Whirlpool Washing Machine Engineer Advice Please

[Stargazer]

How do I get the side off my AWE6517 washing machine? Is it possible for me to replace a belt myself?

[Stargazer]

How do I get the side off my AWE6517 washing machine? Is it possible for me to replace a belt myself?

[buildersmate]

This seems to be the second attempt at asking the same question, so it isn't clear what you are anticipating now after the last time around.

I'm not familiar with pulling these machines apart (so I didn't answer yesterday) but having looked at what Clanad gave you yesterday, it isn't clear exactly what you want.

If I was doing this, I'd look all round the perimeter of the outside looking for fixings that hold one side/rear/front whatever to the other. It should also be possible to see which piece of pressed steel went on last (so comes off first). If there are no fixing around the perimeter, it does seem one accesses the gubbins from the bottom, so tip it up and see.

[Stargazer]

Thanks for your response Builders Mate. The reason I asked this again today is that I got nowhere yesterday. I have since discovered that a replacement belt can be obtained for this machine and today I removed from its side panel all the hexagonal nuts including one which required a different screwdriver "head" (star shaped). All the nuts, bolts etc are now off but I cannot remove the side panel because it will not slide towards the back (the only way it would be possible to remove it by looking at it. There is nothing visible preventing this but I dare not force it with a lever or anything in case something bends that shouldn't or even breaks. That is why I am asking for a Whirlpool engineer specifically. They charge £85 call out plus extra for parts (belts cost £33.66 online) so I am determined to have a look for myself. Because my machine is less than 4 years old, it is made differently from those on these video clips and also different from my previous model which was also a Philips/Whirlpool but less electronically governed. I could successfully remove the side panel from that one. It is supposedly the same but updated version of a top loader automatic machine

[buildersmate]

So you can see what others come back with. You'd be very lucky if someone that familiar with this type of Whirlpool shows up. There are loads of practical people on here but who just investigate to solve a problem the same way that you are doing.
Haynes Repair Manuals do a book on domestic appliance repairs but I've no idea if it gets to this level of detail - never felt the need to buy it. Obviously their motoring series manuals do.

[Stargazer]

Thank you for your help. I just thought it was worth a shot. I have managed to get the side off eventually and watched the spin cycle (keeping away from it obviously) and unplugging it afterwards,. The belt does not look worn, or at least I do not know what to look for. It should not be anyway after less than three years use (one occupant using it). I may put the cover back on and see what the next load does. One possibility may be that it has to have a heavy (ie full) load in order to spin well but that ought not to be a proviso.

[buildersmate]

You could try cleaning the belt with a degreaser before reassembly. Hard to see how grease could get on there, but you never know.

[Stargazer]

Thanks again. I am sure it is not in need of degreasing. It looks like new. I wonder if the ***** electronic works have gone wrong and it is just spinning on a less than 1000 rpm spin. There is a choice of four options and I always have mine set on 1000 rpm and a light is lit next to it to show what speed it is on. It may be that somehow it has gone onto a slower speed spin but still left the light on next to the 1000 rpm. When I first had it I would have noticed if the things were as heavy as they now are with the extra water they are holding onto. If I get an engineer out from Whirlpool it will cost £85 minimum plus parts and VAT etc. and they may say "it is not the belt" therefore must be the ? an expensive bit of electronic gear costing "aaaaah". So I will put up with it and just have to hang everything outside whenever it is sunny. Years ago I dried things indoors in the winter and got black mould and condensation running off my window sills and the place was depressingly damp. I never dry heavy items indoors nowadays. I may post this late evening again in the possibility that engineers for this type of machine are out at work during the daytime so don't think I am losing it if you see it again!!