
Additionally, this valuable handbook contains information on the basic operation of all household major appliances, regardless of brand. I refer to it all the time when answering appliance questions. It’s a two-inch thick, three-ring binder crammed full of arcane and exceedingly useful appliance information such as:
- answers to common appliance usage questions,
- solutions to common problems,
- energy conservation ideas,
- stain removal for washers and dryers,
- cooking basics for stoves,
- what not to wash in your dishwasher and why,
- and tons of other stuff too detailed to get into here.
Oh, I know what you’re saying. You’re saying, "Ok, Samurai Cyclops, how do I get one?" Great question! I will send this cornucopia of appliance wisdom as a gift to the first five grasshoppers who contribute $25 or more to the United Samurai Beer Fund. That’s right, I only have five copies left. If you’ve been thinking about making a contribution to the Beer Fund but have been putting it off because you had to pull hair outta the drain or something, then this little pearl should be enough to nudge you into going ahead and doing it. Go ahead, all your other friends are doing it.
Appliance Tip of the Day: Troubleshooting and Repairing Major Appliances
Troubleshooting and Repairing Major Appliances. If you need to learn the fundamentals of appliance repair, like how to make basic electrical tests, how to read a schematic diagram, testing a refrigerator defrost timer, how to read a washer timing chart, and lots and lots of other cool fundamental stuff then buy this book. Don’t tell anyone, but I still look stuff up in this book when I need to freshen up on the fundamentals. And if you’re just getting started in professional appliance repair, this book is a must-have.
Live Help Update
I’ll be online for live help tonight from about 9:00pm (New Hampster time) ’till whenever right here at Fixitnow.com. Talk to you then.
Whirlpool Microwave Oven Tidbits From the Factory
If your Whirlpool Microwave Combination Built-In oven is giving you the error code “door” in the display and you can’t restart the unit, then the door-monitoring portion of the microcomputer board is fried. The only cure is to replace the microcomputer board. Whirlpool just started making more of these boards in July 2002 so there could be some delays in getting a new one but you can special order it here.
Appliance Tip of the Day: No Ice in Your Whirlpool or KitchenAid Side-by-Side Fridge with In-Door Ice
So your fancy Whirlpool or KitchenAid Side-by-Side with the in-door icemaker quit making ice for your margaritas? And it’s one of those space-age looking icemakers with the red LED and infrared ice level sensor? Well, Grasshopper, go pour yourself a tall cold one, and get me one while you’re at it, because the Samurai is gonna ‘splain to you how to fix the two most common reasons these suckers stop making ice.
Reason Numero Uno: Frozen Fill Tube
These units have the fill tube in the freezer ceiling that can keep freezing up. The cure is to replace the existing fill tube with a new kit from Whirlpool, consisting of a modified fill tube and a fill tube heater. You can buy it here. This, of course, assumes the icemaker and level sensing circuitry are attempting to function normally. You can test the icemaker by manually initiating a harvest cycle. Do this by pulling the front cover off the icemaker and jumpering out test points T and H with an insulated wire. The other most common problem is bad optics circuit boards. Keep reading.
Reason Numero Duo: Bad Optics Circuit Boards
If the red status LED is not lit on your ice level sensor receiver (it’s the only LED in there, Hoss, so don’t go gettin’ all cross-eyed on me ’cause I’m using fancy words), then you may have bad optics circuits. Close the freezer door and wait five minutes, then open it back up. If still no status light, then you need to replace the optics boards, emitter and receiver. You can buy them here.
Ok, go fix your icemaker and buy me a margarita. I like ’em smooth and made with Jose Cuervo Tradicional.
To learn more about your refrigerator, or to order parts, click here.
Samurai Web Cam
I just got one of those cool web cams, you know, those X-10’s that you see in popup ads everywhere you go on the web? Yeah, one o’ those. Well, I finally broke down and bought one. It was easy to set up and seems to work pretty well. I have it set up here on top of my monitor, taking pictures while I’m working. Here, check out the latest shot from the live Samurai Web Cam.
See you later.
Network Update
Looks like Microslop provided more fertile ground for yet another internet worm attack. Maybe this is what’s behind the .NET passport outage.