How to Troubleshoot & Replace Whirlpool AP6006265 / WP22002119 Wax Motor

The wax motor shaft would not extend far enough to close the high speed switch for the spin cycle. I replaced the wax motor. Since the extraction pump noisy I replaced it also. 

I friend of mine was giving away his 20+ year old Maytag Neptune stacked washer dryer that stopped working for an unknown reason. Rather than invest in repairs, he simply bought a new unit. I discovered shortly that the timer had stopped working, and subsequently that the old style wax motor was defective. Fortunately, the main control board was still good and there were no other issues, but for years of accumulated lint inside the case. While I had the thing apart, I also decided to replace the belt and motor isolators as a preventative measure. $220.00 in parts and guidance from the awesome DIY videos AppliancePartsPros posts, the disassembly and repairs were super easy. I now have a solid fully functioning machine that will hopefully last a few more years. 

Shut Down During Rinse Cycle: The water pressure switch would not signal control board and machine stops. (switch ok) After checking the water valve discovered that hose screen was plugged. Checked the Thermistor on valve and it read 0 Ohm. Should read between 22K and 50K Ohm between hot and cold flow. (tells control board how to adjust temperature of incoming water) Solution: Replace Valve, Water-4 Coil. Works like new! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ No Spin Cycle: Replace Motor-Wax so it will lock door and close spin enable switch. Works like new! 

After research found out that the wax motor is defective and sometimes when it fails it can damage electronics. Identify defective wax motor by its brown plunger. (black are new ones) Replaced the defective part and the spin cycle still didn't work. Removed front panel and door and top hold down brackets. Reassembled without top hold down brackets. Allowed washer to run with the lid propped up enough to observe wax motor in operation. Wax motor worked fine. It extends to lock the door and push on horizontally mounted limit switch to enable the door locked light and then continues to push a plunger the pushes on vertically mounted limit switch that enables the spin cycle. Removed power and connectors from the spin enable switch. Checked continuity while manually operating switch. Switch was not working. Swapped the horizontal switch for the locked light with the spin enable switch. (they are identical) Tested washer and spin cycle worked. For what ever reason the locked light also worked. Tips: Top hold down brackets should be observed closely for proper replacement. 

After using the message boards, my brain and an online service manual to troubleshoot the problem in my mother's washing machine, I chatted online to ask if the wax motor that fits the latch was identical to the two that divert the water in the dispenser. Was told that they are the same and they were. When I actually opened the machine I found that the spring that retracts the arm was broken. I replaced the wax motors I purchased anyway as they are the 'defective' kind (had replaced the one in the latch years ago before it failed) and manufactured a spring that worked from one I found in a multipack at the local hardware store. So far success and my mother can once again use the bleach and softener dispensers in her 16 year old Maytag Neptune. 

Replace the belt! 

Followed recommendations on video for this issue and replaced appropriate burnt components so problem would not reoccur. If wax motor was not upgraded the new control board would have burned out in the same manner. 

Replaced switch, door lock, spin enable. It was easy enough to do. I thought I would need the wax motor as well, but I had already replaced the brown stemmed one with a black stemmed one 10 years ago and I now have a spare. Also replaced burned-out bulb hard to get to used duct tape trick to remove the bulb. 

Replaced wax motor and control board 

Watched video that diagnosed the problem and then videos on how to repair the washer. Ordered parts from AppliancePartsPro. It all went very well. I'm only so so with tools but with the clear and easy to follow videos I managed just fine. Probably saved a couple of hundred dollars and didn't have to wait for the repair guy to show up,