I have the top open and am trying to disconnect the door switch before
unscrewing the front panel. The door switch has two wires leading to it
and there is a convenient connector (3 conductor, only 2 are used) a few
inches away from the switch. I've tried pulling at that connector as
hard as I dare to unplug it, but no luck. It looks like there may be
two tiny tabs to press, but I have no way to press tabs that tiny while
pulling and trying to prevent damaging the wires. Does anyone have any
suggestions?
The door switch connector part number is Whirlpool # 3936144.
(Yes, I could remove the entire switch, but was trying to avoid that.)
Thanks for any help!
Can you compress the 2 tiny tabs with a pair of pliers / needle-nose pliers
/ vise grip so as to allow you then to gently unplug the plug?
I did try that but no luck. If I had small needle nose pliers that bent
in at the end like tongs that might work, but I don't have such a
tool, if one exists. Curse the clowns that designed this connector!
Radio Shack, among other places, sells hemostats which are tong-style needle
nosed pliers which I have used to compress tabs on small and delicate
connectors. You may want to get a pair and try them. Yanking on a connector
which is still mated can easily lead to broken connector or wire problems.
Could not find the Radio Shack item on their website but here is a cheap
Harbor Freight alternative.....
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=38034