I bought a used Maytag LAT after having it recommended to my by the repair man who serviced my energy efficient less then a year old piece of junk. The manufacturing date on the motor says 98. I had already replaiced the tub seal and thought the transmission went out yesterday because the basket would spin but the agitator would not move and it takes far more force then expected to move the agitator. Before I opened the transmission I put the machine on its back and looked at the pulley on the bottom. Part of it moved with the agitator? It turned out I had bad springs. The motor didn't have enough tension on the belt to drive the shaft... for what ever reason. I coupled a spring I had laying around with the ones already there and it works better then ever. I am afraid that the non factory spring may add a little to much tension and strain on the motor but the machine has never worked better. Ive had it for 8 months and hopefully it will last until someone comes out with a reliable energy star model.