Neptune Washer General Diagnostics

General Operation Diagnostics for an MAH3000 and 4000 Neptune washer....

Troubleshooting: Washer Will Not Start

Confirm that the door shuts properly the Door Switch button.
Check for 120 vac between the power cord neutral (white wire no. 13) and the Push to Start Switch (gray wire no. 26) only the Door Switch button is pressed in.
Check the wiring at the Door Switch and Push to Start Switch.
Replace the Door Switch.
Check for 120 vac between the power cord neutral (white wire no. 13) and the Machine Control (black wire no. 27) on the relay COM terminal only when the Door Switch button is pressed in and the push to start button is pressed in. Check also for 120 vac between the power cord neutral (white wire no. 13) and the Machine Control (red wire no. 28 on connector P1) only when the Door Switch button is pressed in and the Push to Start button is pressed in.
Replace the Machine Control if 120 vac is present in both places.
Replace the Push Switch if 120 vac is not present in either place.

Troubleshooting: Washer Immediately Shuts Off when the Push to Start Switch is Released

Check for loose wiring on the Machine Control relay COM and NO terminals.
Check for a stuck relay on the Machine Control.

Troubleshooting: Washer Fills but Will Not Tumble

Check to make sure the Drive Belt has not come off of the Motor and Pulley. Reposition the Drive Belt if needed.
Check the wiring at the Machine Control.
Check the wiring between the Machine Control (Connector P4) and Motor Control (Connector JP4) and between the Motor Control (6 phase wires and the 3-position connector) and Motor (6- and 3-position connectors).
Perform the Drive System Diagnostic Test.

Troubleshooting: Washer Tumbles but Will Not Fill

Are the water valves open and the fill hoses unlinked?
Check for proper water pressure (above 15 psi)?
Check the wiring at the Timer, Machine Control, Pressure Switch, and Water Valves.
Check for proper routing and connection of the Air Dome Hose.
Confirm that there is no water visible in the Spinner.
Unplug the washer power cord, set the Timer knob into a wash increment, and check for the continuity from Timer contact 12-T (blue wire no. 32) to Pressure Switch terminal 1 (blue wire no. 32), then to Pressure Switch terminal 12 (purple wire no. 34), then to Machine Control P1-1 (purple wire no. 34)
Replace the Pressure Switch if there is no continuity across terminals 11 and 12
Repair or replace the wire hardness if continuity is lost along any wire.
Close the console, set the Timer knob into a wash increment, select the Hot/Cold water temperature setting, plug the washer power cord into the wall socket, and start the washer. Check for 120 vac across the hot water valve.
Replace the Water Valve if 120 vac is present when each Water Valve is checked.
Replace the Machine Control if 120 vac is not present when each Water Valve is Checked.

Troubleshooting: Washer Spins when it Should Tumble

Check the wiring between the Machine Control (Connector P4) and the Motor Control (Connector JP4). If the 3-wire tachometer circuit between the Machine Control and Motor Control is open, the washer will accelerate rapidly for 2 seconds before the Machine Control shuts down.
Repair or replace the main wire harness if continuity is lost along any wire.
Perform the Drive System Diagnostic Test.

Troubleshooting: Washer Will Not reach Top Spin Speed

If the clothing is out of balance, the washer may limit the top spin below the maximum speed. This is Normal behavior.
If the user had selected the Easy Care/Perm Press, Delicates, or Hand Washables cycles, the washer will limit the top spin speed below the maximum speed. This is also normal behavior.
If the Motor is noisy or seems to have a lower than normal torque, perform the Drive System Phase Continuity Test the Drive System Phase Loss Test.
If the washer vibrates excessively during high-speed spin, check the Vibration Absorber in the door.
Replace or reattach the Vibration Absorber springs if they are broken or out of their mounting.
Check the washer installation. Including how well the washer is leveled.
Check for weak or improperly supported flooring under the washer.

Troubleshooting: Washer Overfills

Set the Timer Knob into a wash increment and start the washer. Unplug the washer and check if water still flows into the washer. If it does continue to fill, check the water pressure at the washer.
Replace the Water Valve if the water pressure is above 15 psi.
If the water pressured is below 15 psi, it will need to be raised for the washer to operate properly.
Check the Air Dome Hose for proper routing, connections, and restrictions. Replace or reroute if needed. The Air Dome Hose can be blown out to unplug some restrictions.
Check for proper wiring at the Pressure Switch (blue wire no. 32, gray wire no. 33, and purple wire no. 34), Machine Control, and Water Valve (orange wire no. 7 and blue wire no. 9).
Check the Pressure Switch to confirm the continuity is lost across terminals 21 (gray wire no. 33) and 22 (purple wire no. 34) when the water level exceeds the rinse level trip point.
Replace the Pressure Switch if continuity is not lost in either condition.

Troubleshooting: Wash Cycle Takes Longer then Expected

If the clothing load is out of balance, the washer may add time to redistribute the load and re-attempt high speed spins. This is normal behavior.
If an oversuds condition develops during the cycle, the washer will add time to the cycle to clear out the suds. This is normal behaviour.
If the water pressure at the washer is low, the washer will automatically add time to the cycle to account for longer than expected fill times. This is normal behavior.

Troubleshooting: Washer Will Not Spin

Set the Timer Knob into a Spin increment and start the washer. Check to make sure the Door Locked Light comes on, after a 30-60 second delay.
If the Door Locked Light does not come on, check for 120 vac across the Door Lock Wax Motor.
If 120 vac is present when the washer is running in a Spin increment but the Door Lock Wax Motor does not extend fully, replace the Door Lock Switch Assembly.
If the Door Lock Wax Motor does extend, check for continuity across the Door Lock, Spin Enable Switch when the switch actuator button is pressed in. If there is no continuity across the Door Lock, Spin Enable Switch, replace the Door Lock Switch Assembly. If there is continuity across the Door Lock, Spin Enable Switch, check the wiring between the Switch and the Machine Control terminal P3-7. If there is continuity in this wire, replace the Machine Control.
If 120 vac is not present when the washer is running in a Spin increment, check the wiring between the Machine Control and Door Lack Wax Motor (brown wire no. 14). If there is continuity between the Door Lock Wax Motor and Machine Control terminal P7-4, replace the Machine Control.

Drive System Diagnostics

Troubleshooting: Drive System Diagnostics Test

Set the Timer knob into the Delay increments
Press the Push to Start Switch to start the washer in Delay mode. Confirm that the Delay Light comes on.
Check for 120 vac between the L and N terminals (black wire no. 27 and white wire no. 13) on the Motor Control.
Check the wiring between the Machine Control and Motor Control.
Unplug the washer power cord.
Remove the 6-position Connector JP4 from the Motor Control.
Plug the washer power cord into the wall socket.
Press the Push to Start Switch and confirm that the Delay Light comes on. The Washer should tumble continuously at 50 rpm in this test condition.
If the washer tumbles, the drive system is functioning properly.
If the washer does not tumble, check for continuity through the fuse on the Motor Control.
If the fuse is functioning , check the six power transistors on the Motor Control for visible damage. Replace the Motor Control if any damage is evident.
If there is no visible damage on the Motor Control, perform the Drive System Phase Loss Test.
Unplug the washer power cord and replace Motor Control Connector JP4 when finished.

Trouble Shooting: Drive Phase Loss Test

The Motor can run under light loads when one of the tree Motor phases is not functioning, but it will be noisier (growling sound) and will have less torque than normal.

Unplug the washer power cord before removing or reconnecting and wires on the Motor Control.
To access the Motor Control Terminals, remove the two screws that hold the Motor Control Bracket to the Base, Unsnap the two Twist Lock Wire Ties that restrain the Wire Harness, slide the Motor Control Assembly out and lay it in front of the washer. Remove the Drip Shield cover.
Unplug the 6-position JP4 connector from the Motor Control.
Place the Timer Knob into the Delay increments.
When ready to test a phase, plug the washer cord into the wall socket and press the Push to Start button.
Check Phase C by disconnecting the yellow or orange wire at the Motor Control. If the Motor operates with a slight growling sound, phases A and B is not functioning. Replace the Motor Control.
Check Phase B by disconnecting the white or red wire at the Motor Control. If the Motor operates with a slight growling sound, phases B and C is not functioning. Replace the Motor Control.
If the Motor passes this test, perform the Drive System Phase Continuity Test.

Troubleshooting: Drive System Phase Continuity Test

The Drive System Phase Loss Test must be performed prior to this test

Unplug the washer power cord.
Replace the Motor if any of the following conditions are not met.
Remove the 6 phase wires from the Motor Control. Check for continuity in Phase A between the yellow and orange wires. Check for continuity in Phase B between the red and white wires. Check for continuity in Phase C between the black and blue wires. Each wire pair should show 2-3 ohms resistance.
Check to be sure there is no continuity between any of the wires and the Motor frame.
The terminals in the 6-position connector on the Motor should be the same height. Remove the Connector and replace the Motor if any of the terminals are pressed into the Motor.
Replace the 6-position connector on the Motor, reassemble the Drip Shield Cover onto the Motor Control, and Reassemble the Motor Control into the washer when finished. Make sure the two screws and Twist Lock Wire Ties are fastened properly.

Typed with care by my daughter :-)

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