Kenmore Water Softener Error 1 (FIXED!) 

OK, I've got a new solution and another diagnostic test for you all. I was getting an error message #1. This says there is some electrical problem, like a wire that has been pulled and broken inside the insulative tubing where it cannot be seen. I put my attention on the little microswitch that rides on the timing cam which is driven by the motor. I had an old style LED display, which uses P/N 7286306, which is a Kenmore 420 series part (which my model is). And that display's diagnostic setting DOES NOT tell you whether the microswitch is open or closed. The new one does. It won't work with that outer shell/cowling/exterior, by the way. OK, So I had overlooked the switch as bad. After all, when I took it out of its location, and put my ohm meter on it, it would switch open and closed like a champ, but what I didn't realize was that the tip of the switch that physically rides on the cam was WORN DOWN, to where it was not actually being activated/deactivated when in actual service!! Now you can get one of these for $20 on Amazon, but you can also get it for $5 at Grainger! The switch with the longer "nose" was marked V7-1B17D8 and is Grainger's part number 24A240. You can order 4 for the price you'd pay on Amazon, and then you can sell three of them on eBay, and buy yourself a tank of gas for your car with the profits!

Followed all your instructions, thank you for keeping it so simple. Problem solved with new switch. I was about to order a new unit, thanks to you that was not necessary.

Thanks, I came home and the water softener was making the exact same sound. I unplugged and replugged it but nothing worked. I pulled out the switch and the continuity was way off--It was showing like 45.xx Ohms, when Amazon sent the new one it was at 1 with the switch closed and 0 when open (I think thats right). I am no electrician, just using a Harbor Freight multimeter and following your video best I could! I replaced the switch in like 5 minutes and Boom, its working like a champ again! Thanks so much for saving me some money! Mine is a different Kenmore (not as fancy), but everything looks the same inside. Awesome, easy fix!!!

Update - yes, the switch was bad and a new switch cleared the err1...BUT when it started working again I noticed it was spraying water from the top of the rotor shaft under the motor - right onto the switch. Probably why first switch went bad. Replaced the seal kit, rotor & disc, cam & gear. Total cost about $140, or about 1/4 total cost of this model 420 when not on sale ($560). Well worth it if I can get another 5-6 years out of it. Thanks again for your video, you gave me the courage to tackle this repair myself.

Thanks for the vid! Had same problem with my 420 model. Could see the motor was turning the valve, but the requested position never matches the actual. Took the switch off and toned it out and saw the same thing. $14 dollars later we are back in business. Cheers!

pretty good that the manual has tips on what to look at.

Tapping the switch with a screwdriver for a minute, resetting to factory defaults and regenerate worked for me. If it fails again I'll replace the switch. Thanks

I was surprised at all of the corrosion "in the back". Good video as usual.

Very nice video and explanation. Experiencing err1, followed your instructions - bad switch. Just ordered from your link. Thanks!

Thank you for making this video. Looks like I’ll need a new switch as well.

Very helpful! Thanks!!

Thanks so much, had a loose switch wire connection on a new Kenmore Softener

very useful, thanks for sharing

Thanks! Great Video. I'm dealing with a 23 year old Sears Water Softener Super Capacity Genius Model 625.3485500. The exterior is cosmetically different but the inside appears to be the same as in the video except for the motor. I've cleaned the venturi, the tank float valve ,discharge line and the switch was not defective. When I plug the unit it starts with a recharge and makes a noise like a loud dripping water (every second). This goes on for 2 or 3 minutes before I get the "ERR1). I suspect my motor is bad and at $69, I figure it's best to get a new softener.

Thank you very much for the video. I have Ecopure water softener. I had the same message(Error E01). I opened the cover and found that the plug(connecting to the control panel)was loose. I tightened the plug and the error message has gone. Hopefully the water softener should work.

Great video !!!! Thanks

Thanks. Fixed mine!

Hello I have a 350 series , I have changed the same switch you did. Only problem I'm having now is the metal round wheel ( cam gear) that the switch 'clicks' thru is not turning around and the little metal arm is supposed to click thru all those indents in that wheel. Do you feel I should replace that metal round thing? Also when I plugged it back in the words recharge and 'serv' show but the word Fill does not

Switch tested OK. Now what? Screen only shows time . Any suggestions?

Thank you

Hello. Question. I water no draining. I replaced Venturi gasket. It drained and was running fine for around 3 month. Now, the water is not draining and filling up again. Any ideas??

Hello I have the same model water softener from kenmore. For some reason the bypass bar switch is stuck. Have you experienced that? How did you resolve it? I just wanted to see if I could bypass my water softener. I have one that was installed about 16 years ago. I'm thinking of turning off my water softener by first bypassing it.

after we unplugged ours and plugged it back in it was well past the 8 min mark and still making the reset sound but it did not give a count down it just stayed at 0. I unplugged again because I was afraid that it would burn out. Should I have kept it on in hopes that it would eventually reset?

thanks!

Use Ohm resistance measure on multimeter instead of diode, my micro switch measured 17 k ohm on open position, not OL, it's still faulty, Diode measure won't catch it. After replacement it's all good.

We have a kenmore intellisoft 350 series. It is brand new and we installed it a few days ago. We tried setting a regeneration time, but it isn’t starting when we want it to based on the time we set. We’re sure we aren’t doing it correctly, but the instructions are so vague. We know how system should take about 2 hours to regenerate, but if we hit the immediate button to regenerate it only goes for an hour. Thought maybe you would have some answers since you have a similar water softener. Any help is appreciated. Thank you. Val

Hello Any idea how to fix ERR4?

Model : GXSHC40N getting the err1 ?

Do you guys happen to know how to get one of the computers for this unit? The little one that has the display that you push all the buttons on. Mine went out

i get the same reading, but the rest of the disply dond show the salt level, or other things that should disply, i can push buttons and it will show my settings, 30 and 40, for what i need for my water, i dont have anything in my water except high calseum only, no iron nothing else, it did somthing like this last year, i took the control boad out and cleaned it with contact cleaner and it all worked again, as the control boad had corosion here and there on it, but back then it still showed all display items before cleaning, it had just stayed in back flush.. now with sears closed down, i cant find parts, i bought this back in 1998 and it been no problen until the past 8 months, right now it stays in back flush water going down the drain

I'm having same issue will try. Where can I get this switch?

All you need all you need to do to clear an error code 1 is replace that limit switch but to test the switch don't take nothing apart just put an ohmmeter multimeter on ohms on the two prongs unplugged the connection and then reach in and trigger the switch you don't have to take it off I paid about $3 for 10 of those switches from China

There's some planned obsolence for you, rusty screws and corrosion everywhere. May use some stainless and have it last Whirlpool?

Spray some WD silicone on all the metal parts and cam, your system is very rusty.

Please let this be my problem. My system is a GE system and a new board is over $300. The total cost of the softener is $400. This is criminal.

18 fuckin dollars for a levered microswitch... I guarantee that's a 1-4 dollar part.

Having a hard time watching this video anyone else

absolutely terrible equipment. these softeners were picked off aself at home depot or sears. at most they might work on city water. not ant good for well water. i know2, been in the water treatment business for over 43 yrs, you get what you pay for. junk.