Seized Pump Bearing

When the water pump bearing seizes, the water will not drain or recirculate. Sometimes you can smell the belt heating up the stalled pump pulley. It is wise to stop the washer at this point and get some more data or you may be replacing both the pump and the belt.

Procedure for Gathering Failure Confirmation Data

Unplug the washer and insert the three-prong plug in three holes of the four-hole diamond on the rear of the cabinet, just below the console.
Remove the drain hose from the drain and hook it over the control console.
Turn the water off at the faucets for both inlet hoses and disconnect them from the faucets.
If water was left in the tub following the belt failure, you will want to get as much of it out of the tub as possible. Start by bailing out the water with a large plastic picher or glass. Now you can work the washer out from the wall. Lower the drain hose into a shallow container so that the end of the hose is no more than 6 inches off the floor and the water will siphon out of the washer. Lift the end of the hose up a couple of feet if you need to stop the flow to empty the container.
Move the washer out from the wall far enough to get behind it and remove the rear access panel using a 5/16 inch nut driver.
You are going to determine if the pump pulley turns so if it is too dark to see the pulley, get a flashlight for the next step.
Kneel down behind the washer and locate the pump pulley to the right and back behind the transmission. Grip the belt in front of you between the motor on your left and the transmission main drive pulley to your right. Move the belt to your left toward the motor. This will move the belt across the pump pulley such that if it turns, it will turn in a clockwise direction when viewed from the top. If the pump pulley doesn't move and the belt just slides past it, the pump bearing is seized and the pump must be replaced. It's important that you attempt to turn the pulley in the clockwise direction. If you turn the pulley counterclockwise, it will turn off the shaft; especially if the shaft is seized, and give the illusion that the shaft is turning free.

All of the information in these Appliance Clinicprocedures is provided FREE OF CHARGE. No liability is assumed by theauthor for the accuracy of the contents or damages caused by the use ofthese procedures. By Oron Schmidt.