If your washer is operating normally except for the high-speed spin, read on!

IT MAY SIMPLY BE THE DOOR LATCH AND/OR DOOR LOCK MECHANISM! YOU CAN REPLACE THIS YOURSELF FOR UNDER $100.00!!!

You can order at this link:
Door lock and switch assembly

After my service tech wanted to replace the board, then the motor, then the timer, etc., I said enough is enough. His suggested repairs would have cost over $500.00.

If you can use a voltage meter, remove the front access panel. There is a test connector. Simply insert your black and red testing needles into the receptacle. If there is voltage during the spin cycle, this is bad. Replace your door lock and latch. If there is no voltage, the door lock is not your problem.

To replace the door lock mechanism: There may be a better way, but I removed the top of the washer (easy) and worked down. Then, look at yours with a flashlight. I reached my arm down through the top (tight squeeze - you may have to get your wife!) and unplugged the three different wire harnesses (take your time - you can do it). Note that two of them have small safety releases that you have to squeeze first to remove the plug. Just feel your way around. It really is not hard. Then remove the two screws from the front, and out it comes.

To install the new one, I fished it up from the bottom. You can reach just inside the washer tub (where you wash clothes) and press through the rubber seal to hold it and allow you to start a screw. Take your time, you can do it.

This whole operation took less than one hour, plus a trip to the parts store. I found that my local parts stores were very competitive with the internet sites. Check the Frigidaire site to locate a distributor near you. Very helpful. While you are there, buy some steel hoses for the hot and cold water supply. They will not burst like rubber hoses. Great investment!

Many thanks to the tech that pointed this out. You saved me hundreds of dollars! My washer is spinning again. My motor, board, and timer are JUST FINE!

Hope this helps!

Hi Rick,

I remember on the older frigidaire and kenmore 417 front loaders they did have a latch problem, but this was like on the early 1997-2001 models. I guess we are getting a rash of these starting to come back to haunt us again?

I been replacing speed boards and motors left and right on the 2002-2005 models. And its been fixing this spin issue.

Thanks for the good information!

Jake

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Jake,

Thanks for the reply. Yes, my washer is dated March 2000. Judging from other posts that I have seen, this is a recurring issue. What is so puzzling about this problem is that the door lock light is "on" and the washer spins normally back and forth during the wash cycle. With this performance, one is inclined to think that the door lock is OK.

What disappointed me was that my service tech did not know, or take the initiative, to perform the simple test. That is exactly why Frigidaire put the test connector there in the first place (I am sure it has other purposes as well). That test quickly showed it was the door lock.

Again, I am very appreciative of folks such as yourself and Mad Mac that take your time to help "suits" like me save a few hundred dollars. I cannot thank you enough!

Keep on spinning!

By the way, I need to clarify that I am talking about the high-speed spin, like the final spin. It was the high-speed spin that was not working, not the normal spin during the washing action. I edited the original post to reflect this.

Rick,

I got your e-mail re this - It's always nice when someone feeds back that the advice they got here has been helpful.

A while back, I wrote a "sticky" on the whole door lock thing on these - Jake, is it just me, or has it gone? Also, the "Door Lock" light, for reasons known only to Friggidaire, only proves that the detergent drawer is closed. I know, I'm still trying to figure that one out as well......

I think i found it Mad Mac, tell me if this is it:
http://www.applianceblog.com/mainforums/showthread.php?t=255

Jake

__________________
Appliance Repair School 1987-1988
Star Appliance Tech. 2 yrs. 1988-1990
Wards Appliance Tech. 11 yrs. 1990-2001
Sears Appliance Tech. 4 yrs. 2001-Oct. 2005
Jake's Appliance Repair Nov. 2005-present

If you need more repair advice help on your appliance, click Here

Look-Up & Order Parts

Shop Home Appliances

That's the one Jake, I couldn't see it last night - don't think I looked in the Friggidaire forum.

Are the schematics for these available online someplace? I have the older version, seems like I bought it in ~ '98?

I have a temporary fix for mine - a 2x4, with some foam padding on the nose, bar clamped to the laundry room door frame and pressing on the washer door. Cost - $0, nuisance factor - high.

With the price this same model is selling for at HH Gregg, it would almost be worth it to buy a new one and part the old one out on eBay to pay for it. (actually I would come out ahead financially, just not hassle-ly). I mean dig it, the timer, controller, seal, door, motor, etc all work fine. Pump makes "loose bearing" noise, but has done so since 2 weeks after the warranty ran out and still works good.

http://www.frigidaire.com/support/manuals.asp

You'll need your model number.

Well, the panel inside the door says "417.39012891", but that looks more
like a Sears PN than a Frigidaire. Also most links I run across dont recognize that nunber either.

It was originally bought from sears, but it is branded Frigidaire, not Kenmore.