Miele Dishwasher - Not cleaning

Man I love posts like yours. Makes answering easier.

In short, yes. You probably are right that the dishwasher is aborting mid-cycle, but the why is a tricky question. There are wet parts inside as well as moving parts and high temperature. It is possible your control electronics are being exposed to moisture mid-cycle, causing the dishwasher to cut out. This would have been easy to spot by the technician though. An alternate theory could be that the dishwasher's door sensor is stating that the dishwasher gets opened mid cycle due to all the shaking around. This wouldn't have been picked up by your technician and would cause the dishwasher to effectively "pause" itself without draining or using soap. Check and make sure the door is latched securely and see if it's easy to trigger the door sensor (pull gently on the door while the dishwasher is running).

Unfortunately, the best answer I have for investigation is to "babysit." Grab your laptop, pop in a movie, get a nice drink, and plop yourself down next to the dishwasher once you set it to run. The moment it stops working properly, take a look at everything you can.

probably needs a new spring. you can order a whole new door with spring easier, just search google for appliance parts

Hi,
Checkout this tip that I wrote about that problem...

Dishwasher Repair Problem Detergent Cup does not Open
http://www.fixya.com/support/r4225828-dishwasher_repair_problem_detergent_cup

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

heatman101

sounds like you mean when the unit is running you are getting water dripping from the bottom of the door panel. if you remove the door panel at the bottom where the door hinges you will find an overflow tray which runs the width of the door. This is probably blocked with food deposits.

If not you may be using too much detergent. try running with no detergent and see if there are any leaks.if you open the door mid cycle the water level shouldn't be any higher than the bottom spray arm. hope this helps

Hi,


1. The most common problem with the detergent doors on KitchenAid dishwashers is that they either don't open during the cycle or open only halfway. Before looking into more complicated repairs, make sure that the door is able to open. Check the seal around the door and the door latch for soap- and food-related gunk, and scrub it off if present. Sometimes this can keep the detergent door from operating properly. Consider switching detergents, as some liquids and pouch-style dish detergents can gum up the detergent dispensers. Also, make sure that there is nothing blocking the detergent door when the dishwasher is loaded. Because of the location of the detergent door, a large item such as a cookie sheet or a pan can prevent the door from opening. Run the dishwasher through a cycle without anything placed in front of the detergent dispenser and see if that solves the problem.
Broken Timer
2. KitchenAid dishwashers rely on an internal timer to complete the wash cycle properly. When this timer malfunctions, certain steps in the wash process (such as the release of soap from the detergent dispenser) can be interrupted. If the dishwasher detergent door is either not opening or appears to be opening late in the cycle, this is likely the mechanical culprit. A broken timer isn't something that's simple to replace without knowledge of dishwasher repair, so it's best to consult a professional if you suspect that this is the problem.
Malfunctioning Door Components
3. For the detergent door to function properly, all of its mechanical components must be in working order. Older dishwashers' detergent doors rely on a spring-loaded hinge to pop all the way open when the timer gives the signal. If the door doesn't swing all the way open instantly when it's manually released, the spring may need to be replaced for the dispenser to operate properly. If the particular model is newer and does not rely on a spring to open the door, chances are it either uses a wax motor or a bi-metal switch to release the detergent door at the appropriate time. If either of these components is dying, that can mean that the detergent dispenser will not operate properly.

thank you
vijay(vote for me)

Well the 2nd part of your question is probably the the reason it doesn't clean. If the soap door doesn't open then the dishes will probably not be cleaned. So.. I would focus on why the door doesn't open first.. is it sticking from old soap residue? If so, clean the dispenser with white vinegar and cycle it a few times without detergent and use the hottest/sanitary setting.. Then make sure you are using an approved dishwashing detergent for yuour wash cycle. Add some detergent to the dispenser and try cycling it without any dishes .. does the door open? If no, then you need to resolve that first.. If it does open, try running a cycle with about 1/2 the normal dish load and see if the door opened and the dishes came out clean.. Routinely, check and clean the drain filter so you aren't redistributing the food sediment from the previous load all over the next load of dishes.. Hope that helps..

There is a solenoid that opens the door to the dispenser. You can check it with a volt/ohm meter. Sometimes large dishes can block the door keeping it from opening. I personally know on some Whirlpool washers (because it was mine) that if the bottom drawer is put in backwards, it wont let the door open. When I opened the main door, then the dispenser would flop open. You need a meter to check this part if its not the other things. Without it, you are just guessing.

It sound like a detergent cup issue (the door doesn't open at time) A very simple test for it is to place a tablet on the bottom of the dishwasher for a full cycle and to see what happen to the tablet. In case the tablet will be dissolved : - The detergent cup can become clogged with old dried detergent that prevents it from opening at time. Sometimes just cleaning the cup takes care of the problem. - The detergent cup opened by a bi-metal switch or a wax motor located inside your dishwasher door(behind the detergent cup). If cup's cleaning will not solve the problem, you should replace the bi-metal switch or the wax motor (depend which of them is used in your machine). Good luck !

The detergent cup can become clogged with old dried detergent that prevents it from opening at time. Sometimes just cleaning the cup takes care of the problem. The detergent cup opened by a bi-metal switch or a wax motor located inside your dishwasher door(behind the detergent cup). If cup's cleaning will not solve the problem, you should replace the bi-metal switch or the wax motor (depend which of them is used in your machine). Another option is just to place the detergent tablet on washer's bottom before starting its cycle. Good luck !

The detergent cup can become clogged with old dried detergent that prevents it from opening at time. Sometimes just cleaning the cup takes care of the problem. The detergent cup opened by a bi-metal switch or a wax motor located inside your dishwasher door(behind the detergent cup). If cup's cleaning will not solve the problem, you should replace the bi-metal switch or the wax motor (depend which of them is used in your machine). Another option is just to place the detergent tablet on washer's bottom before starting its cycle. Good luck !