Does this Maytag dishwasher sound right?

[maytaga806]

So, after ripping apart this dishwasher a few days ago, the food chopper was caked with nasty grime and crap and I got it all off thank god. That improved wash performance on the top rack, and its getting better water flow. But there's one problem, during the wash cycle where the circulation pump is running, it sounds very strange, and it didn't make this sound before I cleaned out the sump.

I put a camera on the top rack, and every few seconds as the top wash arm is jetting out water, water flow decreases out the arm, then increases. It doesn't consistently flow normally I noticed. So what the heck is wrong with my dishwasher now?

 

[yogitunes]

well, as you were advised to clean out that sump/pump area before you installed it....seems that fixed part one....

rather than start a new thread for each issue, how about go back and check all the items that were advised before, to see if anything corrects these problems.....

sounds like your machine is surging....again, AFTER if fills, open it up and add a gallon or two of water to see if that corrects the issue....

seems your discovering why they got rid of it in the first place.....

 

[maytaga806]

Thank you

I posted a new thread so that I wouldnt confuse anyone. Im just trying to get help, alright? I added a gallon of water, and that completely narrows the problem down to the fact that it isn't filling the basin with enough water. When I ran it with that extra gallon in, I watched on my cam that I put in the upper rack and saw that the arm is working at full capability, which shows that the dishwasher doesn't fill with enough water on its own.

So, considering that its a filling issue, does the water inlet valve need to be replaced? What do you think might need to be fixed?

 

[dustin92]

You might just need to clean the screen in the inlet valve, they get hard water scale in them which blocks the water from getting through.

 

[combo52]

Under Filling MT [ WP ] DW

Change the inlet valve, unless the inlet screen is COMPLETELY packed with crap, DO NOT remove the inlet screen to clean, but rather just scrap off excess stuff and rinse.

John L.

 

[maytaga806]

Could it possibly be the float switch telling the water to shut off too early? I dont understand because water flows out the valve perfectly, its just shutting off too early...That's the issue here.

 

[combo52]

Is The Float Sw Shutting Off The Water Too Soon ?

Not likley, But if you think it is just test to see if the float sw is open when the water stops flowing in.

 

[Chetlaham]

Fill on Maytags

Don't all Maytag DW use a float controlled fill?

 

[combo52]

No

Only some plastic tub MTs did this, and we are really talking about a WP-MT DW, the DW in question operates just like any WP and for that matter any KA, GE, HP, D&M, Frigidaire, WasteKing, Westinghouse or WCI DW, on the vast majority of US DWs built over the last 60 years the float or other mechanical water level system was only there to prevent flooding if something went wrong or the machine was started twice without allowing it to drain any water already inside.

 

This is why even if the water flow looks pretty good it might not be enough to make the DW perform properly. We replace inlet valves on DWs constantly for this exact problem, today alone I saw two DWs with low flow bad inlet valves, 1st was a 20 YO Jenn-Air [ MT ] the 2nd was a 4 YO KM Tall Tub DW by WP.

 

John L.

 

[maytaga806]

John...

So your saying that the water inlet valve is bad even though considering it fills the dishwasher up with water, but just not enough to perform properly? Where can I find the cheapest replacement part for a water inlet valve?

I need to get this problem figured out fast, I HATE hand washing dishes.

The model number for my Maytag is MDBH989AWS3

 

[maytaga806]

Water level...

Does anyone know where the water level should normally be? Because when mine fills up, its below the heating element and not even touching it. And isnt the water level supposed to reach the heating element? It did on my last dishwasher, but with these new dishwashers using less water I have no idea what is normal, but I definitely know it is not using enough water.

 

[gusherb]

I would think it should come up to the element at least in the cycles where it may use it to heat water. But who knows anymore. Our 2005 (non whirlpool) Maytag comes right up to the element and just barely over it.

 

[askolover]

Here's the cheapest I've found so far

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

Repairclinic.com is more expensive

https://www.repairclinic.com/PartDetail/Maytag-Dishwasher-Water-Inlet-Valve/W10648041/3015273?modelNumber=MDBH989AWS3&ss=a9b4i219d926978&mr=1

 

[johnb300m]

Water will not necessarily come all the way over the heating element. But in your dishwasher platform, water should cover the filter screen underneath the wash arm.

 

[maytaga806]

Its definitely not using enough water because the upper spray arm doesn't jet out water at full force and the dishwasher surges during the wash cycle when I let it fill up by itself, it definitely doesn't use enough water. I added about a gallon of water to the cycle and it works/sprays perfectly and it doesn't make the surging sound because its desperate for more water.

So, in conclusion you guys think its the water inlet valve that is faulty and needs replacement?

If replacing that doesn't work, whats the next thing to look at?

 

[maytaga806]

I still don't understand how the water inlet valve is the faulty part and not the float switch that shuts off the water? I don't want to waste my money on a part that doesn't fix the problem if that were to happen.

 

[henene4]

AFAIK the fills on most any US DW are timed. The float most certanly is only for overflow protection.

 

[DADoES]

 
Normal level is *timed*, the float is not intended to control it.  The float comes into play for overfill protection.  If there's a clog in the drain hose, for example, and the wash water fails to drain completely, and it proceeds to fill for rinse with water already in the tub, the float stops it from overfilling.

 

[murando531]

The float switch has nothing to with fill levels at all really. Even in my PowerClean with a new inlet valve and our excellent water pressure, the water never reached high enough to cause the float switch to click, but it was plenty for the pump to hum along with never a surging or choking sound.

In the Voyager, such as your Maytag, the water level should come just to the bottom edge of the door, maybe a hair more. That's where my MDB4709 filled to. I don't think this was enough to activate the float switch but I don't remember specifically because it was a while ago.

Some newer dishwashers, such as the current GlobalWash design like my Whirlpool, can now sense that the water level is sufficient by use of the optical sensor and the motor itself. They call it Dynamic Fill or something like that, but I've noticed that fill times for the first prewash or two will never be exactly the same, and sometimes you can hear the inlet valve kick on for a few seconds mid wash as if it decided it needed to top the water level off.