One of the wonderful accessories we have in our 5th wheel is a Splendide model 2100 combination washer/dryer. This thing has more cycle options than any appliance I’ve ever seen.
Until recently this appliance has been a wonderful accessory choice. Then came the day that “IT” decided to keep our clothes and the control knob would just spin around in a click-click-click fashion. As with all front-loading washers, the door automatically locks when it has water in it. In most cases that is a really good idea. However, if it fails to drain, guess what, you’re left with a washer full of water and clothes and a locked door.
It turns out that if you take the drain hose out of the pipe and position it below the level of the washer basket, gravity will do its job and let the water flow. Once empty, the door will open and the clothing can be removed.
We called Splendide to try to analyze our situation. Of course, they said that we needed to move the unit out of the closet so that we could get to the back. That is easier said than done. We removed the left hand door to the closet and worked the machine out. Getting it out of the closet and missing the dresser and bed is a real challenge.
As you can see we made it with some slight damage to the bottom closet molding. Using a two-wheeled dolly, we were able to get the machine outside where it could be worked on.
The analysis and repair took about two weeks. The technicians at Splendide are very knowledgeable, but it would have been easier if they would send you a list of things to check rather than one thing per phone call.
To summarize, I removed the circuit board, located at the bottom rear of the machine, and examined it for burned components. None were seen so the board was reassembled. Next I set it up using a garden hose so that I could try to run the machine. Once again, the door remained locked. This is where I broke off the door handle trying to open it. I’ll chalk that one up to poor design. Well, that added a $40.00 latch assembly to our eventual order.
I was able to recreate the problem of a locked door, machine full of water and the control knob spinning. Then came the rain. So it was disconnect and quickly get the machine under cover.
Then I called Splendide again to tell them what I discovered about the circuit control board and that I was able to recreate the problem. They asked, “How many times did the light blink when the knob was spinning?” Nuts, I didn’t know to count the blinks. That had to wait until the rain stopped and I could retry my test. Two days later I determined that we had 5 blinks, which is the code for a bad pump. That settled, I ordered a new, $145.00 pump and my $40.00 handle assembly, unhooked and stored the machine again.
Four days later, the new reinforced handle and the pump arrived. Except for getting the spring and pin aligned, the handle assembly was replaced easily. The pump is accessed by turning the machine on its side, removing the bottom of the machine and replacing the pump. That was about a 10-minute job.
Same result. Door locked, and wouldn’t drain.
When I called Splendide again, they had me turn the machine on its side, remove the bottom, and with the power on and in drain mode, check voltage on wires going to the pump. Hmm, 1.7 volts where I should have 120 volts. This would have been a good test to run at the beginning. Anyway, this meant that the $335.00 circuit board controller was bad. While I had the machine on its side, I replaced the new pump with my old one.
When the new card arrived, 5 days later, I installed it and tested the machine. Success!!!!!
It was tricky, but we got the machine back in the closet and reconnected. Tinka started a load when I realized that I had forgotten to put the drain hose in the drain tube. Wiggling the full machine to the left, I was able to reach the hose and put it in the tube. Disaster avoided.
Now I need to return the pump I bought earlier and world order will be restored.
