Maytag MDB4949SDH0 Top Rack not cleaning

[electronicontrl]

Hello and Happy New Year! My b/f has a Maytag dishwasher model MDB4949SDH0
The top rack does not clean dishes. S/N F45123047
We think the unit is approx. 7 years old. I tried all of the cycles Power Blast Auto Normal and Quick. All give the same result. Dirty dishes on the top rack at the end of the cycle. I ran a cycle adding vinegar and baking soda after the machine started. I also tried a vinegar mixture and letting it soak. No difference.
When the door is opened during the cycle I see the upper arm coast to a stop so I know it is getting water. The holes in the upper wash arm are not clogged. I see YouTube videos of people disassembling the filter mechanism under the lower wash arm and thoroughly cleaning several parts in order to correct this type of problem which according to the video was a KitchenAid version of this dishwasher. I will run the machine again with cups/ glasses right side up in the top rack to see if they fill up with water during the cycle. I searched for this issue on this site and did not find others with this problem.
All of the dishwashers at my house are vintage and have no issues cleaning dishes. I've read good things about KA and Maytag dishwashers by Whirlpool. I may purchase one myself one day but for now would like to get this one to work properly.
Thank you,

 

[combo52]

Poor top rack cleaning

Hi Michael, how bad do things look coming out? What types of things are not getting clean? Normally if the top wash arm is turning, you’re getting enough water pressure but it could be a little weak.

Try the mechanical cleaning test by smearing peanut butter inside at least four glasses and putting them in the upper rack if it’s not getting the peanut butter off then you have a mechanical problem with the machine probably I’m sure you’ve checked for water temperature proper detergents, etc. you should always use at least the normal cycle with a high temp wash option a dishwasher like this.

The grinder in the pump could be broken and that causes very low water pressure in the top rack, but usually the top arm won’t turn if that’s really bad. Be sure the heating element is working as well.

Let us know what you find.

Happy New Year’s, John.

 

[DADoES]

 
<blockquote>ElectroniContrl:  We think the unit is approx. 7 years old.</blockquote> Serial is December 2004, although it could have been warehoused for some months prior to purchase.

 

[repairguy]

Glenn did you mean to say 2014?

 

[DADoES]

 
Yes, surely, should be 2014.  I recently crossed age 60, could be something is going wonky in my head ...   

 

[electronicontrl]

Hello DADoES I crossed 60 in August so I understand!
Thank you Repairguy.

John, Nothing in the top rack gets clean. I put in a plastic yogurt cup upside down. At the end of the cycle it looked the same as when it went in. Dry yogurt inside and not only was there no water inside, it was completely dry!
I have used all of the cycles including Quick which has no dry phase. H2O tank is set to 120 degrees. (Candy thermometer at the faucet indicates 120). Cascade pod in the dispenser. Upon opening the door when the Quick cycle completed, lots of steam and heat so I'd say the heating element is working.

BTW everything in the lower rack is CLEAN!

Do any of you have a repair manual? Or can you guide me to one? It is time to dig in. Plus I'll call and find out if there is a parts warranty for 10 years. (Some Maytags had this).

Thank you ALL!
Michael

 

[appnut]

Michael, woud there happen to be erasonably hard water at that house? There may be a clacium deposit buildup preventing proper flow up to the top rack. I had tis problem with both my previo9us Kenmore Elites (produced by KitchenAid).

 

[coldspot66]

Is the diverter shifting to the top rack? does this model have a diverter?

 

[gelaundry4ever]

maytag dishwasher

I don't think maytag used alternating wash arms until 2020.

 

[mark_wpduet]

I'm not sure which model you have but mine Maytag is from 2014 as well and it doesn't alternate wash arms. I think it's still point voyager at this point.. but I remember just after I bought mine, my model was discontinued

 

[gelaundry4ever]

maytag alternating arms

I was at a friend's house in Nacogdoches and their dishwasher was a Maytag that alternated wash arms.

 

[coldspot66]

I checked the parts list. This model doesn't have an actuator to alternate wash arms.

 

[awooff]

Maytag macerators

The soil chopper blades have self destructed which is common on newer maytags and kitchenaids.

 

[stevet]

Dig down deeper!

Since it is pretty likely that your machine is of the Point Voyager design, I would suggest that you take a look into the sump where the pump intake is and see if there isn't some buildup of debris that is preventing the pump from pulling in as much water as it is designed to do. I have seen quite a menagerie of stuff that accumulated down there and that can have a real effect on what you're describing.

There are youtube videos to show you how to proceed and don't stop at the first level you come to. Go right down to the bottom where the soft food disposer is and see what is in there too. I have removed paper, screws, pits and glass from machines that were reportedly not cleaning by their owners and returned them to proper operation after a good cleaning.

 

[mark_wpduet]

when my whirlpool 2005 point voyager died in 2014 (around 9 years old), while it was running, it started screeching this horrible sound...and I could smell burning plastic or something...I stopped it... drained it.. I always wondered if I had taken everything off and looked down in the area where the chopper is would have helped... but that sound was really bad... Like I couldn't imagine anything stuck in the chopper making that sound...

 

[tomturbomatic]

Like a cat? /s

 

[bradfordwhite]

Sounds like the pump parts need a good clean out. Maybe a filter or tube is blocked with gunk. Should be easy and inexpensive to fix but will need to turn off the electric and disassemble some parts.

 

[combo52]

Point voyager dishwasher not cleaning in top rack

Hi Michael, I think you’ll find the solutions in post 12 or 13

It’s either clog going into the pump or the grinder itself may have failed if the 2 inch grinder disk is covered with food you need a new grinder.

The other thing that wasn’t mentioned is the dishwasher might not be getting enough water try adding a half gallon or so of water when it’s running and see if the sound changes.

One thing that threw me off initially as you said the top arm is turning. I don’t believe there’s any way that top arm is actually turning if it has enough water force to turn, it will wash dishes.

If the dishwashers had a lot of use and you find the problem is in the pump it’s not ridiculous to replace the entire pump assembly. It’s about a $250 part. It can be repaired part by part. Also just depends on how much work you want to put into it versus how much money you want to spend ,

And if you find it’s not getting enough water just change the inlet valve don’t fool with trying to clean it.

John,

 

[mark_wpduet]

You know... this thread inspired me to check out the new maytag dishwashers and everywhere they are out of stock... Not the other brands...just Maytag... weird!