Product review (5 stars): Perfect Replacement Part for our Maytag Neptune MAH8700AWW
We have a Maytag Neptune front-loader, model no. MAH8700AWW, that we bought in mid-2006. About a year ago, I must have been hurrying while putting things in the washer and caught something on the door switch, snapping it off. (What I refer to as the door switch is that little thing that pushes in to let the washer know the door is closed so that it can lock.) At that time I was able to use a little Krazy Glue to fix it, but last Saturday it broke off again and wouldn't go back on with Krazy Glue. I figured it would be this little piece that would cost an arm and a leg to replace, making me question whether, with all the little issues we've had with this washer over the past 8+ years, we should just buy a new washer, especially with Black Friday approaching. Thankfully I was able to do some online research to discover that the part would cost less than a hundred bucks. However I was still concerned about how much it would cost to have someone come replace the part. With a little more research I was able to find a great video that showed me how to replace the part myself. Additionally I found the part here on Amazon for less than fifty bucks, plus I got 2-day shipping with Prime, and I was able to replace the old switch in about 10 minutes while I had two kids under four distracting me. All I needed was a screwdriver and a pair of pliers. The video I watched is on YouTube, posted by Appliance Parts Pros dot com (though they sell the part considerably more expensively than Amazon does). You'll have to search for the video because I don't think I'm allowed to post it here.

My research led me to the original part number, Whirlpool AP3837611, which I was able to confirm through the multiple reputable sites as having been replaced by Whirlpool 8182634. Putting the metal ring back on to secure the boot was a bit of a task, but with a pair of pliers and a little bit of elbow grease (the video has a couple of helpful tips for that), I got it on there and completed the repair myself.

The part I received, however, was white in front and black on the back, so that the locking mechanism and door switch, which poke out of the body of the washer, are white. I actually prefer this to the original black one because our washer is white, and the latch on the door itself is white - so now everything matches nicely.

With two young kids, I run laundry at least once a day; since I installed the replacement part I have probably run about 15 loads of laundry and haven't had any issues with it. It is a perfect fit for our washer!