Frigidaire Dishwashers- why the hate?

[dustin92]

Our beloved Maytag Jetclean bit the dust a few days ago, and while it's probably repairable, it's not financially possible right now. The same evening, I found a working Frigidaire dishwasher on Facebook, curbside for free. Picked it up the next morning, and while it's definitely seen better days, and had some pretty bad mineral buildup inside, it seems to wash pretty well, and surprisingly quietly. I had to clean out both spray arms (neither could get enough water pressure through to rotate before!) But it was mainly hard water mineral build up. Yes, it does wash one rack at a time, and sounds like a drain pump for the wash cycle, but I've only had one dirty dish come out. Definitely not the same build quality as our Maytag, but from what I see Frigidaire is a lower price point than Maytag. I'll post a couple pictures when the current wash is done, but from what I can find online and from the manual it was built around 2003. The only real issue I see is the bottom rack is pretty rotten.. I assume from prerinsing and over use of detergents, maybe high heat cycles? I'll be happy if it gets us through this apocalypse until I can repair the Maytag or find something better! But honestly, I haven't heard a lot positive about Frigidaire dishwashers and curious to know why?

 

[dustin92]

[No message]

 

[dustin92]

Cycle times aren't too awful either, and it does have a soil sensor that seems to like shortening the wash times. Pots and pans clocks in at 99. minutes (115 according to the manual) and pre selects Hi temp wash and Sanitize. Normal wash clocks at 95 minutes (1:35) and last night it took 30 minutes off the cycle after sensing and the first prewash. Light wash (Both racks) is 85 minutes (1:25) and Light wash (Upper rack) is 65 minutes (1:05)

 

[dustin92]

And the seen-better-days interior- Innovative feed system for the top arm if nothing else.. I like the nice deep top rack. The stain in the prewash dispenser is not undissolved detergent, pretty sure it's just hard water scale stained blue (by the Cascade complete liquid I'm using in the prewash).. It's hard and crusty and very hard to remove. Seems to be slowly dissolving. Dishes come out acceptably clean but not particularly dry- even after the heated dry most plastic is still wet. It's definitely not a Maytag but not as bad as the two builder grade GE's we had in our old house- I swear those machines just ground up any food particles and splattered them back on the dishes.

 

[frigilux]

I had a top-of-the-line 2004 (or thereabouts) Frigidaire dishwasher whose interior and wash system looked like yours. It did a fine job and was the quietest machine I’d had up to that point. It was my first experience with alternate-rack washing and dedicated half-load cycles for either the bottom or top rack.

Its weak spot was not cleaning performance, but the motherboard, which had to be replaced three times. Symptom was always the same: The start pad quit responding. While waiting for the new part to arrive, I’d use the delay start pad as a work-around. The 30-minute wait for the cycle to begin was annoying, but at least it allowed the machine to be used.

After the third board was installed—machine was maybe 4-5 years old—I gave it away and replaced it with a TOL Maytag, which nearly started a kitchen fire when the heater began to engage for hours at a time, even when the machine was off. That was scary. Had the recall work done, but no longer trusted it, so it went out the door.

 

At any rate, your Frigidaire was acquired for a great price when you needed it most. Congratulations!

 

[ozzie908]

@dustin92

Have you tried an appliance descaler in the dishwasher see if it helps to remove or soften the limescale?

Its a pity that your machines are not like ours and have a water softener built it stops all the build up at source as we have particularly hard water and never an issue with limescale.

Austin

 

[chachp]

Frigidaire Dishwashers

 

<span style="font-family: georgia, palatino; font-size: 14pt;">I haven't owned one nor do I repair them but what I know is the experience of a friend of mine who had one in a new house they bought.  Within a year it was repaired three times so out it went.  She said the cleaning was just OK but also complained about the dishes being wet.</span>

 

<span style="font-family: georgia, palatino; font-size: 14pt;">The other thing I have observed is that when I look at dishwashers on craigslist for example, there is a really high percentage of Frigidaire.  I just looked on our list and there are four out of about 20 that are listed.  I guess if they are offered for sale that often there must be a reason.</span>

 

<span style="font-family: georgia, palatino; font-size: 14pt;">Glad you got a good one and if it gets you over the hump that's all that counts.</span>

 

[dustin92]

I'd like to believe that by the time I get a machine it's been around the block a few times so the electronic issues seem to be worked out LOL. I was eyeing an older tall tub TOL Maytag on CL a while back, had a 3rd lower rack.. Was interesting but maybe a good thing I passed. I did use LemiShine granules (citric acid based hard water descaler) in both dispensers and ran an empty wash, but I've never seen such a buildup as what it had in the sump area below the filter- it was dry so I actually chiseled it away with a screwdriver and vacuumed probably a couple cups worth out.. The soil sensor was completely buried in sediment. Both spray arms were clogged to where they could no longer rotate. The detergent dispenser had so much sediment and scale built up around it the door wouldn't shut. No way was it cleaning anything- the owners must have prewashed everything. The heating element had/has some buildup but not too bad surprisingly. I do wish our machines on this side of the pond came with built in softeners standard..

 

[yogitunes]

Frigidaire seems to be the replacement for GE Profile for builder grade appliances..

my brother just bought a new house about 2 years ago, all the model homes were sporting Frigidaire in stainless...

everything seems like thin flimsy materials...the stove doesn't even have a bottom drawer...

the oven blew out two igniters, the board in the dishwasher went, the washer needed a water valve, the dryers heating element needed replacing, the micro/hood you can't turn off the lights, and the ice maker stopped working....

of course just after the 1 year warranty ran out.....but what got me, replacement parts came up NLA....we found a few on ebay, and others we had to improvise....but he will be in the market for replacements soon.....

I told him to start replacing now while their still running, he can at least sell them and put that money towards better machines....

also have noticed around the complex, of appliances being thrown out for scrap....

 

[vacerator]

Cheaply made, low pricepoint.

Builders Love em! Their Electrolux branded appliances have higher prices, but still Frigi-Lux. No better.

 

[iheartmaytag]

There was a Frigidaire dishwasher in my house when I bought it. It ended up staying for a month. It was not a dishwasher, it was a dish wetter. The dishes came out dirtier than they went in.

I put it to the curb and installed a Maytag 300 quiet series.

 

[steved]

I’ve had a few......

Not because they were bad dishwashers, but rather that I wanted the latest features. I discovered that performance increased significantly when the machine had HOT water. I think that many times, there wasn’t hot enough water standing in the pipes. I resorted to running the faucet prior to running the dishwasher. Once I added a recirculating pump to my hot water line, I had no cleaning issues and drying improved.
For the money, I think these are decent machines providing they're only a few feet from the hot water tank.

 

[luxflairguy]

My current apartment came with a slightly used 18" stainless lined Frigidaire.
I ran it once or twice and knew parts were missing. So I called my landlord after looking at the parts schematic online and he ordered the parts- top wash arm and one other part. I installed them.
It get run almost daily and doing a lower rack "Bob" isn't doeable, but there are lots of top rack "bob's". I'm still impressed! It doesn't handle mashed potatoes well, so that's a hand wash thing, but every load is clean ---at least to my standards! I always use the hi-temp cycle and with the h20 tank right next to the machine, there's always lots of hot water. I use Finish Quantum pakcs and rinse aid and am very happy. Living in 550 sq. ft, I don't feel the noise is even an issue. (O.K., I fall asleep after dinner!) I hand clean the filter about every 3-4 months. After 3 years, I know it like the back of my hand and know the in's and outs of loading it for best results! I'll keep the Frigidaire! Greg

 

[vacerator]

Perhaps DM, and Frigidaire

were the only domestic choices in an 18 inch model DW. GE may still offer one.

 

[cuffs054]

I've had four in different houses and liked them all. I put one in this house when I moved in.

 

[littlegreeny]

Don't last...

My experience has been they don't last more than 5 years without a major failure. I've had two over the years, first one was a lower-end version of yours and the main wash motor died after about 4 years. The last one I just replaced lasted less than 5 years before the main wash motor died. My racks also started to disintegrate in my second one. I replaced my last Frigidaire a few weeks ago with a MOL Whirlpool and so far have been relatively happy with it.

I have to admit I was surprised when you said that was still operating after 17 years...

 

[gelaundry4ever]

my experience

I hade one for a year. The machine quit working. The only thing that was working was the control panel. That's it! We have a Kenmore powerwave stainless interior in white and I'm very satisfied! Not being racist against dishwashers.

 

[patcherd2]

Never knew dishwashers were a race Honk Honk

 

[murando531]

I'd say maybe "brandist" is the more appropriate word.

 

[dustin92]

Well for about the 3rd time, it's definitely NOT a MAYTAG. I'm becoming a little less impressed with it as time goes on... A dirty dish here, some kibbles and bits left there, today I took a plate out of the cupboard with dried cheese on it.. Always some sort of crud left in or around the filters.. The search is on for something else! If all else fails I may just reinstall the defective Maytag (lost the final drain cycle in the timer but works otherwise) but I feel like that is a last resort.. Could cause problems down the line. I don't hate this Frigidaire at all, it's a perfectly adequate dishwasher, but I'm used to a machine that will wash the chrome off a trailer hitch, and this one just won't. I feel like this sits one notch above a builder grade one-arm-wonder GE.. it does clean dishes.. Adequately.. But not amazingly. It's acceptably quiet, and makes an attempt at drying. No more no less.

 

[askolover]

I found these timers on ebay.....according to repairclinic this is your model maytag.

for some reason it won't link.  Every time I put the link in it just goes to a search page.  Anyway, there are 3 timers on ebay.

part number 12001533

 

 

 

[dustin92]

I may do that, but in all honesty the Maytag's tired.. I got it well used secondhand probably 5 years ago, and it's been used, HEAVILY. The racks are rusty, adjustable tines held together with zip ties, has a rattle during drain cycles that sounds like a worn bearing, and will occasionally pick up a loud squeal about halfway through the wash cycle. It still washes flawlessly, but I'm afraid it's just lived out it's useful life. Not bad for 23 years old.

On another note, the Frigidaire seems to be producing acceptably clean dishes for the most part.. I just don't think it's going to be staying long. I pulled out 2 dirty spoons (looked like redeposited food) from the lower rack tonight and 2 marginally clean (but extremely hot) saucepans (one was used to boil eggs and still had water marks, the other used to boil pasta had starch stains). The upper rack was clean except a spatula on the flip down shelf that had cheesecake filling on it. Washed with a Cascade pod on Normal Wash, Hi Temp, Sanitize, Heated dry. I opened the door and shook both racks after the final rinse, then continued with the heated dry. Everything was 85+-% dry. My statement stands.. It's an adequate dishwasher but nothing more.. I wouldn't expect it to remove anything cooked or burned on, not even on the pots/pans cycle.

That said, what would be the "ideal" dishwasher to look for on the used market? I'm looking for a cheap machine that will wash the chrome off a trailer hitch, then produce DRY dishes.. All within a reasonable amount of time and relative efficiency, low noise level would be great. I may start a thread dedicated to my search for the "perfect" dishwasher... I've seen some of the new offerings from Whirlpool and Kitchenaid and I"m not impressed, and the 2-4 hour cycles times seem to be standard across the board.. Too long.

 

[frigilux]

Try using the Pots/Pans cycle once; curious to know if that improves cleaning.

 

[neptunebob]

It begs the question>>>

Why doesn't Frigidaire/electrolux build a better dishwashing machine? Some of them are not exactly cheap, so it's not cost but why not build a good machine so people don't hate it?

 

[vacerator]

Why?

Because they don't care to. That would cost more, and increase the prices. Remember, the parent is AB Electrolux, a global conglomerate sourcing parts from low bidders first. It's been their way since they closed their europena plants, except Hungary, and began sourcing from China. Frigidaire quality wasn't the former GM quality under White Comsolidated, and AB-Lux bought them out afterward and it became even worse. Our neighbors post millenium SxS Fridge was only 12 years old, and wasn't worth repairing when the unit went out after control board replacemnt, and evaporator damper before that. same model as the one on the "Reba" show later seasons, not her Hotpoint.

 

[dustin92]

I did use the Pots/Pans cycle the other day and aside from pre selecting Hi Temp wash and Sanitize, it seemed to do about the same as Normal, although it took considerably longer.. Still had the dirty dish or 2 if I recall. I did a light load tonight on Light wash- Both racks with Hi Temp wash and heated dry, and it seemed to do ok, aside from a couple chunks of food that were jammed in the lower spray arm after the cycle. Re washed the dirty spatula from last night, and STILL had cheesecake residue on it, now washed down to a dry residue, which easily wiped off. Mine obviously wasn't a low end machine new and I would be disappointed to see a mid to high end machine perform this poorly... There.. I said it.. POORLY.

 

[combo52]

Frigidaire DWs, Why The Hate ?

Hi Dustin, Well I think you answered your own question along with a lot of others that have chimed in. When you started this thread I figured you would soon figure out why FD DWs are not highly regarded.

 

And once you get one of the DWs listed below you will also see the many flaws in the design and performance of even the MT DW you had. The MT standard tub DW like their Tall Tub models that came later were both interesting designs with a lot of interesting engineering designed into them, but both had many reliability problems and both are disappearing fast from Americas kitchens.

 

As far as the best practical slightly vintage DW, I think that most will agree is a 1985-2006 WP Power-Clean or Kenmore Standard tub Ultra-Wash DW.

 

John L.

 

[re563]

Keep in mind

I had one from this series in Florida. These were still made by WCI. If you look at the bottom wash arm, all the jets are at the end of each side. For the reasons mentioned above, I had the same trouble with dishes not getting clean, I use to adjust the amount of detergent I used, thinking it was me and because of the reduced amount of water it used.

Watching some of the youtube vids, and now that Electrolux is making these, I do think they are much better and the spray is more powerful. I would consider getting one today.

 

[dustin92]

I found a slightly newer Frigidaire, also free, which had a bad wash motor, but also newer style spray arms- the lower arm was a direct fit, and with just that replaced, the performance improved, I could actually hear water hitting the top and sides of the tub! Today I completely disassembled both machines and transplanted all the electronics and working wash assembly into the newer style tub, which has a direct feed to the upper arm and not that silly funnel. Also has a 3rd arm above the top rack. I used the racks from the newer machine, since they are only slightly rusty and no broken tines. It still uses the same check ball float system to engage the 2nd and 3rd level arms. The holes in the spray arms are slightly smaller than the old ones, so it sounds like it's getting better pressure. The machine looks the same but sounds like something is actually getting washed inside. Currently running it's first wash, we will see how things come out!

 

[sudsmaster]

Frigi-Junk

Dustin,

From you photos I see (in pic #4) that your Frigidaire DW has the same fatal flaw as the one I bought around 2000: a flimsy debris screen, about the size and shape of a 33-1/3 rpm long playing record. The heat from the element above will warp it to the point where it gets wavy and then lets all sort of kibbles and bits through to sully what should be clean dishes.

You got your Lemon-aire for free, so might I suggest putting it back on the curb and getting a real dishwasher? Like a Bosch?