We have a 17 year old Maytag Washer, Model LA 9700, that is leaking. It is not an outside hose. How do I get inside the machine to look at the internal hose? I can't see anything through the back side "peep hole"?

The front panel should come off your washer allowing you access to the interior cabinet. Along the seam where the top panel meets the front of the washer, there should be a couple of retaining clips. If you take a putty knife and push in, while lifting up on the top panel, the clips should release. Inspect the dispenser hoses, water inlet lines, drain pump, drain hoses, the hose connections to the wash tub and along the wash tub bottom where the tub seal is. If you go to searspartsdirect.com and type in your model number, there are some excellent exploded view drawings showing how your washer is assembled. I hope this helps you.