have approx 6yr old sears kenmore washing machine---just your typical basic top-loading washing machine. anyway, after it goes through the "wash" cycle and hits "rinse", the tub will not fill up. it just keeps draining. wonder if anyone could give any advice on the matter? thanks!

you have 2 problems, the first is it's a sears product, not very reliable
second, the timer is probably bad, thr moving the timer dial foward to the final spin cycle, if it spins then move it back to the drain setting

This message has been edited. Last edited by: nona,

Is this a washer that is new to you, or have you had this washer and it all of a sudden developed this problem. Have you moved it recently?

ach, nona, Consumer Reports and my experience don't agree with you.

as to this problem... could be an inexpensive drain solenoid valve, could be an expensive (or unobtainium) mechanical timer issue. could be a sock or anklet stuck in the drain line gumming up the valve. the drain valve thing is a DIY capable project, assuming you turn off the water, unplug the power, and can tip back the timer panel and unlock the clips under there and lift the case off.

trace the drain line back to the solenoid valve, and use a meter or test lamp to see if the solenoid is allowing current flow. see if moving the solenoid arm in and out operates the valve. if not, worth taking it off to see if there's a sock stuck in it. no obstruction, oil it up with light non-detergent oil where the arm enters the solenoid. all else fails, replace it... the part is in the $40 range. still a problem, and all the wires are clipped to the right places on the timer, it's the timer. ((hint: the wiring diagram is folded up under the timer cover someplace. be sure to put it back.))

timers are in the $300-400 range if they haven't all sold out. once the washer is no longer made, and the timer stock runs out, that's it.

That might be the normal operation of your washer that you're just noticing now.

My 3 Maytags have a "Spin & Spray" cycle after the wash cycle. So, the machine fills with water, agitates and then spins to complete the wash cycle.

Then it keeps spinning the clothes while spraying cold water on them. Then it spins for another 1.5 minutes to spin out that cold rinse water.

Only then does it refill with cold water for the rinse cycle.

During the spin and spray cycle, the machine will still be spinning and pumping water out.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Nestor,

got a lesson on our new washer... it does about the same thing... but 6 years old, hmmm....

kenmore and whirlpool washers with a "wash plate" instead of a bit tall ol' agitator do have a bunch of start-and-gurgle cycles all throughout the wash sequence in which it seems the machine is dying. if you have a non-traditional washer, you should really go for the manual (paper or online both exist) to see what to expect.

front-loaders from the past few years have similar silly notions that all work out well in the end. particularly if your washer is labelled "water conserving" it will not work like one from the 70s or 80s.

my advice assumed it was a good old design with a traditional agitator, in which the cycles were well-defined and ran until it was time for the next one.

first off, thanks for the replies. greatly appreciated. i really don't know much about washing machines at all. at least the mechanical aspects.

majority of time, i wash on normal cycle. when it "sticks" (after wash cycle) and is trying to fill tub for rinse, i have stopped timer and tried moving it to delicate and heavy duty---but, will not work past the wash cycle on any of the 3. the tub just keeps trying to fill up but water just keeps draining. the only way i can get it to work is start the whole washing cycle from the beginning.