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Water leak from Fisher & Paykel gwl11 washer

14 years ago

I have the Fisher & Paykel GWL11 washer and I am leaking water from underneath. I can see water dripping directly from the pump where the flywheel is. It doesn't look like this is hard to fix based on pictures posted by Dadoes. Is it as simple as taking the pump off as his pictures suggest and replacing with a new one? Thanks.

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Comments (6)

dadoes
14 years ago
I'm answering your question about myself. :-)

DO NOT continue to use the machine with a leaking pump. The pump can short-out and kill the controller board, which turns a $60 repair into a $250 repair.

And yes, it really is that easy to replace the pump.
godankenpo
Original Author
14 years ago
Thank you Dadoes...I Will switch it out
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Your post has a lot of rambling, difficult to follow. There apparently are two GWL11 washers involved, and two dryers of an as-yet unspecified model but seems to be a toploader units based on the reference to a control board. Two washers and one dryer are exhibiting trouble. One of the washers is not getting cold water but hot flow is OK. That would be choice of 1) an electrical problem with the cold water valve; or 2) a problem with the control board; or 3) a debris clog at the supply faucet (if a screen is there) or at the machine hose connection. The other washer continues to run (cold) water in, even when disconnected from power, until the supply faucet is turned off. I'm assuming that the flow starts again when the faucet is turned on. That's a physical problem with the valve stuck open. It can't be an electrical problem with the machine because, of course, unplugging the machine cuts the electricity and nothing is energized. Note: The machine should have overflow protection in that the pump will turn on (along with a beeping fault code) if the level in the tub reaches a higher-than-normal level. Whether the pump drains fast enough to keep it from overflowing depends on how fast is inlet flow. I'm not fully clear on the dryer situation even after reading the post several times, but apparently the problem may be with the power outlet to which one of the dryers is connected.
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godankenpo
Original Author
14 years ago
I am concerned if there is any other part (above) the pump that may be defective causing the leak. The leak occurs when the washer is actually washing clothes...At that time the little propeller on end of pump is turning back and forth. When this is going on I see water from center of the pump dripping onto the propeller. It is dripping quite a bit. My concern is if it isn't the pump and I replace it...and if the leak is still there could it be some valve above it. Would the diagnostic codes on book hidden under panel help with this?
dadoes
14 years ago
First, let's be sure you've properly identified which is the pump vs. the main drive motor.

The pump is a small separate electric motor on a metal mounting plate set toward the side of the tub. It has a plastic multi-blade cooling fan attached to the lower end of the motor shaft. The pump does not run during agitation, so I wouldn't figure it'd turn back and forth, but I've never looked at mine during agitation so perhaps it does in sympathy with the water currents.

The main drive motor is a large beige plastic disc at the center-axis of the tub. It has a curly-cue looking piece at the bottom. The main drive motor DOES turn back and forth during agitation ... as it is what is driving the agitator.

In regards to the pump, there is no valve set into the tub above it. There's an opening in bottom of the tub under the mounting bracket into which the pump impeller fits, with a rubber gasket around the face of the pump/impeller that seals against the tub opening.

There is a valve mounted near the pump, to which three hoses attach (pump hose, drain hose, recirculation hose). It could develop a leak, but water dripping from it wouldn't get on the pump.

If the main tub seal/bearing leaks, water will dribble from/around the main motor.

Why not pull the pump for inspection, to check if the bearings are obviously loose/worn or for evidence of water/soap residue on the windings?
godankenpo
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks for all the help...especially the pictures on how to pull and replace the pump. I bought a new pump and replaced the old one. Washer is fixed no more leaks. The old pump had water related rust on it..the shaft where the flywheel is connected to seemed too loose..it moved up and down much more than the new pump..Not sure how the water was leaking through the pump but things are now fixed...Thank you
CommodoreP
12 years ago
Dadoes --

I have a 7-year old F&P GWL11 that started leaking this week. The leak is not in the tub, not when the water exits the machine, and not where the water enters the machine. Any suggestions for what to do next? Can you email me a service manual, if you please? thanks!

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