anyone have vibration problems with whirlpool wfw9200/wfw9400?

16 years ago

Hi,

A couple weeks ago we purchased a new Whirlpool WFW9200 frontload washer from Lowe's. We got it over the WFW9400 since Consumer Reports' new issue said they were "similar" and the only difference I could initially tell between the two models is that the 9400 has more cycles (more on that later).

However, I've had some concerns with our 9200:

- First off, the floor model at Lowe's was made in Germany, but the one delivered to us was made in Mexico like the Duet Sport washers. The model number in the tag on ours has an extra A11 at the end: "WFW9200SQA11"

- We've had some serious shaking/vibration issues with the washer. The first Lowe's installation team was incompetent and did not tighten the leg nuts correctly (and also failed to cover the bolt holes in the back), and the washer was shaking the laundry room so hard during the spin cycle that the vibration could be heard at the other end of the house (our laundry room is on the 1st floor)

- We complained to Lowe's and they sent out another team of installers who re-leveled the washer and tightened the leg nuts. Now the washer only vibrates slightly during most spins, but it's still shaking pretty bad during the highest spin speeds starting 8 minutes prior to the end of the cycle. When the spin finally powers down at 3 minutes prior to the end, you can see and hear the tub bouncing up and down on the washer's suspension.

I've gone back to stores to check out the floor models, and something else I just noticed is that all WFW9200 washers have a very "loose" tub... i.e., you can reach in, grab the edge of the tub, and shake it and feel it bouncing against its suspension. However, the WFW9400, 9600, and other frontloaders I checked out at the store all had rigid tubs that don't bounce like the WFW9200. I'm wondering if the bouncy tub in the 9200 is transmitting resonance into our floor and is causing the shaking... so I was thinking of returning our 9200 and getting a 9400 or a different brand.

Can any owners of the 9200 or 9400 share their experience with their washers? I'm concerned that if the washer is shaking this badly, the other components will easily fail and this $900 washer won't last more than a couple years or so. Thanks.

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Comments (8)

cyberinferno
16 years ago
I have the WFW9600 set and have not experienced ANY odd vibration. Also, mine were made in Germany.Good luck!
sparky823
16 years ago
Seems someone else on here had a similar problem with his 9400 and exchanged it for a Bosch. I have also read of a couple of cases of this with the Maytag Epic which is an almost identical machine.

Maybe the guy with the 9400/Bosch will read this and tell you about his problem.
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cr85b
Original Author
16 years ago
Addition: I ran a Rise/Spin cycle today with no clothes in the drum and at max RPM the washer ran smoothly with no shaking. So it seems like the washer is technically balanced. Perhaps the shaking is coming from a problem with the drum suspension or the floor is too weak (it's linoleum over wood).
sparky823
16 years ago
The problem I remember reading was something to do with the shocks not working right. The tub was "off center" and it was just flopping and bumping around too much.
luvmykelpie
16 years ago
I have a Maytag Epic MFW9700SQ1, a sister machine to the WFW9200. Note the '1' after the SQ in my Epic's model number. The '1' represents some type of a revision in the way the machine is engineered.

My Epic has the same problem as your Whirlpool with an extremely loose suspension that causes extreme wobbling whenever I try to wash anything. There's no way I would be able to wash anywhere near a load the size that's suggested in the Epic's User Manual. The only time my Epic spins smoothly is when there's nothing in it except water.

I can shake the drum easily by hand when empty. When I have a load of laundry in the drum, it actually sinks about 1 1/2 inches. When ramping up and down for spinning, the drum assembly wobbles so badly that it hits the inner sides of the machine and also hits whatever is under the assembly - pump, etc.

My Epic is level; that's been checked by a service tech and that's not the problem. It doesn't shake or walk (it's on a very sturdy floor) - just the horrible drum assembly wobbling.

Maytag repair has replaced the springs, shocks, and electronic control board. None of these have made any difference at all.

I had one service tech state that there was an unrepairable problem with the suspension and authorize a replacement. Maytag insisted on a 2nd opinion. The 2nd service tech claims that this is the way the Epic is supposed to work so there's nothing wrong with it. He did say that Maytag received complaints about vibration issues, so they redesigned these machines with a looser suspension. That's why the drum assembly wobbles so much. I don't know if he was just feeding me a line, or what.

All I know is my Epic does not wash as much as it's supposed to, and my machine is getting a lot of wear from the drum assembly wobbling around and bouncing off of everything on the inside.

Home Depot would not take it back. I bought an extended warranty. I'm going to use the extended warranty to charge up a small fortune in repair bills as I see fit, and run this Epic into the ground. And then, GOOD RIDDANCE!!!

Am I disgusted? Heck, yeah!!! My Maytag Epic woes are linked below.

BTW, I have an LG Steam Tromm 2487 in another home - it works like a dream!

I'm kicking myself for buying the Maytag Epic. I wanted the Maytag brand to semi-match the Atlantis dryer which still works well. I'm wishing now that I'd bought a non-steam LG.

Another lengthy thread on the wobbling issue with a Whirlpool Duet (sister machine):
http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/laundry/msg1023225028142.html

Here is a link that might be useful: My Maytag Epic Woes
john_31_fl
16 years ago
I experienced the same thing with a Whirlpool Duet WFW9200 I bought right after new years. The tub was real loose and with a large load of towels or jeans the tub would sink down about 2 inches. It just didn't seem right.

I ended up taking it back to Lowes after having it 2 weeks and I bought the Duet Sport WFW8400 from a local dealer. All I can say is there is a huge difference with the suspension. On the Duet sport it is much stiffer and no matter how large a load the tub doesn't sink down or wobble like the larger Duet.

I can fit about the same size load in the Duet sport as well. It is 3.7 cu ft vs. 4 cu. ft.
cr85b
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks for the replies so far. I went back to Lowe's today and they told me to call a manager tomorrow and that it was likely they'll take it back. I also noticed tonight that the tub looks slightly off center, and when the washer is ramping up for the high spin cycle, the tub is actually banging into the bottom right of the rubber seal on the door. This might explain some of that thumping noise and the fact that the rubber seal is already starting to look slightly deformed after only 2 weeks.

I also called Whirlpool today and the guy there wasn't terribly helpful, but he said that our 9200 was built in Mexico in December 2007, which makes me wonder if Whirlpool just recently moved production of the 9200s over there. If so, they seem to be having quality control issues. Our current 9200 is actually the 2nd one we took delivery of from Lowe's... the first one had an F34(?) pump error after the installation guys tried a test cycle.

Has anyone recently bought a Duet 9200 or 9400 that was made in Germany and/or has no vibration issues?
luvmykelpie
16 years ago
The problem is not just with machines assembled in Mexico. My Epic was assembled in Germany, according to the serial number label.

It also seems that a bad batch of suspension parts at the factory can be ruled out because I've had all of mine replaced with no difference in the severe wobbling problems.

I think it's a design revision that made the suspension looser in response to complaints about vibration. They just went too far and ruined the machines.

I'm stuck with a crappy Maytag Epic lemon with a badly designed suspension tweak that cost me about $1,200 (purchase + extended warranty) and a lot of aggravation.

I advise anyone looking into purchasing a FL to check the floor models for excessive drum assembly looseness and/or wobbling by hand (try to move the drum around). If it moves more than other FL models, DON'T buy that model.

Furthermore, pay close attention to the complete model number of the machine you're purchasing. Engineering and/or design revisions are usually coded in the model number (the original Epic's MFW9700SQ versus my crappy Epic's MFW9700SQ1). If the model number is different than the model you researched at the store, don't accept delivery.

Learn from my mistake! There are plenty of good FL choices out there!

anyone have vibration problems with whirlpool wfw9200/wfw9400?

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anyone have vibration problems with whirlpool wfw9200/wfw9400?

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