GE Washer makes clicking noises and won't agitate (sometimes)

[brianhirsch]

My GE WBSE2090A2WW has started making clicking noises during the agitation cycle. Then it stopped agitating at all, then started up again. It seems to have trouble agitating with a larger load. At first it was spinning OK, but now the clicking happens during the spin cycle, too.

It fills and drains OK. I took the agitator apart and the coupler looks fine. I'm assuming it's the motor or something related.

Please give me advice and also instructions on how to get the front off to check inside.

[AJ]

Hi Brian,

 Sound like you may just have a bad motor. I am not much of a ge guy myself. Just don't see many around these parts.

If you have not already found it here is the parts diagram for you washer.

Diagram

Maybe Pegi will be able to us more on your washer.

[Pegi]

If the motor is kicking in and out on low speed but not high speed then it is a problem with the motor.  This shows you to  push in on the clips at the top outer corners, pull the top of the front out then lift the front off of the base clips. CLICK HERE

[brianhirsch]

Thanks for the help although it's not what I wanted to hear.

Questions:

1) Is this the right motor?
Partselect.com - GE Appliance Parts And All Brands of Appliance Parts

3) Is this even worth it? The motor is $170 to $200 and a new washer is less than $300.

[Pegi]

Well, the new GE washers were not worth the price when they were new...LOL...take your money and get a nice Whirlpool/Roper/Kitchenaid/Estate direct drive washer, lasts longer, easier to repair and costs less.....remember simpler is better, no electronics or fancy stuff...

[brianhirsch]

I just went to Consumer Reports and found a couple of things I wanted to run by you.

1) Consumer Reports has this to say about buying new now: "Lower prices have helped traditional top-loaders outsell better-performing front-loaders. But the differences in washing ability have become more dramatic this year because of stricter energy standards. Indeed, for the first time in years, we can't call any washer a Best Buy because models that did a very good job getting laundry clean cost $1,000 or more. If your budget is limited, consider waiting for prices to come down." -- Given that new ones don't wash as well should I just fix this one? What are your thoughts?

2) For reliability they rate top-loaders in this order:
Roper, GE, Fridgidaire, Kenmore, Whirlpool, Maytag, Amana, Kitchenaid etc.
So, they like the GE better than the ones you listed (Except Roper). Comments?

[Pegi]

 For reliability they rate top-loaders in this order:
Roper, GE, Fridgidaire, Kenmore, Whirlpool, Maytag, Amana, Kitchenaid etc.
So, they like the GE better than the ones you listed (Except Roper). Comments?
_______________________________________________________
This is just such crap....Sears makes nothing, is made for them, including the ones you listed above, Whirlpool makes Kitchenaid, Roper, Estate, ,Kenmore top load washers, Maytag and Amana and Admiral washers are now Whirlpool washers with their name stuck on the front..the exact same washer with a different name on the front has a different rating, now does this make sense to you???.I would not have a frigidaire anything, just read thru the forums about what junk their washers and dishwashers are....Kitchenaid is the high line wp, roper and estate are the value lines of wp, kenmore is any line-brand out there, no clue what you are buying, i believe money changes hands behind the curtain at CR..

[Bob]

i believe money changes hands behind the curtain at CR

Me too there is no other way to explain some of the things you read in there.

[rickgburton]

Pegi's right, you'll be better off to invest in a Whirlpool or Kenmore top load direct drive. Here why; All parts are readily available, they're not expencive (most), I can't think of any repair that takes longer than an hour and most less than 30 minutes. In our store of just used appliances, I have no GE's on the floor and never will. If you still have doubts ask a few service techs what the best washer is. Just my opinion.