Kenmore Elite Washer 79641963 Manual

The Kenmore Elite 79641963 is a high-efficiency top-load washing machine featuring a 4.5 cubic foot capacity, stainless steel wash basket, 14 wash cycles, 5 wash/rinse temperature combinations, 5 soil levels, and a built-in water faucet for pre-treating stains. It includes advanced features like Accela Wash® technology for faster cleaning, Triple Action Impeller™, and Smart Motion technology. Below are key sections for safety, features, installation, setup, operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting.

1. Features at a Glance 2. Installation 3. First-Time Setup 4. Specifications 5. Controls and Settings 6. Connecting Water Supply 7. Operating the Washer 8. Special Features 9. Care & Cleaning 10. Regulatory Information 11. Troubleshooting

Features at a Glance

Key components: Control Panel with LED Display, Wash Basket, Triple Action Impeller™, Accela Wash® System, Water Faucet, Lid, and Power Cord.

FeatureDescription
Control PanelLED display with touch controls for cycle selection
Wash Basket4.5 cu. ft. stainless steel capacity
Triple Action Impeller™Agitates clothes in three directions for thorough cleaning
Accela Wash®Reduces wash time while maintaining cleaning performance
Built-in Water FaucetFor pre-treating stains directly at the washer
14 Wash CyclesIncludes Normal, Heavy Duty, Delicates, Bulky Items, and more
5 Soil LevelsLight, Normal, Heavy, Extra Heavy, and Max
Smart Motion TechnologyAutomatically adjusts wash actions for fabric type
ENERGY STAR® CertifiedMeets energy efficiency guidelines
Lid LockSafety feature that locks lid during operation

Installation

Unpack and inspect contents. Place on a level floor.

  1. Remove shipping materials: Take out transit bolts and packing from inside the basket.
  2. Connect water supply: Attach hot and cold water hoses to corresponding faucets (red for hot, blue for cold).
  3. Connect drain hose: Insert into standpipe or laundry tub; secure with provided clamp.
  4. Level the washer: Adjust leveling legs to ensure machine is stable and does not rock.
  5. Plug into a grounded 120V AC outlet.

WARNING! Do not remove transit bolts before moving washer into final position. Ensure all connections are tight to prevent leaks.

First-Time Setup

Power on washer; run a cleaning cycle before first use.

  1. Initial power-up: Plug in washer; press POWER button.
  2. Run Clean Washer cycle: Add washer cleaner or 1 cup of bleach, select Clean Washer cycle, and start.
  3. Set preferences: Use OPTIONS button to set default settings like signal volume, temperature defaults.
  4. Load laundry: Sort clothes by color and fabric type.
  5. Add detergent: Use HE detergent only; pour into detergent dispenser.

CAUTION! Use only High-Efficiency (HE) detergent. Regular detergent may cause oversudsing.

Specifications

Controls and Settings

Access controls via the front control panel. Main Buttons: POWER, START/PAUSE, OPTIONS, LID LOCK OVERRIDE.

Control Dial: Turn to select from 14 wash cycles. LED Display: Shows cycle time, settings, and status messages.

Cycle Settings: Use OPTIONS button to adjust soil level (Light, Normal, Heavy, Extra Heavy, Max), spin speed (Low, Medium, High, Max), and temperature (Hot, Warm, Cold). Special Options: Extra Rinse, Pre-Soak, Delay Start (up to 24 hours).

Connecting Water Supply

Hot and Cold water connections required. Drain hose to standpipe or laundry tub.

  1. Turn off water faucets before connecting hoses.
  2. Connect red hose to hot water faucet; blue hose to cold water faucet.
  3. Hand-tighten connections; do not overtighten.
  4. Place drain hose into a standpipe (minimum height 39") or secure over laundry tub edge.
  5. Turn on water faucets and check for leaks.

Tip: Run a small load first to check for proper water fill and drainage.

Operating the Washer

Follow these steps for normal operation.

  1. Load laundry: Open lid, load sorted clothes evenly around the impeller. Do not overload.
  2. Add detergent: Pour HE detergent into the main wash compartment of the dispenser.
  3. Add additives: Pour bleach into the bleach compartment, fabric softener into the softener compartment.
  4. Select cycle: Turn dial to desired wash cycle.
  5. Adjust settings: Press OPTIONS to set soil level, temperature, spin speed, and any extra options.
  6. Start: Close lid, press START/PAUSE. Lid will lock and cycle will begin.
  7. Pause/Stop: Press START/PAUSE to pause; press and hold for 3 seconds to cancel cycle.
  8. Unload: Wait for lid to unlock after cycle completes, then remove laundry promptly.

WARNING! Do not force open lid during operation. Wait for lid lock to release.

Special Features

Accela Wash®: Reduces cycle time by increasing water agitation. Use for lightly soiled loads. Triple Action Impeller™: Combines lifting, swirling, and rolling actions. Smart Motion: Automatically adjusts wash action based on load size and fabric. Built-in Water Faucet: Pull out to pre-treat stains directly. Delay Start: Set washer to start up to 24 hours later. Clean Washer Cycle: Runs with high water temperature to clean interior; run monthly.

Care & Cleaning

Unplug before cleaning exterior. Wipe control panel and exterior with a damp cloth. Clean detergent dispenser monthly by removing and rinsing under warm water. Run Clean Washer cycle monthly using washer cleaner or 1 cup of bleach. Keep area around washer clean and dry.

CAUTION! Do not use abrasive cleaners or solvents. Never spray water directly on controls.

Regulatory Information

UL Listed. Complies with FCC Part 15 Class B. ENERGY STAR® certified. Manufactured for Sears Brands, LLC. Copyright © Kenmore. For support, visit www.kenmore.com or contact 1-800-469-4668.

Troubleshooting

SymptomPossible CauseCorrective Action
Washer won't startPower/LidEnsure plugged in; close lid securely; press POWER.
No water fillingWater supply/hosesCheck water faucets are on; inspect hoses for kinks; ensure inlet screens are clean.
Water won't drainDrain hose/clogCheck drain hose for kinks or clogs; ensure proper installation height.
Excessive vibration/noiseLeveling/loadEnsure washer is level; redistribute load evenly; remove shipping bolts.
Error codes on displayVarious faultsRefer to error code chart in manual; unplug for 5 minutes, then retry.
Lid locked, cycle completeSafety delayWait 2 minutes for lid lock to release automatically.
Detergent not dispensingDispenser clogClean detergent dispenser with warm water.

Reset: Unplug washer for 5 minutes to reset control board.

Service: 1-800-469-4668; www.kenmore.com

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