Karibe (Splendide) Washer/Dryer Combo Door Will Not Open

[Tom Norman]

We have a Karibe (looks like a Splendide) washer/dryer combo in our 1996 Bounder. We did a load of clothes and the machine ran fine. But when we went to remove the clean clothes from the machine the door would not open. We have cut off the power for 10 minutes (to reset the machine), and we have jiggled the handle. We tried restarting the machine in the "dry" cycle to see if the door would open after it was done drying. Still no luck. We have a load of clean and dry clothes held captive inside the washing machine. Nothing we do will make the door unlock.

Any ideas out there?

Thanks, Tom & Sallie

[Tom Norman]

We have a Karibe (looks like a Splendide) washer/dryer combo in our 1996 Bounder. We did a load of clothes and the machine ran fine. But when we went to remove the clean clothes from the machine the door would not open. We have cut off the power for 10 minutes (to reset the machine), and we have jiggled the handle. We tried restarting the machine in the "dry" cycle to see if the door would open after it was done drying. Still no luck. We have a load of clean and dry clothes held captive inside the washing machine. Nothing we do will make the door unlock.

Any ideas out there?

Thanks, Tom & Sallie

[ChasA]

Hopefully, you have the owner's manual. If so check that. If you don't have the manual, maybe you can find it online. If this fails, a Stanley Wonderbar should do the trick.
I can't find anything on the net for a karibe, but maybe there's come help in the splendide manuals http://www.splendide.com/request_manual.htm

[nodine]

Tom,

If they are still in business, your best bet would be to find a phone number for customer support and give them a call. A tech may be able to tell you what to do.

Bob

[Gary RVRoamer]

New World RV claims to have Kariba washer parts - maybe they can help diagnose your problem? More here:
http://www.new-world-rv.com/companyinfo.htm

[MaverickBBD]

Had a friend with a similar problem. He had a Splendide 2100. I have a 2000. On his there is a mechanical release via a cable located at the front left bottom of his machine. You might check to see if you have such a thing.

[Mahlon]

The ultimate problem (unless the latch itself is broken or jammed with soap, lint, etc.) may be with the wax motor that drives the door latch. You'll have to pull the machine out & disassemble it to figure any of this out.

This sounds similar to the problem that the original Maytag Neptune front-loaders had. it was the subject of a class-action (lawyer welfare) lawsuit.

The Neptunes had a secondary release cord for the door latch, but you had to remove the top of the machine to get at it.

[JerryForwood]

Have you checked the power to the machine?
I really do not know much about this exact machine but most of the European front loaders must have power to open.

[Tom Norman]

ChasA: Thank you for the Splendide link. It will be a place to start. We have the owner's manual, however it is of no help from a technical standpoint. It just tells us how to wash clothes. A Stanley Wonderbar (or a sledgehammer) is rapidly becoming my option of choice.

nodine: Karibe folded years ago, but I'm told that Splendide parts can be interchanged. So there's hope.

RV Roamer: Thanks for the link. I'll contact New World RV and see what they say.

Maverick BBD: No luck in finding a cable release. I found a parts diagram for our machine on the Internet, and there is no mechanical release shown on the drawings.

Mahlon: So far I've narrowed the problem down to part #116102761, Door Switch Interlock. This device apparently electronically locks/unlocks the door latch. Ours is either defective, or perhaps a wire (any one of five) has come loose from the switch.

Jerry Forwood: I have power to the machine. It will repeatedly wash/dry the clothes that are in the tub; it just will not let us open the door at the end of the cycle.

I'll post the results if I can fix this thing. If not, I know where I can borrow a sledgehammer!

Thanks to all,
Tom

[Gary RVRoamer]

If the design is that of the Splendide, then there is a procedure for opening the door when the latch fails. It's in the Splendide service manual, which can be found HERE

[HarveyP]

From a quick read on the above posted site, if the power is off (unplugged!!) the door will open after a few minutes. This would only be true if there are no broken internal parts. Worth a try? good luck, HarveyP