I loved going on BBSs with my C=64, sold subscriptions to Prodigy, and made it to the actual Internet since 1994. It (and it’s predecessors) has always amazed me, but every once in a while it rises above the day-to-day wonderment and really shines.
Our dryer konked out late last night.
I began my day with a blank slate and damp clothes.
I was able to find parts lists and great step-by-step instructions for diagnosing and replacing parts—two different guides, one for doing the work and one that was geared more towards managing a fleet of non-technical repair employees. As in, “you will do these steps in this order if you want to keep your job” kind of thing. I kept my job.
Then I had to run some tests with an ohmmeter, but I couldn’t quite make contact with the pointy bits of the test leads. I was able to find that what I needed was in stock at the local Radio Shack by checking their Web page (okay, I cheated here and called to verify, but still).
Not sure if adding leads would monkey with the readout, I posted to GQ and got several answers within a few *minutes *of posting.
I got home, started testing, found a helpful video or two to back things up, and narrowed it down to the heater element. I pulled it out, and once out easily saw the break in the coil.
I went back to one of the sites and found that it was ~$60. I did a quick check and found it on Amazon for $40 (OEM, no less). It’s on its way. Prime. Next-day Prime for just $3 more.
Congratulations, you win today’s “Best Amateur Use of the Internet” Award!
I love this kind of stuff. Some friends gave us an absolutely top-of-the-line flat-screen TV a few years ago, they said it was broken, wouldn’t even turn on and had simply bought a new one. I looked around the internet, found the reset settings[sup]*[/sup] on some TV repair tech forum and PRESTO - free brand new TV!
[sup]*[/sup] Honestly, it was something like “Hold down volume up and channel down, then press Power”
Kind of funny thing to stop and smell the Internet over. Mrs. Devil and I live an idyllic life: moved out of the city to work out of our home office, situated in five acres of woods with ½-acre perennial gardens, all because we can write, design and publish over the Internet. I’ve had just two or three face-to-face meetings with clients over the past six or seven years, thanks to Skype et al. I haven’t had to do library research in who knows how long, thanks to the Internet. Clients in Asia, Europe, Africa, wherever are as easy to work with as if they were next door.
As for that site, I found the document by putting in the dryer’s model number and filetype:pdf to get this. Besides being nice and direct as to what to do and when, it had lines such as: “NOTE: Possible Cause/Tests MUST be performed in the sequence shown for each problem.” It’s clearly directed at on-the-road service techs, but that and other phrasing suggested it was designed for basic tech-school graduates.
Ah, even more direct—checking the root page, their text starts with “Discover the ultimate resource to help you GROW and MANAGE your Appliance Service Business. We are dedicated to helping you ‘Navigate YOUR Road To Success.’”
Probably a great resource… but I do hope nothing else breaks down.
My wife’s Isuzu had the drivers side window decouple from the doohickey that makes it go up and down (stop me if I get too technical.)
Looking on the intertubes, I found a solution on a forum for her exact model, went out, and with nothing more than a multi-tool screwdriver and two twisty-ties, fixed that bad boy. Had to take the door panel off and other things I never expected to do, but it was a success.
I totally argree !! I do work of this sort, on a large property, some part or tool or machine… unknown is always breaking…the Appliance help sites are fantastic, and also the hobby forums, for vehicles etc…
I’m starting to see alot more YouTube how to videos, these are often more helpful to orient oneself to problems which a text wont quite describe…
most recent success was replacing a broken laptop face…saved 400 bucks for a friend… (broke the glass doing it,:rolleyes: but solved that too, using some how to sites, including one in a language I dont speak, but a pic is worth a thousand words sometimes)
I inherited several old guns from my dad earlier this year. I was amazed at the wealth of information I found on each via some simple web searching. For instance, I found out his .22 rifle was a 1954 model sold exclusively through Sears & Roebuck (makes sense, his stepmom worked there around that time) AND was able to download a copy of the original owner’s manual!
