The Washing Machine Redux

You may recall that a few weeks ago, the washing machine in the apartment was not working correctly.  We called Sears, and a repairmen came out and examined the machine.  He concluded that the strange movements and flashing lights were simply due to overloading the machine.  The centrifuge was just readjusting itself

The following Saturday, when our cleaning lady, Guillermina, came, she had no problems with the washer.  We hoped that all was well.  However, the next Saturday, Guillermina told us that after doing the laundry, the machine started making noises and lights were flashing even though it was turned off.  That evening, Alejandro tried washing a few items and had no problem.  Later in the week I tried washing half a load of clothes just to make sure it was working before our cleaning lady's next visit.  I had a difficult time getting the machine to even start.  Finally, it went through the wash and rinse cycles, but then it stopped.  The lid was locked shut, and I had to unplug the washer to remove the laundry.  Of course, since the clothes had not been through the spin cycle, they were sopping wet.  I put them in the dryer (which fortunately is still functioning).  During the entire time that the clothes were in the dryer, the washing machine was making occasional noises, and three lights were continuously flashing.  After the clothes were dry, I unplugged the machine again.

When Guillermina came on Saturday, I told her not worry about the laundry.  Alejandro had called Sears again, and the repairman would be out on Tuesday.  On Tuesday, the same fellow arrived.  I plugged in the machine, and the three lights were flashing again.  After spending some time examining the washer, he told me that the "card" needed to be replaced.  It would take two or three days to get the new part, and he would then return.  I am hoping that he comes today or tomorrow.  I can then tackle the pile of laundry that has accumulated so that Guillermina doesn't have so many clothes to wash.

When the repairman said that the "card" needed to be replaced, it really had no idea what he was talking about.  I did some reading, and apparently nowadays washers have a computer card that serves as the "brains" of the machine.

We were much better off in the "old days".  Washers didn't have "cards", and they were built to last for twenty years or more!