The Calypso washer, nick-named the “Collapse-o,” has been a huge debacle for Whirlpool with numerous and frequent failures. You can almost hear the Whirlpool engineers asking themselves, “What the hell were we smoking when we pulled this thing out of our sphincters?” To top it off, intermittent problems are the worst kind to troubleshoot and repair. Read the heart-warming story of one grasshopper’s tenacity and triumph in battling this most infuriating of washer malfunctions.

This problem may be something as simple a broken door latch assembly. This topic in the washer repair forum will help you determine whether or not this is what’s going on with your Duet or Kenmmore HE3t/4t washing machine and describes a professional-style repair.

This topic in the laundry repair forum is an excellent illustration of how to troubleshoot this particular washer problem along with general troubleshooting discipline and strategy.

Study this topic carefully and pay particular attention to the pearls of wisdom from Master Appliantologists Trying to Help and Stumpowitz. Note how they make skillful use of specific product technical knowledge, asking insightful questions, directing and interpreting basic electrical measurements using clear, logical thinking to draw valid conclusions for the root cause of the problem, ultimately resulting in a successful repair.

It’s a two-page topic, so don’t miss that second page!

Read the heroic saga of one Grasshopper’s struggle and ultimate triumph over a stuck agitator in her GE washer.

Some insight and cures for this problem and more in LG washers from some Master Appliantologists in this topic at the laundry repair forum.

Contemplating this repair? Big job, almost a complete teardown of the washer. This slideshow will give you a peek at what you’re in for.

Have fun, Homer!

To learn more about your washing machine, or to order parts, click here.

Before the Great Washer Flood. Click for a larger view.

Stainless steel hoses installed after the great washer flood that cost you over $20,000 in structural repairs to your house. Click for a larger view.

Buy your steel-braided fill hoses here.

Any questions?

If you’re contemplating taking on this repair, welcome to HELL! Some wise appliance techs (hey, is that an oxymoron?) discuss their experiences with this trial-by-fire in this topic and this one at the Samurai Appliance Repair Forum.

You’ll need the hub seal kit, which you can buy here. It comes with complete instructions. The Amana washer service manual is a highly recommended job aid. And an extra pint of blood.

On the world-famous SUDS-o-meter, this job is off the scale.

To learn more about your washing machine, or to order parts, click here.

This is a known issue with these otherwise fine washing machines. There is a repair bulletin out to have the door latch shimmed to alleviate this noise from the door when it is in spin. Pegi, one of the Master Appliantologists and the Moderator at the repair forum, explains more fully in this forum topic.

If you had the extreme misfortune of purchasing a newer GE top-loading washer, then sooner or later you’ll need to tear down this feculent machine. These tear-sheets from the service manual awwta hepya.

There have been problems with the motor wire harness connector on these washers. The problems are either a loose or bent terminal in the molex connector.

Unplug the connector and tug on each wire. If a wire comes loose from the plug, bend the locking tab up. If a locking tab is not properly seated in the plug connector, the terminals will not fully engage as the connector is plugged into the motor.

Another manifestation of this problem is that one of the terminals may be bent. Inspect the terminals on the motor side of the connector. Straighten any bent terminals if they exist. Recheck the harness side of the terminal block if any bent terminals are found. Bent terminals can indicate a problem with the locking tab inside the plug.

To learn more about your washing machine, or to order parts, click here.

This is the real deal written by the manufacturer of this washer, not some wannabe-but-ain’t-got-the-balls third party. With over 60 pages of detailed technical information, photographs, diagrams, illustrations, and, yes, schematics, you’ll be able to easily do any repair on your Calypso washer using this manual. It’s written in a clear, easy-to-understand style so that even if you’re a technical neophyte, you can easily handle even the most complex repairs on this washer. All this for less than 20 bucks! Come git you one!

What? You thought I’d like, have one posted here for free? Hello? Ok, Genius, tell me how I’m supposed to buy enough groceries to feed three kids, a dog, and two cats by just giving shi’it away? 🙁

Hey, nolo contendre, compadre… hehe, that’s a little Latin lingo there fer ya, Gunga Din… because he is merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, the Samurai graciously accepts your apology; how ’bout you just make a generous love-offering to my flavorite charity and I’ll let you borrow my copy. Domo arigato, M’vato.

This can be the muthah of all appliance repairs, easily rating six mugs on the world-famous SUDs-o-meter. Before you get started, make sure you have at least a six-pack of your most flavorite fermented grain beverage. And read this topic in the repair forum for some of the finer points on technique.

Before you start having an anxiety attack thinking this is the famous control board failure or running elaborate tests to monitor motor function, let’s check some simple things, like water supply to the washer and the water fill during the rinse cycle.

To learn more about your washing machine, or to order parts, click here.