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My expensive mistake with a 'universal' washing machine control board from an online seller | Appliance Repairers - SMM Buzz

patriciareed•2mo ago

My expensive mistake with a 'universal' washing machine control board from an online seller

Last summer I tried to save some cash by buying a $90 universal control board for a Whirlpool washer instead of the OEM part. The website claims it works with over 40 models and had good reviews. I spent a whole Saturday installing it, and the washer just kept throwing error codes. I tried resetting it three times and even called their tech support line that went straight to voicemail. After two weeks of back and forth with the seller, they finally refunded me, but I still lost $30 in shipping fees and wasted about 6 hours of my time. Then I had to buy the OEM board for $210 from a local supplier in Cleveland and it worked perfectly in 20 minutes. Has anyone else had bad luck with those cheap universal boards or am I the only one who learned this lesson the hard way?

2 comments

2 Comments

wilson.sam2mo ago

Gotta pile on here, @anderson.david is spot on about the wiring harness thing. Not defending the sellers, but those boards are universal in name only, half the time the pinouts don't match up even if the connector clicks in. Losing $30 on shipping stings, but honestly you dodged a bullet not having to pay a tech $85 to tell you what we all figured out the hard way.

anderson.david2mo ago

Yeah I fell for the same trap with my Maytag about two years ago. The universal board fired up fine for a week then started doing this weird thing where it would just stop mid cycle and blink the rinse light. I tore my hair out checking every sensor and wire connection you can think of. Finally paid a local repair guy $85 just to tell me the board was the problem. The OEM replacement went in and it's been running like a champ ever since. The part stores sell those universals because they make a killing on returns from people who don't realize the machines have different wiring harnesses even in the same brand. Save yourself the headache, always check the actual model number and buy the real one.