Kurious
Premium Member
- Model Number
- MDB4949SDM2
- Brand
- Maytag
- Age
- 6-10 years
Hello All, hope you are well. Pre-apology if this is long and winding. Never know what little detail might tip someone off to the cause!
Our MDB4949SDM2 recently started this issue...though now we think it may have been happening sporadically for some time. We’re used to a little oddity from the dishwasher (how does it wash everything but seem to miss one lonely dish?!?) but this is actual failure.
On both cycles I’ve tested (PowerBlast and Normal), dishwasher fills normally during the rinse cycle and rinses everything fine. At some point in the cycling, it seems to stop introducing water, and the tub starts to dry out, seemingly from the residual heat. We never use the drying cycles, but it’s hot to the touch inside on all surfaces, and even the last little dregs of water in the sump are gone leaving only steam/drips on the walls/sides. All dishes just get rinsed then caked on bits…wonder how long we’ve been using unclean dishes!
Called Maytag to confirm that water should be present at all times if we aren’t using the drying cycles and to see if I could obtain a technical service manual, they told me yes and no, then started the sales pitch.
Our water doesn’t test as hard water per se, but we have manganese and we get a hard pinkish-white build up inside the DW that sheds into the washer and frequently clogs the small holes in the sprayer arms. We run washer cleaner tabs and vinegar through it and it kinda seems to help, but it is a bummer and my number one gripe about the situation...until now.
I’ve checked:
-Power is on.
-Water valve under sink is open and functioning properly.
-The water inlet on the inner left sidewall appears to be clear.
-The float doesn’t stick in the upright position, moves freely throughout vertical range.
-Removed and cleaned the screens, removable sump parts and the sprayer arms.
Haven’t yet checked (but can and will this weekend, hopefully with some guidance from y’all, or even a tech service manual?!?):
-Presence/absence/condition of a screen at the water inlet valve on underside. Seems like this wouldn’t be the issue since it gets water during the rinse cycle, unless board stops telling it to allow water in.
-Continuity at float switch OR door latch OR power to water inlet valve during later rinse cycle vs other times in cycle OR if the control board has any burns on it.
Additional notes:
-We never use the drying cycles, but my wife noted that one of the brackets for the heating element was “sizzling” when she opened the door up to check it mid-cycle yesterday.
-It does NOT seem to rinse out the soap cup actively, that seems more like it slips out and is wetted, but isn’t actually sprayed out. This has occurred in the past when the outermost holes in the upper spray arm become blocked by shards of that hard white buildup.
-I haven't seen anything in particular about testing my circulating pump, which I assume is present.
Thoughts?
Thanks!
Our MDB4949SDM2 recently started this issue...though now we think it may have been happening sporadically for some time. We’re used to a little oddity from the dishwasher (how does it wash everything but seem to miss one lonely dish?!?) but this is actual failure.
On both cycles I’ve tested (PowerBlast and Normal), dishwasher fills normally during the rinse cycle and rinses everything fine. At some point in the cycling, it seems to stop introducing water, and the tub starts to dry out, seemingly from the residual heat. We never use the drying cycles, but it’s hot to the touch inside on all surfaces, and even the last little dregs of water in the sump are gone leaving only steam/drips on the walls/sides. All dishes just get rinsed then caked on bits…wonder how long we’ve been using unclean dishes!
Called Maytag to confirm that water should be present at all times if we aren’t using the drying cycles and to see if I could obtain a technical service manual, they told me yes and no, then started the sales pitch.
Our water doesn’t test as hard water per se, but we have manganese and we get a hard pinkish-white build up inside the DW that sheds into the washer and frequently clogs the small holes in the sprayer arms. We run washer cleaner tabs and vinegar through it and it kinda seems to help, but it is a bummer and my number one gripe about the situation...until now.
I’ve checked:
-Power is on.
-Water valve under sink is open and functioning properly.
-The water inlet on the inner left sidewall appears to be clear.
-The float doesn’t stick in the upright position, moves freely throughout vertical range.
-Removed and cleaned the screens, removable sump parts and the sprayer arms.
Haven’t yet checked (but can and will this weekend, hopefully with some guidance from y’all, or even a tech service manual?!?):
-Presence/absence/condition of a screen at the water inlet valve on underside. Seems like this wouldn’t be the issue since it gets water during the rinse cycle, unless board stops telling it to allow water in.
-Continuity at float switch OR door latch OR power to water inlet valve during later rinse cycle vs other times in cycle OR if the control board has any burns on it.
Additional notes:
-We never use the drying cycles, but my wife noted that one of the brackets for the heating element was “sizzling” when she opened the door up to check it mid-cycle yesterday.
-It does NOT seem to rinse out the soap cup actively, that seems more like it slips out and is wetted, but isn’t actually sprayed out. This has occurred in the past when the outermost holes in the upper spray arm become blocked by shards of that hard white buildup.
-I haven't seen anything in particular about testing my circulating pump, which I assume is present.
Thoughts?
Thanks!
