Kitchen Large Electric Appliances - washing machine tensioner popping and now clothes really wet

Can't figure out where to start. I'll get model numbers if necessary.

I took the front panel off, and the popping noise is due to the tensioner arm guide pin smacking against the end of its groove. Everything appeared to be working aside from the loud popping noise. Now, the wife's saying the clothes are very wet at the end of the load cycle.
I would expect these are related.

Is there a common cause for the tensioner arm to bang up against the end of its groove, and could it be caused by a pump that's wearing out?

A name and a model number would really make it easier to help you. Too many makes and models out there to second guess. Thanks.

Amana model LWA05AW

Perhaps a loose belt that has gradually gotten looser?

Hi gregnx,
- to me this would suggest that the pump is hard to turn. Try to look inside the pump intake for items that may be stuck in there. I've often found stuff like a toothpick or Q-tip. :cool:

Do it Right - Do it once.

Well, think I've figured it out. When I started poking around to work on the pump as suggested, I happened to feel the inside of the belt and noticed it was pretty chewed up and felt very loose. I went ahead and got a replacement belt and pulled the old one off. At that point I realized that all of the black "dust" that I noticed on the bottom of the machine was the decaying belt. It was missing several sections of rubber.

Anywho, I inspected the pump as suggested and found a small amount of lint in there, but it wasn't on the impeller, it was only on the exit tube and caught kind-of between sections of the housing.

So now it appears to be working fine, no more knocking and the wife says the clothes have the normal amount of water in them.

Thanks for the encouragement to go poking around.

Good on you Gregnx, -you're becoming a genuine handyman. Poking around and exploring is always beneficial- just make sure you're unplugged at the time. :cool:

Do it Right - Do it once.