Kenmore 796.4172# manual Before Calling for Service Problem Possible Cause Solutions

TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE

BEFORE CALLING FOR SERVICE (continued)

Problem	Possible Cause	Solutions
Staining	Bleach or softener dispensed	Dispenser compartment is overfilled causing
	too soon.	bleach or softener to dispense immediately.
		Dispenser drawer closed too quickly causing
		bleach or softener to dispense immediately.
	Bleach or softener was added	Laundry chemicals must be loaded into the
	directly to the wash load in the drum.	dispenser.
	Washer was not unloaded promptly.	Always remove items from the washer as soon
		as possible after the cycle is complete.
	Clothes were not properly sorted.	Always wash dark colors separately from light
		colors and whites to prevent discoloration.
		Never wash heavily soiled items with lightly
		soiled items.
Washer will not turn ON	Power cord is not properly plugged in.	Make sure that the plug is plugged securely into
		a grounded, 3-prong, 120-VAC, 60-Hz outlet.
	House fuse is blown, circuit breaker	Reset circuit breaker or replace fuse. Do not
	has tripped, or power outage has	increase fuse capacity. If the problem is a circuit
	occurred.	overload, have it corrected by a qualified
		electrician.
	House fuse is blown, circuit breaker	Reset circuit breaker or replace fuse. If more
	has tripped, due to multiple	than one appliance is connected to the outlet,
	appliances on one outlet.	call an electrician to have an additional circuit
		installed.
Door will not unlock when cycle	Interior temperature of washer is too high.	The washer door has a safety feature to prevent
is stopped or paused		personal injury. For example, if the washer is
		paused during the hot wash stage of a sanitize
		cycle, the interior temperature of the drum will
		be very hot, so the door will not unlock. This
		is normal. Allow the washer to cool until the
		DOOR LOCK indicator turns OFF on the display.
	Water level in washer is too high.	To drain the water, press POWER, then press the
		SPIN SPEED button without selecting a cycle.
Wash cycle time is longer than usual	The washer automatically adjusts the	This is normal. The washer adjusts cycle time auto-
	wash time for the amount of laundry,	matically to provide optimal results for the selected
	water pressure, water heating time and	cycle. The time remaining shown in the display is only
	other operating conditions.	an estimate. Actual time may vary.
Musty or mildewy odor in washer	Incorrect or too much detergent has	Use only High-Efficiency (HE) detergent in
	been used.	accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
	Inside of drum was not cleaned prop-	Run the CLEAN WASHER cycle regularly. Be
	erly.	sure to wipe around and under the door seal
		frequently. See Care and Cleaning of the Interior
		on page 24.
		Clean around door seal/glass to prevent odor.
Wrinkling	Washer not unloaded promptly.	Always remove items from the washer as soon
		as the cycle is complete.
	Washer overloaded.	When washing large loads, do not overstuff the
		drum. The washer can be fully loaded, but the
		drum should not be tightly packed and the door
		should close easily.
	Hot and cold water inlet hoses are	Hot water rinse can set wrinkles in garments.
	reversed.	Check the inlet hose connections.

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