LOUD washer end-of-cycle signal

November 14, 2009 9:42 PM

How do I turn off the earsplitting, wakes the dead end-of-cycle signal on my clothes washer?

My Kenmore front-loading washer has a long, loud end-of-cycle signal, and for the life of me I can't figure out how the heck to turn it off (i.e., keep it from going off at all). I do not need and do not want a signal sounding to tell me that my laundry is done. There must be a way to make it not sound, right? Here is the manual, and here and here are photos of the front of my washer. Please hope me.

posted by amro to Home & Garden (11 answers total)

Response by poster: Also, in case you were wondering, this washer is in my rented apartment. My landlord doesn't know how to keep the signal from sounding.
posted by amro at 9:46 PM on November 14, 2009

I doubt there's a switch. I would observe it, try to locate the beeping device in the panel, disconnect it, and then verify that the cycles still function as intended.
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 9:48 PM on November 14, 2009

Response by poster: Inspector.Gadget, talk to me like I'm an idiot. What panel? Like, behind the dials in front?
posted by amro at 9:49 PM on November 14, 2009

That would be the first place I'd suspect just based on simplicity of construction, but you can probably locate it most easily and more precisely by running the shortest cycle possible (or turning the dial just off of the "end" location) and listening.
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 9:54 PM on November 14, 2009

I found a couple of descriptions of the process for disabling the buzzer on a Kenmore dryer here and here. The general strategy should apply to the washer as well.
posted by jedicus at 10:02 PM on November 14, 2009

Here's another from the same site that jedicus linked to, which may prove to be helpful.
posted by spiderskull at 1:29 AM on November 15, 2009

Here's a forum post dedicated to a similar issue. It should give you an idea of what the buzzer looks like. I found this link by Googling "disable kenmore buzzer", which may help you find the right search terms. Good luck!
posted by spiderskull at 1:31 AM on November 15, 2009 [1 favorite]

I was able to do this for another brand, by pressing specific buttons in a specific sequence. Try calling the store; they may know how to do this. Be wary; Sears charged me a lot of money for a home visit, for something they could have resolved by phone.
posted by theora55 at 6:27 AM on November 15, 2009

It's worth noting that, if the buzzer is the type with a plastic can/case with a small hole on the non-mounting side, you can mute it significantly by just putting a piece of tape over the hole.

Oh, and if you want a blow-by-blow of how to get to the buzzer, etc, etc, we're going to need either a specific model number of the washer (On the manuf. plate, probably on the back or inside the lid) or a picture of the wiring diagram - Which should be in a little plastic pocket taped inside the access panel.
posted by Orb2069 at 7:13 AM on November 15, 2009

Response by poster: Orb2069, the model number is 41740042990.
posted by amro at 7:40 AM on November 15, 2009

(Sorry I didn't check back here sooner) - Unfortunately, I found the buzzer (here), but no picture. :(

Apparently it's a re-branded Frigidaire of the same model number, and somebody explains how to silence the buzzer here, but I can't vouch for the accuracy of that particular post.
posted by Orb2069 at 1:00 PM on November 21, 2009