Washing Machine Control Board Repair

This video details how to replace a circuit board mounted relay that has gone bad. This applies to any function that is controlled with a relay including water valves, drain motor, heater, door lock, etc. The specific model used in this video is a Samsung WF218 washing machine but the repair applies for many other brands. Disassembly from the washer is not covered, but can be seen here:
• Samsung Front-Load Was...
Relays were purchased from www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/...
WF218 Service manual www.pcrichard.com/images/prom...

[@BrandonsMacTutsAndOtherThings]

And PS.. There are Not a lot of readily available videos. I was lucky to find yours after days of searching.

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Thank you so much for commenting. What wording or search terms do you think might have helped find the video sooner? Your suggestions could help others who are having a hard time finding this as well.

[@neilpatterson4913]

Thanks for this. I was told by technician and Samsung that there was no replacement for my board and my washing machine was now junk. Fortunately, I found this video, followed your instructions and replaced my drain pump relay. Not much documentation on these machines, so I had to trace the pcb lines from the connector socket to the relay.

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Glad to hear you’re back in business! I lucked out and had the electrical drawings stuck on the back of the machine to help out a bit.

[@larrydering1598]

Al, incredible bit of work and patience. I have made some outrageous repairs on electronics for my own satisfaction. You have a keen eye and ability. I just junked a Samsung washer rather than do exactly what you just showed.

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Larry, I'm glad you at least watched the video in consideration of an attempted repair and salvaging of your washer. Repairs like this sometimes aren't justified, not because of the complexity, but rather because the significant other might not be too willing to wait for the repairs to be done, lol. Thank you for your kind words and good luck on your search for a replacement washer.

[@lupojacobo9892]

@@AlsAutoandAppliance I'm a 25 year experience Tech an I agree with you

[@simonling5706]

Hand carry l amplifier with loud speaker

[@bgregg55]

It's called conformal coating. Samsung uses it to discourage repair.

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

The gel version is supposed to make repairs easier too in that you can refill the cavity when the repair is done. Too bad it doesn’t handle heat very well. What a mess.

[@mrpubnight]

Great video. Could you share any links to removing the control board and conformal coating from the casing? Was able to get through the sides OK but the bottom is eluding me. Thanks.

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Sorry this reply is so late. Did you figure anything out?

[@AimGobalWorldBibleSchool]

Thanks man...Good Job...

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

You're welcome!

[@oshoaboma7966]

well done 👍👍

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Many thanks!

[@oshoaboma7966]

@@AlsAutoandAppliance you very welcome

[@kurtandrekhan3091]

hey ! awesome work brother. before i go where you went, how do you put the machine in sevice mode to test the components? thanks

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

With the power off, press SPIN/SOIL/POWER simultaneously. Follow the QUICK TEST MODE procedures here: applianceassistant.com/ServiceManuals/WF218-Fast-track-R5.pdf Print a copy and keep it somewhere you'll remember any time you need to work on the machine. :)

[@anjiruz]

Excelent. Reparación de un tarjeta SAMSUNG carga frontal frontier, creo que los relevadores son unos F3AA012E. Where did you buy this relay?NewarK? mouser?

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Good luck on your repair! I updated the link to the relay in the description.

[@daikiryoku]

The drain pump is only 40watts so its very low amperage for those relays. The only high current component is the drive motor, which runs from the FETs under that big heatsink.

[@northdeltachiropractic4012]

Thanks for the video, learned a lot. Just got the relay for the pump and soldered it in. I put it back together but now the error message is front door not sensed in closed position. The Relay for that is next to the pump relay so I took that one out and soldered it in but the same error showing up. any ideas?

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

I'm sorry for the late reply. I would say most likely you have a bad switch or a worn latch on the door. Sometimes if the door hinges get worn and the door sags, this can cause faults too. Did you get it fixed?

[@northdeltachiropractic4012]

@@AlsAutoandAppliance It completely stopped working, I wonder if the motherboard was damaged during soldering. It was fun to try though. We now have new washer.

[@jerryastor5022]

Good one video..just asking sir how did you know that relay is the problem with your board? Thanks

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

I directly powered the motor and it ran fine. That left the wiring and board to troubleshoot. Also, when you go into service mode, you can turn individual motors, valves and switches on and off. That particular relay was clicking, but the control contacts were not switching voltage to the motor. That's what led me to the relay.

[@neillsouthwick8444]

I've been working on various Whirlpool machines for years and enjoyed this video. Do you have favorite manufacture of washers? Compared to the Whirlpool direct drive washers from the past they all seem to last five years anymore. Samsung seems the worst. I liked one comment I read "Samsung

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

It seems like all manufacturers have their lemons, but it also seems stuff made in the last 10-15 years just don't seem to last long. I think a lot of it is due to all the bells and whistles they put into these things that over-complicate what should be a simple function. With that said, our personally owned Samsung VRT washer and matching dryer have been relatively maintenance free and pretty easy to work on. As for favorite brand...our washer/dryer pair we had prior to the Samsungs were Kenmore. Those things were tanks and I never had to service them. We started a family and outgrew that set, which is why we got the Samsungs. We owned the Kenmores 10 years and the current Samsungs since 2008 (13 years). I think I'd like to try a Speed Queen when the time comes.

[@neillsouthwick8444]

Yeah, the Kenmore's (really Whirlpools) from around 1984 through about 2006 were great machines. I like Whirlpool's (Kenmore's and Maytag's) Stator motor washers from 2006-2014 a lot. They have bearing problems after 5-8 years but I know how to do bearing jobs on them. I've Probably done 200+ bearing jobs on those machines. I buy them cheap, refurbish and resell them. I avoid any machines with a gearcase. Just too expensive to repair. All the washers made now have gearcases. The manufactures know they will fail in a few years and not be worth fixing. Cheers, Neill @@AlsAutoandAppliance

[@applianceflipper8590]

Hot and cold loved the video but I think the most important part was how to remove the relay which was done prior to shooting the video.

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

You are correct, but removal would have been the same procedure I demonstrate later in the video (around 15:54) removing the extension wires I installed. I had originally no intention of filming the repair which is why removal of the relay from the board wasn't shown. I do appreciate your comment and if you need any clarification please let me know.

[@BrandonsMacTutsAndOtherThings]

I find that the biggest problem with this control board and other brands just like it, is that it is completely encased in this ballistic gel. First you somehow have to get the the board out of the plastic housing, then you have to remove portions of the gel to fix the actual board. I never used to have these problems until I got this washer with the ballisitic gel. I can solder anything. But not if it's lock up. ger. Give me back my mechanical washer.

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

I agree and I'm sure that gel isn't very heat conductive either with causes unnecessary high temperatures in the components leading to premature failure. That is probably the goal, though.

[@BrandonsMacTutsAndOtherThings]

@@AlsAutoandAppliance I agree. My parents had this board replaced in theirs twice before the repair company said to just use the warranty to get a new one. And now the new one is having the same problems. And my maytag has the same issues. My parents gave me their broken washer for me to try and fix, but the board is messed up.

[@terrykohlman7355]

Thank goodness for a fast forward button LOL

[@neelkanthkolambkar8805]

Nice sir ji

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Thank you

[@Gromitdog1]

Is there a way to bench test a relay still on the circuit board? My front load LG won't power up at all, no beep or lights or anything.

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Sorry for the late response. You could test the relay on-board, but can risk damaging the control circuits if wired incorrectly or with the wrong voltage.

[@Zx14rrrrrrrrrrr]

Anywhere else to get the relay? The site doesn't show what you have.

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Hello. The relay still shows up for me at mouser: www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Fujitsu/FTR-F3AA012E-HA?qs=VpmqhlS1mnNy3P3qFXBuBA%3D%3D

[@Zx14rrrrrrrrrrr]

@@AlsAutoandAppliance found it on Amazon.. Thanks a bunch.

[@vadimtyutyunnik353]

A have a slightly different board with an issue - no spin. What could the cause be?

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

No spin could be the control board or a bad motor. It's not as simple as the relay issue to troubleshoot, unfortunately. There should be a wiring diagram attached on the back of the machine to help test the motor using an ohm meter.

[@marciamarcia7510]

How do you get to the repair board. How take it out

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Sorry for the late reply. There are already many videos posted on how to get to the board, which is why I did not include that. Hope you got yours fixed.

[@Zx14rrrrrrrrrrr]

Can you give me the part number for the relay?

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

You bet! It is Mfr. #: FTR-F3AA012E-HA

[@tysonmodestus8520]

Mine keeps say 3d error I've changed the door sensor

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Do you mean dE error? What model is your washer?

[@tysonmodestus8520]

Ah man yes I mean dE

[@tysonmodestus8520]

@@AlsAutoandAppliance ED yes

[@tysonmodestus8520]

Samsung wF8602NHW

[@tysonmodestus8520]

@@AlsAutoandAppliance front loader machine

[@neillsouthwick8444]

Opps, meant to add "Samsung should stick to making phone" I agree with that

[@Zx14rrrrrrrrrrr]

Did this and it didn't fix it.. Sucks man.

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

What function isn't working on your machine?

[@Zx14rrrrrrrrrrr]

@@AlsAutoandAppliance drain pump . Located the relay.. Changed it just like you did.. Still nothing.. Checked the pump by hooking up power directly to it. And still nothing.

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

@@Zx14rrrrrrrrrrr Aha! I think you found the problem. If the pump didn't run with power directly to it, you have a bad pump or it is jammed.

[@Zx14rrrrrrrrrrr]

@@AlsAutoandAppliance no.. I mean I checked it.. It works.. Ran power directly to it.. Then did this.. And it didn't drain.. Sorry I was half asleep typing that last comment.

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

@@Zx14rrrrrrrrrrr Is the drain the only part not working? If you manually drain the water, does the washer go on to the next step? It's possible that there is an issue with the board its self (hopefully not).

[@daikiryoku]

You dont need to remove the whole board from the plastic housing. You are risking damaging the board. Just burn out a section of the plastic with a cheap soldering iron. Standard procedure in the appliance repair industry.

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Good tip. Cutting with a dremel tool should work as well.

[@lupojacobo9892]

Wrong I'm doing this for years and never damage a Control Board

[@stan_kustov]

Great video, but, dude speak faster or edit the video, i had to put it on fast forward many times

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Thank you for your compliment and criticism. I've made videos that zip through instruction, but got a lot of complaints about that, so went back to long and detailed.:)

[@Dontleavemedimi]

What a crap design it almost looks like it was sent to Aunt Jemima for that coating.

[@AlsAutoandAppliance]

Agreed! Probably yet another attempt to thwart the Do-it-yourselfer from performing repairs.