20 Most Recent Maytag MDB3100 Dishwasher Questions & Answers

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My mom bought new racks for her dishwasher and now her dishwasher has died. I have both an upper anda lower if you are still looking for one.

Hello there and welcome to fixya
Water-inlet valve
Most cleaning problems are caused by the dishwasher not getting enough wash water, so the water-inlet valve is often to blame. This valve is usually at the bottom left or right of the dishwasher, behind the lower access panel. It's the device with the main water line from the house, a rubber tube to the dishwasher, and two wires attached to it.
When a water-inlet valve is defective, you may hear the sound that's usually referred to as "water hammer." If the water-inlet valve is defective, you need to completely replace it.
Dishwasher Water Inlet Valve Replacement

Be sure to read and understand any instructions that come with the new water inlet valve.

Tools required:

Adjustable wrench

Multi-Screwdriver

Pliers

Step 1. Disconnect the dishwasher from its power source.

Note: Dishwashers are usually wired directly to the home's electrical system. To disconnect the power, switch off the circuit breaker or remove the fuse for the electrical circuit the dishwasher is attached to. Try to turn the unit on after disconnecting the power to be sure you were successful.

CAUTION: If you're not sure you've shut off the power properly, DO NOT CONTINUE. Call a qualified appliance repair technician to complete the repair.

Step 2. Turn off the water supply to the dishwasher. This is usually underneath the kitchen sink or in the basement or crawlspace near the location of the dishwasher. Pliers may be helpful here.

Note: If there are no shut-off valves, you must shut the water off at the main water supply valve for your home.

Step 3. Remove the lower panel(s) of the dishwasher. These are usually held by 2 to 4 screws at the upper and lower corners of the panel(s).

The inlet valve is usually near the front of the dishwasher. Attached to the valve you'll see: 2 or 4 wires, the water supply line from the house and the water feed line that goes to the dishwasher.

Step 4. Remove the household water supply line from the valve. The line is usually secured with a brass compression nut. The water supply line is usually copper or braided stainless steel.

CAUTION: Water supply line may be hot.

Step 5. Remove the fitting from the valve the water supply line was attached to. This fitting may be very difficult to remove. It may help to put the valve into a vice in order to remove the fitting. If you cannot remove it, replace it. The fitting is not an appliance part but a plumbing part that is available at most hardware stores.

Step 6. Remove the screws holding the valve to the dishwasher frame.

Step 7. Label the wires to the valve so you'll be sure to reattach them correctly.

Step 8. Remove the wires from the valve.

Step 9. Remove the clamp on the black rubber water discharge tube and pull the tube off of the valve.

Step 10. Reinstall the old fitting (or a replacement fitting if necessary) onto the new valve the water supply line was attached to. Use Teflon tape or pipe joint compound as a thread sealant. Make this fitting tight to prevent leaks. Make sure that the fitting points in the same direction as the old one so that the water supply line will meet up with it properly.

Step 11. Install the new valve in the reverse order of the removal instructions.

Note: The water supply line is under high pressure. Be sure to tighten the fittings properly.

Step 12. Turn on the water to the machine, and check for and correct any leaks.

Step 13. Reinstall the access panel(s). Restore the power to the dishwasher and test.

Note: You may have to let the dishwasher run a few minutes before it reaches the next water fill cycle.
Internal filters
Every dishwasher has some type of filter to keep large food particles and foreign objects away from the pump assembly:
Most modern dishwashers have self-cleaning filters that don't need any routine cleaning.
Some have filters in the bottom of the dishwasher that you need to periodically clean. You don't need any tools to remove the filter, and cleaning it is easy. Consult your owner's manual to determine which type you have and its maintenance requirements.
If your filter is clogged, it may be causing the cleaning problem.
Drain valve
Some dishwashers have a valve (or gate) that should open only during draining. If debris lodges in the valve, it can't close properly, so water drains out during the wash cycle. Most dishwashers drain into the garbage disposer. If yours does that, listen for water flowing into the disposer during the wash cycle. If you can hear it then, the drain valve may be clogged.
Spray arms
There's a spray arm at the bottom of your dishwasher--it may have a tall spray tube mounted to the center of it. There may also be a spray arm located directly beneath the upper rack of dishes and/or above the upper rack.
If debris is blocking the holes in the spray arms where the water comes out, it could cause cleaning problems. Regularly inspect each of the spray arms and clean out the holes as necessary.
Water temperature

Hi, I have an older dishwasher also and recently mywife also complained about it not cleaning right... so me being the man I amtried in vain to clean the things... Bought new spray arms online and installedthem in minutes...now the thing works like new... However I have also foundthat if the heating element goes bad then that also can mess things up bad...So I would buy new spray arms, and also check out the heating element to makesure it is working... Here is a tip that will help you with the onlinebuying...
Dishwasher SprayArms not Spinning

How to Buy ApplianceParts Online

A bad heating element causes many problems in dishwashers...

Dishwasher Problems The HeatingElement not Working

DishwasherMaintenance DishwasherResidue and Film on Dishes

heatman101

Asker's Testimonial "explanation very clear. will give it a go and see howsimple it was. thanks Ronnie " - ronnieshomes

Hi,
Here is a tip that will help you to find out why water will not come into thedishwasher...

Dishwasher Trouble No Water entering Dishwasher

heatman101

Hi,

That is not that hard to fix and you can easily buy the parts yourself online...

Here is a tip that will help you with the online buying...

How to Buy Appliance Parts Online

heatman101

Hi
Dishwashers use Bi-Metal strip to allow the dispenser to open/close. This strip when heat up causes the soap door spring to open up the dispenser. If this strip is not heated doesn't allow the door to open. The strip may not be getting 120V or maybe disconnected. Newer (plastic liner) Maytag dishwashers use a wax motor to open the soap dispenser. The plunger inside the wax motor slowly moves and pushes the plunger and door open. And, if this wax motor doesn't receive 120 volts, then it

You can order it from Kitchen Aid directly. The part number is 9741982

Their phone number is 1-800-422-1230

Hi,
Check your heating element..

Dishwasher Problems The Heating Element not Working
http://www.fixya.com/support/r4589033-dishwasher_problems_heating_element_not

Dishwasher Maintenance
http://www.fixya.com/support/r4319937-dishwasher_maintenance

heatman101

The machine is held in the cabinet with several screws that go up into the front edge of the cabinet. Open the door to find the screws. Lift up on the washer cabinet slightly to avoid harming the kitchen floor when pulling the machine out. Try pulling the hose connection at the sink drain stub and using a wet/dry vacuum, **** the end of the hose and the drain stub. With luck, the clog will be pulled out. Good luck!

Remove each arm and inspect the small spray holes for plugging. Use a vacuum in the center hole and poke out each plugged hole. Unless your vacuum allows wet pick-up, make sure the arm is dry first. Try using a capsule type of detergent instead of liquid. You might have to tear down the lower spray arm assembly to the deck to clean the large screen which may be plugged with water/food deposits. Use hot water, detergent and white vinegar to clean the screen. Hope this helps!

Try spinning each of the spray arms in turn and in both directions to see if the noise is related to an arm or it's bearing. You might have to disassemble the lower spray arm mechanism to the deck to inspect the recirculating pump impeller for anything that might have gotten pulled into the impeller. That pretty well covers anything that rotates in the machine except for the motor itself. Hope this helps!

your touch pad might be faulty

If the model number you have this listed under is correct, a replacement tub insulation can be purchased at pcappliancerepair.com for about $38. The part number is W10223014. If the model number is not correct, or if you have questions, please let me know. I hope this helps you.

HI. check the following areas for faults.

1. Air gap / Drain hoses
If there is an air gap (located in the sink, near the faucet), check to see if it is clogged. Unscrew the top cap and see if there is anything blocking inside. Note: If there is no air gap installed, the dishwasher might not drain properly.

If the drain hose is clogged, the dishwasher would not drain. If there is an air gap installed, it is very common that a hose going from the air gap into the garbage disposer is clogged. Remove and clean the hose. Make sure to reattach the hose before starting the dishwasher.

Note: If you recently had a garbage disposer installed, it is common to overlook removing the drain plug.

2. Broken belt
Some dishwasher models use a belt to drive the pump. Replace the belt if found broken.

Note: Sometimes the belt would just come off the pump. Even though it might not be broken, it is recommended that you replace the belt, because it is probably too stretched out.

3. Pump
Some models have two impellers inside the pump - one, wash impeller, takes care of the wash cycles, the other, drain impeller, drains the water out. If the drain impeller is broken (broken blades, shaft), the dishwasher would not drain. Replace any broken pump components.

4. Drain solenoid
Some models (for example most GE dishwashers) use a drain solenoid to drain water out. Sometimes the solenoid gets stuck, preventing the water from draining out. Try to free up the solenoid. If unsuccessful, you might have to replace the pump assembly.

5. Motor
If the motor is stuck, it is sometimes possible to free it up by manually spinning the motor.

Replace the motor if defective.

6. Timer/control board
Replace if defective (note: uncommon problem).

if ur unit is connected to an air gap,which is mounted rhs rear corner of ur kitchen sink,remove the air gap cover and look for any food debris stuck there.debris will restrict the free flow of water during and machine has fixed 2 min drain cycle. so some water can remain the unit after drain cycle is over.

You can save considerable money if you change the valve yourself. I sold Maytag dishwashers for over 25 yrs. and there are still a lot of those out there. Very simple to work on and last a long time with minimal maintenance.