Is this pathetic enough that it's funny yet?

[jilln]

This morning started off like any other recent morning, but then...

First one of my dogs attacked another of my dogs, putting puncture wounds in his arm. He's OK, but now I have to decide whether to take the agressor back to doggy boot camp or try to deal with it myself by keeping her in a crate for the next few weeks and doing obedience.

Soon after that, my washing machine died. As I'm trying to sell the house, this is particularly annoying because now I'll have to buy a new appliance and leave it behind. Oh, and half my clothes are sopping wet inside it.

Then another dog that I took off the streets and am trying to find a home for got out of my backyard somehow. He was neutered Friday so he's not supposed to be running around and he could reopen the wound or get it infected. I can't find him anywhere.

Oh, and a huge moving truck broke down right in front of my driveway, so I can't even go to the laundromat.

[skygazer]

1. No, that's not funny at all

Sounds like no fun at all. I hope you find the dog at any rate. :hug:

[Kali]

2. what happened to your washing machine - you might be able to fix it yourself

I am getting to be rather an expert at these things - just pretty much rebuilt my dishwasher and my washing machine needs some work too. Trying to decide if I should order the part and the special tool to fix it, take in for repair or that dreaded option of just springing for a new one...

[jilln]

3. I have no idea

It just stopped working. At first I thought it was a fuse or something but it's not. When I try to turn it back on it seems like it's trying but nothing happens. Motor dying maybe?

I can't even turn it around to get a look at the back because it's full of water.

In general, isn't this one of those things that if you call someone to come fix it, it costs as much as getting a new one anyway?

[Kali]

4. Hell no, washing machines are one of those things that are still built to last more than

a year or two. Some are REALLY easy to work on too. What brand is it? Do you know the year? Are you handy at all? Often all that is wrong is a belt has broken or come off. Again some are easy to get to others are a bit more work. You can siphon most of the water out by taking the drain hose out of the drain pipe and lowering it - make sure you have a bucket handy or it will go on the floor. A regular machin holds around 20 gallons so if you use a 5 gallon bucket, 4 trips will get most of it.then you can pull your clothes out.

Type your model/brand into google and you will find all kinds of resources, repairclinic.com is a good one and they will answer questions by e-mail too.

[jilln]

6. OK, I tried siphoning the water out

and only about a cup of water came out.

Now I'm checking repairclinic.com

On edit: Sounds like this might be the problem but I can't figure out how to open up the top to find the lid switch:

Lid switch
If the lid switch is defective, your washer can't spin and may not function at all. The switch is inside the washing machine main housing near the door frame. Often you have to raise or open the top or front of the washer to get to the switch.

[Kali]

7. Yeah it can be funky opening things. Just make sure you unplug

the machine before you start taking it apart. If the siphon didn't work you will have to bail it out. once you get most of the water out you can move the machine away from the wall and see if there is access from the back.

I have an old maytag (I thought my problem was the lid switch too, unfortunately it wasn't) mine has two screws on the very top and the front with the knobs and dials just kind of pulled forward and off...they vary a lot though so keep looking, make notes if you end up taking a lot of things off...

You might try calling sears or whoever is your brand's authorized service company and just ask...I live way out of town so that is why I am forced to learn a lot of do-it-your-ownself or else hauling things 60 miles to the repair place - but I have a pick-up and two teenage boys so...

[SOteric]

5. Even if you're not handy,

I've discovered the folks at Sears will come out and fix your washer and dryer at a reasonable rate (as long as it's fixable), even if they didn't sell it to you and they don't carry your brand.

If you have to purchase, rather than new, look into a good rebuilt machine from a reliable dealer.