Mend > Vacuum Cleaners

Kenmore Canister Whispertone 116 - Does not Power On?

The unit appears fine meaning no broken wires, connections, etc. but it does not turn on with or without the powerhead attached - it's dead. I tried the reset on the powerhead and opened the motor chamber to look for anything amiss - no clues. Are there any fuses or other resets? I read that there was a thermal 30 minute automatic reset for motor overheating but since it's been days since it worked, this does not appear to be a factor. This vacuum was used by several of my Dad's caregivers so unfortunately I do not have the details of what happened when it stopped working. It's about 5 years old. Can anyone suggest what the trouble might be?

Thank you for any help you can provide. The vacuum is otherwise in fine shape, so I would really prefer to fix it then buy a new one.

Diane
December 2007

Kenmore Kenmore 116 Household Appliances, Vacuum Cleaners Power Unit Appears

Additional Information to original question. I examined the electrical cord connections again and found one of the prongs that goes into the electrical socket is loose. You can rock it from side to side while the other prong does not move. Could this be the problem? If so, can I replace the end of the cord (meaning cut off the prong end and wire on a replacement - sorry I dont's know the technical term for these pieces). If this seems practical can someone tell me if there is a specific type of part I must use for the replacement. Thanks again.

Diane
December 2007