Hi all!

I am in the US. I have a Maytag Neptune [natural] gas dryer, model
MDG5500AWW, with a serial number that starts with 10. It was bought new
in May 2001, and has been working extensively since; 10-12 loads a
week.

I had to replace the motor: the dryer would start for a split second,
then quit immediately. If I spinned the drum before I started it, then
it would run OK. I thought it was the capacitor, but these motors do
not have capacitors, but a start winding; replaced the entire motor,
per the advice I found on the web and in this newsgroup. I confirmed it
with the tech guy where I purchased the motor.

Now for the perplexing part; it's not a difficult repair, nor is it
easy to mess up; however, my display panel now shows "8.8." and will
not do anything. It won't even turn off from the panel; the "off"
button will not operate, I have to unplug the dryer. Every wire seems
to be plugged in correctly [it's difficult to mess up with these molded
plugs that only go one way] and every wire is solidly connected. When I
put the old motor back on, the display is still messed up and nothing
works; it was not before I replaced the motor.[*]

The door switch is fine [tested that with the tech at the part store].

Is there a panel reset procedure that I missed? I did an extensive
Google serarch and could not find anything. Any help would be greatly
appreciated.

Thanks.

Pierre
[*] The only thing that I know I did that was unusual was that I wiped
the exhaust parts of the dryer with a damp cloth to get rid of a slight
film of lint. In the process, the overheat sensor and the thermostat
become slightly damp, but, since they were not plugged in, I don't
think I did any harm. However, I disclose, just in case. Thanks.

On 23 Jun 2006 02:46:54 -0700, wrote:

Now for the perplexing part; it's not a difficult repair, nor is it
easy to mess up; however, my display panel now shows "8.8." and will
not do anything. It won't even turn off from the panel; the "off"

Looks like the processor has halted. All the display segments
are lit up, and that's why you get 8.8.
Power supply issues, to the CPU, maybe (5 volt problem)?
Look for a bad filter capacitor on the control board.
Check both PC boards. Though it's not likely the motor control.
Sounds like a CPU power issue. Pray that you didn't blow the
CPU (a costly replacement, although this is rare).


--
-john
wide-open at throttle dot info

Johnny:

Thanks for the thoughtful response. I am concerned that I don't know
how to check either of the boards or know how to check the capacitor on
the control board. If you have the time and inclination, could you let
me know how to do that? I have a multitester, but that is the extent of
my electronic knowledge.

Thanks.

Pierre


~^Johnny^~ wrote:
On 23 Jun 2006 02:46:54 -0700, wrote:

Now for the perplexing part; it's not a difficult repair, nor is it
easy to mess up; however, my display panel now shows "8.8." and will
not do anything. It won't even turn off from the panel; the "off"

Looks like the processor has halted. All the display segments
are lit up, and that's why you get 8.8.
Power supply issues, to the CPU, maybe (5 volt problem)?
Look for a bad filter capacitor on the control board.
Check both PC boards. Though it's not likely the motor control.
Sounds like a CPU power issue. Pray that you didn't blow the
CPU (a costly replacement, although this is rare).


--
-john
wide-open at throttle dot info

Update:

I checked all my connections again, put it all back together, and
lo-and-behold, I got the display to work "normally".

When I press the "start" button, though, the [new] motor engages, the
drum does not move, and the display goes immediately to all segments,
or "8.8.". The dryer then turns itself off.

I unplugged the dryer, replugged it, and now it's only displaying
"8.8." again.

So it's intermittent and probably electrical. Fried board?

Thanks.

Pierre


wrote:
Johnny:

Thanks for the thoughtful response. I am concerned that I don't know
how to check either of the boards or know how to check the capacitor on
the control board. If you have the time and inclination, could you let
me know how to do that? I have a multitester, but that is the extent of
my electronic knowledge.

Thanks.

Pierre


~^Johnny^~ wrote:
On 23 Jun 2006 02:46:54 -0700, wrote:

Now for the perplexing part; it's not a difficult repair, nor is it
easy to mess up; however, my display panel now shows "8.8." and will
not do anything. It won't even turn off from the panel; the "off"

Looks like the processor has halted. All the display segments
are lit up, and that's why you get 8.8.
Power supply issues, to the CPU, maybe (5 volt problem)?
Look for a bad filter capacitor on the control board.
Check both PC boards. Though it's not likely the motor control.
Sounds like a CPU power issue. Pray that you didn't blow the
CPU (a costly replacement, although this is rare).


--
-john
wide-open at throttle dot info

On 23 Jun 2006 17:32:37 -0700, wrote:

Update:

I checked all my connections again, put it all back together, and
lo-and-behold, I got the display to work "normally".

When I press the "start" button, though, the [new] motor engages, the
drum does not move, and the display goes immediately to all segments,
or "8.8.". The dryer then turns itself off.

I unplugged the dryer, replugged it, and now it's only displaying
"8.8." again.

So it's intermittent and probably electrical. Fried board?

Thanks.

Pierre

The best way to check the power (low voltage DC rails) on the board is
with a scope.

Faulty ground returns to any of the components could be another
problem.

And my problem with Neptunes is, I'm not too familiar with them,
since I quit the business (doing residential) about 13 years ago.

This makes it really, really hard to fix it over the internet. ;`

Most service techs would just swap boards, anyway. Few will dig down
to component level on a PC board. The only reason I feel comfortable
doing it is I used to make a living working on CPU boards back in the
70's. A customer would often bring in a dead board for exchange, and
we'd swap for a refurbished one. When all customer repair orders were
done, we'd refurbish our own stock, and sell them for $200, with
exchange. the field techs would just bring the boards in to us for
repair or exchange. It's a good business, especially if you are
factory authorized, because then you get all the warranty work, as
well.

But I digress...





wrote:
Johnny:

Thanks for the thoughtful response. I am concerned that I don't know
how to check either of the boards or know how to check the capacitor on
the control board. If you have the time and inclination, could you let
me know how to do that? I have a multitester, but that is the extent of
my electronic knowledge.

Thanks.

Pierre


~^Johnny^~ wrote:
On 23 Jun 2006 02:46:54 -0700, wrote:

Now for the perplexing part; it's not a difficult repair, nor is it
easy to mess up; however, my display panel now shows "8.8." and will
not do anything. It won't even turn off from the panel; the "off"

Looks like the processor has halted. All the display segments
are lit up, and that's why you get 8.8.
Power supply issues, to the CPU, maybe (5 volt problem)?
Look for a bad filter capacitor on the control board.
Check both PC boards. Though it's not likely the motor control.
Sounds like a CPU power issue. Pray that you didn't blow the
CPU (a costly replacement, although this is rare).


--
-john
wide-open at throttle dot info
--
-john
wide-open at throttle dot info

Just don't mention "Atari" around me, or else! g,d,r
--
-john
wide-open at throttle dot info

This is the direction of the appliance industry, machines with numerous
electronic features that require service through a provider with deep
pockets. There is nothing that an electronic Neptune dryer does that a
$300 dryer can't do, unless, of course, you want something that will
visually impress your friends.

People, instead of buying a $2k set, why not install 3 less expensive
washers and dryers, and have an entire laundromat in your home!

wrote:
This is the direction of the appliance industry, machines with numerous
electronic features that require service through a provider with deep
pockets. There is nothing that an electronic Neptune dryer does that a
$300 dryer can't do, unless, of course, you want something that will
visually impress your friends.

People, instead of buying a $2k set, why not install 3 less expensive
washers and dryers, and have an entire laundromat in your home!

We have 2 washers and 2 dryers here, eventually I would like 4 dryers
since it takes twice as long to dry clothes compared to washing them

On 24 Jun 2006 17:26:45 -0700, wrote:

People, instead of buying a $2k set, why not install 3 less expensive
washers and dryers, and have an entire laundromat in your home!

"Let's all go down to the river..."


--
-john
wide-open at throttle dot info

wrote in news:1151195205.583106.227330
@u72g2000cwu.googlegroups.com:

This is the direction of the appliance industry, machines with numerous
electronic features that require service through a provider with deep
pockets. There is nothing that an electronic Neptune dryer does that a
$300 dryer can't do, unless, of course, you want something that will
visually impress your friends.

People, instead of buying a $2k set, why not install 3 less expensive
washers and dryers, and have an entire laundromat in your home!



... There is nothing that an electronic Neptune dryer does that a
$300 dryer can't do, ...

I bought a used washer from a restoration place. They don't sell junks
and provide a warranty. So there are two there I'm looking at - a basic
one and one with the electronic touchpad. Guy was not pushing either but
says the touchpad one was only $10 more. I said yea but for a simple
problem the repair consists of a new board for probably 200-300, more
than the cost of the washer. He looked at me with a silent agreement
grin.

Anyway, no TV for the dryer door window like those damn frig's they have
now? Does it boot up to windows?