The washer will not drain or spin

SOURCE: Kenmore Washer 110.26912690 series 90

Hi Norm. Welcome to FixYa.
The first thing to check with the kind of symptoms your machine exhibits is the operation of the lid switch. Make sure that the pin/plunger on the lid itself has not broken off, and check the actuator lever on the switch itself. It is REALLY common on your model for the actuator arm to break off or crack, and this will cause no spin/no pump problems. Your machine is built by Whirlpool and the part number for the switch assembly is a 3849238. You can get it at any local whirlpool parts center in your area.

I hope you find this info helpful and thank you for allowing us to serve you.

Happy New Year from the FixYa crew!

SOURCE: My Kenmore Washer Model 100, 90 series fills and agitates but

most common solution is to replace the lid switch. (the machine thinks the lid is still open)

SOURCE: washer will wash and drain but not spin

Sounds like the lid switch is not working.It is a safety feature to prevent the washer from spinning if the lid is open.If you look a the lid,you will see a small point that sticks out,The switch is locate under the rim,right where that point would contact with lid closed.

SOURCE: Kenmore 110 washer fills and does the wash cycle b...

sounds as though the lid switch has gone bad, either that or the motor has lost the reverse winding on it.. most likely lid switch tho.
the lid switch is only "seen" by some older kenmore "110" series at the end of the wash cycle, or end of the rinse cycle. it purpose is to keep the unit from spinning if the lid is opened so no one looses an arm, etc.
generally the console on those machines hinges over backward so you can remove the cabinet top and 3 sides as a unit together..
the lid switch is under the machine top and isn't easily accessible without removing the cabinet.

SOURCE: I have a Kenmore 90 Series Washing machine that will not spin or

This assumes that you have a basic Kenmore / Whirlpool top load, direct drive, neutral drain (it doesn't spin until the pump removes most of the water) machine.

First, see the Sears parts site for your washer:
http://www.searspartsdirect.com/partsdirect/index.action

Enter your model number (###.######) and you'll see a list of major sub-components with diagrams and parts.

Newer model Whirlpool / Kenmore washers use a Lid Switch as a safety device. Unless the switch senses that the lid on the washer is closed, the washer will neither agitate nor spin.

Older models only used the switch during the spin cycle.

Try to bypass the Lid Switch by removing the Console and jumping the two outermost pins on the switch.

This is a Whirlpool PDF on how these washers operate. It has a diagram on jumping the switch as well as a detailed section on how the transmission works.

https://secured.whirlpool.com/Service/SrvTechAdm.nsf/2cd44500d572193285256a45004fd9d6/f7e2147fa98b28cf85257122007475cb/$FILE/L-55.pdf


It also has a troubleshooting guide.

To bypass the switch, you only have to disconnect the power to the washer, tilt the console back, unplug the switch and using an short piece of insulated wire, jump the two outermost contacts on the connector coming from the console and plug the washer back in.

Following is a description of how to gain access to the console and how to remove the cabinet if necessary.

http://www.american-appliance.com/catalog/newsdesk_info.php?newsPath=16&newsdesk_id=131&osCsid=913ba652cd504fb162f87d892bcb427b

With the jumper in place, try to re-start the washer.

If it works, the Lid Switch is a relatively inexpensive part and only requires you to access the console and remove the cabinet.