Treadmill control Panel doesn't light up

In this case, If you treadmill was working fine but now you dont see any lights at all in the front control panel.. then it might be due a short-circuit in one of the controller boards (due to the power supply).. but don't worry.. most of boards have a fuse that prevents these cases.. and probably yours went off and you just need to be replaced..

I have a 5 years old Image treadmill.. so these models have 2 separated boards, one for the incliner and the other one for the motor speed..

First, take off the cover where the motor goes.. (you can use a screwdriver)
Check of the board next to the incliner.. it usually has some LEDS on when the treadmill is connected to the power supply.. then check for the fuse and take it out and see if it's burned..

If it is.. then you can find a replacement online or even in radioshack.. just make sure of the voltage..
If it's not.. then might be a different short-circuit in a different part.. but that's rare since the fuse is the one that holds any power overdoses..
Hope this helps you.. Enjoy it,
Cheers..

Treadmill doesn't run...

Many problems could happen if we don't take care of our treadmill.. user's manual usually says you should give some maintenance after certain time or millage of use.. but we usually don't do it..
Anyways, I've had a couple of problems with my treadmill, which is a 5 years old Image treadmill...
Ok, we have to understand some stuff about treadmill's functionality.. In this case some parts.. Most of big treadmill have 2 controller boards, one is for the incliner and the other one for the speed of the motor.. but. there are to 'motors', one for the incliner and one for the speed in the belt..

So, if your treadmill doesn't run at all (but makes a noise like a click and it doesn't smell like burning) and your incliner works fine. . then it could be due to 2 things..
Note: you have to check if all the lights in the control panel light up when it's connected to the power supply,.. it usually does..

1. the motor controller board is burned, and you're gonna need to replace it or get it fixed. You can actually find many people on internet who charges less than 80 dls for this service.. what's the difference between getting a new one or getting it fixed?.. well.. years ago, all these boards presented a flaw of overheating too much (MC-70 Model used in most of known treadmills).. so if you get a new one (which costs around 130dls) it might get burned again.. then it's up to you..

2. the motor got stuck. This is a rare issue but it could happen, also the motor might get frozen.. which is also unusual but it happens.. In this case, you can get another motor ( expensive if you buy it from the manufacturer or can find a used motor online ) or get it fixed in a electric store near to your house.. or in this case you can try to figure out what's the problem and fix it by yourself...

Let's focus in the second one.. if you think the controller board is fine, then let's test the motor in a simple way..
After unplug the treadmill, you have to get access to the motor and boards, you can use a screwdriver.. not so hard to take the cover out.. you will see the motor and 4 wires coming out from it (2 blue ones and 1 red and 1 black), unplug the red and black wires, they're the positive and negative supplies for the motor..

Now, you can use a full charged battery of any power tool (14 or 18volts recommended) you might have.. you can also use a 6volts battery but the motor will run really slow and you might need to get the belt around it out..

Just plug into the battery the red to the positive and black to the negative pole.. and you'll see if the motor starts to run.. if you hear any click noise from the motor, that means the motor could be stuck.. so try to move manually the weel next to the motor, the one which is attached to the belt where you run.. if it doesn't, then there's something inside that's not letting the motor run. If it does move, then the problem might be electrical.. and you might have to take it to a service store where they can check the brushes inside the motor..

In this case, ill explain how to take apart the motor and see what's getting the motor stuck..

Unplug all the 4 wires from the controller board.. take the motor out of the treadmill (usually is only hold by couple of crews)..

then, once is out, try to move the metal wheel to the left (the part comes off like a screww).. use extra strength if you can.. if you can't make it move.. dont worry..

Use a wrench to take the lid out.. also a screwdriver might be needed..


At this point you can see where the red and black wires are connected to, those are the brushes wich are in the lid.. so let's keep seeing inside..

Check for any rough dust or pieces of magnet around .. some pieces can be the cause for the wheel couldn't move.. as you can see the body of the motor is a solid cylinder shape magnet.. so that with the time starts to fall down.. why? i have no idea..
Once you have it most of it clear.. (even the bottom part) try to move the metal wheel and see if you can move it to the right to see if it rotates.. or to the left to take it apart..
I moved it first to the right and then i took it apart to keep cleaning the bottom part..
Then i put everything back together and tested again with the full charged battery.. and voila. it started to run.. making a noise.. but at least you know the motor can run now..
connect and install everything back in the treadmill and dont forget to calibrate it for the incliner and the speed of the motor.. (check your user's manual to do that)
I did this with my own treadmill and it worked... so if you think you have the same problem.. just give it a try at your own risk..
This could save you a couple hundred bucks.. Enjoy it..
Cheers

Dryer won't heat up...

Always take a look first... to see if you see anything wrong with it..
I'll talk about a gas dryer.. sorry but i dont have an electric one..

First, let's try to understand how this works.. in most of the cases.. is almost the same.. so..
when you choose a cycle and then select the time.. the dryer starts to run, that means.. the motor starts to rotate and moves the belt around the cylinder .. at the same time the timer starts to run and tells to gas valve (70) to release the gas (through 2 coils-71 & 72) so the igniter (74) will spark and get the flame out.. the flame sensor (79) will control the size of the flame and then the coils will shut down.. and this is basically the process.. there are some other parts i didnt mention.. but I just wanna focus on the problem here..

Image taken from partselect.com

Ok. so if your dryer is not heating up, there could be many reasons for this problem:
1. The igniter is burned.. this happens a lot since it's a delicate piece.. try to look for the model of your dryer to locate where this igniter is.. usually is next to gas valve

2. the flame sensor is not working.. but if you run the dryer and you dont see any flame at all.. then this is not your case.. if you do.. then you need to get a replacement..

3. the timer is not working.. if so.. that means that nothing is going to run as is supposed to.. so you need to replace it.. but i doubt this could be since it's rare to see a timer fail..

4. the gas valve is not releasing gas for the igniter to light up the flame.. to check this, run the dryer and see if the igniter is making a little flame, like a sparkle.. if so.. that means one of the coils is not working.. Usually you will see 2 coils.. one for the igniter and the other for the burner (77).. which gives the flame.. if this is your case.. then you need to replace both coils..

Hope this helps you.. you can find some parts online.. ebay if you want.. most of the parts are compatible..

Note: To get access to all the parts mentioned here.. you need to take apart the fron panel of your dryer.. most of dryers can't get opened from behind since the cylinder is mounted for its rotation.. so.. dont even try it.. check always your dryer's model and user's manual..
Cheers.

Icemaker doesnt make ICE

When it's about our refrigerator's icemaker.. the first thing we think of.. is.. call somebody to replace it or fix it.. well, before you do that.. just take a look and try to understand how it works..
Usually.. to make the functionality really simple.. there are 2 little hoses that come into the refri from behind.. one is the one that goes to the front.. for the cold water.. which passes through a water filter (located in the bottom of the refri).. and two; is the one the goes from behind to the upper part of the refri.. which goes trough a little compartment.. like a water tank.. this one will go then to the ice compartment located in one of the front doors.. after is chopped by the icemaker..

Both hoses come from the water valve.. located behind the refri.. in the bottom.. hidden with a little panel (you can access to it with a screwdriver).. anyways.. this water valve has a hose connected to the water supply.. so.. i hope you can understand how this goes, it's not that complicated..

I have a Kenmore refrigerator. but they all work almost the same..
Ok.. let's start..

Most of the usual problem you should look for.. when the icemaker is not making ice at all..
1. the bottom is leaking.. (could be only in the bottom or trough the door) so check your floor...
2. there is no ice at all coming out from the icemaker

Well.. Im sure there are more than that.. but Im gonna focus in only one issue.. "im not having ice from my ice-maker".. so

The things you should check are :
1. the bottom of the refri.. to see if it's leaking.. if so.. then the water tank inside is frozen.. and you need to unplug the refri.. and then from behind.. use a hair-dryer to unfreezes the water tank.. sometimes.. you wont be able to get access to the tank.. so it's about a foot up from the back panel... (im saying this because the back is always covered with a metal panel that you wont be able to take out)
Do it for 5 to 8 min.. in circles if you can..
Note: Sometimes.. not usually but.. this frozen tank problem will be there with no leaking signs.. so.. check if any of the other suggestion is your case.. if not.. try to do this in case it might work for you.. (it did for me)

2. check the water valve if the water is going through or not.. This case is common in 5 to more years old refris.. and the thing to do is shut off the water supply and check if the water is going through the hoses mentioned before.. im talking about the 2 hoses that come out from the water valve.. in case the water is not running trough.. then you might need to replace that water valve.. you can find it in internet or lowes.. or any other store.. you might get it in sears.. but they're more expensive there.. anyways..
Note: the water valve is located behind the refri.. in the bottom.. you need to take the little panel out.. use a screwdriver.. is easy to find it.. just follow the hose that comes from the water supply.. there are some wires connected to this water valve... if you have a multimeter.. use it to see if the problem is not electric.. which i doubt it (otherwise not only the icemaker would be your problem)

3. if there's Ice but not chopping.. then.. you might check the icemaker which is located in the front, if this is your case.. then you might need to replace the icemaker.. sorry.... they're not that expensive.. just check one for your refri's model..

well.. Hope this help you in something.. always check your user's manual.. and the model of your refri.. Cheers..

Being aroung the House

Well.. being in the States teaches you one thing.. nothing is cheap when it comes to get fix something by other people... I mean.. even getting a diagnosis costs you a lot.. which is kinda ridiculous.. but oh well..
Im not a pro.. but i like to do stuff by myself and try to figure out the cause if any problem..
So.. if you are like that as well.. Hope this blog will help you with little things around the house..
Enjoy it.. and as usual.. you're welcome to post any comment or ideas you might think of..
See ya