Must History Repeat Itself?

[mixfinder]

After dinner for 8 and a wonderful evening with friends, I loaded the Maytag dishwasher to the gills and hit Heavy Wash, Temperature Boost and Heated Dry. About 2:30 in the morning I awoke to a very strange smell and thought maybe I had forgotten to turn the oven off. The dishwasher was quite warm and when I opened the door to check, it was dry as a bone, hotter than Hades and the food from dinner was baked hard onto the dishes. I have used the machine 5 times, but always on Normal with Heated Dry. After restarting the machine on Normal, it mimicked the action of the Kitchenaid which would not bring in any water and the heater would stay on. I filled the breaker and went back to bed. This morning, the timer sequences properly with the Maytag and if I pour water into the dishwasher manually it will complete a cycle and wash the dishes spotlessly. The Model number is MDB6100AW with a Serial number of 13134498WZ. On the off chance it was a recalled machine I went to the Maytag site but the search feature brings up, "website error". Is it a complete co-incidence, is the electrical supply faulty or would a needed recall repair cause it to malfunction? The breaker is off for now. I think the next dishwasher needs to come with a dial and no membrane.

 

[jaxsunst]

My mother has the same machine, it was installed new a few years ago. She has never had any problems with it.

 

[mrb627]

Been there done that

I too have suffered the dishwasher woes.

Ask me why I will never own a dishwasher with a plastic tub again.

Malcolm

 

[mark_wpduet]

Speaking of plastic tubs

What was the material they used in plastic tubs in the past as opposed to now? I remember in 1985 (or close), my grandma got a new whirlpool dishwasher; the tub was speckled blue and like a very hard plastic. That machine is still in operation to this day! I don't think it has ever been repaired. I remember as a kid when it would run we would hear it make strange noises in the motor and my grandma was worried something was wrong with her new dishwasher, but it has worked ever since. My point is, the plastic tubs today are not the same as hers, almost softer and cheaper feeling , which doesn't surprise me.

 

[whirlcool]

How old is this dishwasher?
We have had two Maytag dishwashers over the years. Neither one caused us any problems. Out newest one is now a year old and still works great. But that doesn't mean everyone who has a Maytag dishwasher is as pleased as we are with the reliability.

Our newest Maytag has something called a "Duralast" tub. It feels like it's made out of fibreglass. Does anyone know what it is really made out of? It looks grey in color and has a super high gloss finish to it.

 

[mixfinder]

Granted a Reprieve

With nothing to lose I removed the access panel on the Maytag dishwasher to be sure the insulation hadn't interfered with the safety float. It was fine. I tested the water inlet solenoid and it was getting power so it was time to examine the water supply. Much to my surprise the water supply was a Flood Safe brand. I hadn't paid any attention to it before simply disconnecting and reconnecting the water supply to each successive machine. Off to the local True Value for a plain old braided steel supply and bingo, we have water. The dishwasher is fine.

 

[jons1077]

Kelly,

Of course I'm glad the dishwasher is fine but much happier that your home didn't burn down with you in it!!!

 

[jakeseacrest]

Maytag has released a new portable dishwasher, but the website doesn't have any interior pics.

 

[redcarpetdrew]

Flood safe hoses

I can't even count how many service calls I've gone on when the complaint is No Fill and it's caused by those fill hoses. They're a good idea but they are annoying. Esp when they are connected to machines that mix for set temperatures...

RCD

 

[appnut]

YAY KELLY!!! A Maytag dishwasher still loved!!!

 

[johnb300m]

From what I can tell, the vast majority of DW tubs are molded out of polypropylene. PP is extremely durable and will bend forever. However, I have noticed, notoriously in the last Maytag tall tubs, and maybe Whirlpool, they are making the molded PP walls very thin. Likely to save plastic.
I have GE's newest standard tub DW (with the active fine filter under the sprayer) and this tub seems to be identical to the old standard tub GE my parents used to have back in '96.

I'll stand by this again, GE seems to be the only company (even though they tried to shed the appliance div.) that is not actively cheapening their products to the point of crippling performance.

My standard tub does have extended cycle times and subdued pump pressure (to save water use), but it still cleans great (sans super crusty pots and pans).

 

[mrb627]

Cutlery

Just make sure that your cutlery is properly placed in the basket. When I worked maintenance at a high rise apartment complex we used to have problems with people not fetching that loose knife from the bottom of the tub. When the heat from the calrod unit conducts down the length of that knife and contacts that tub, get ready for a melted hole.

Malcolm

 

[mixfinder]

Errant Knife

58 years and haven't lost one out of the basket yet. They usually are weighted down by food goo.