Maytag Dishwasher Troubleshooting Guide & How to Guide
Maytag dishwashers are among the best in the market, made by the Maytag Corporation which is a division of the Whirlpool Corporation. They are durable, economical on water use, clean dishes exceptionally, and sterilize them on the final cycle. However, like any other home appliances, they can develop some issues that need to be addressed to keep them functioning effectively and efficiently. This is a Maytag dishwasher troubleshooting guide and how to guide on some of the commonly reported issues when using these appliances.
Maytag Dishwasher Troubleshooting Flashing Lights
If your Maytag dishwasher detects a fault or error in the system, it will show an error, the lights will flash, blink or a fault code will be displayed. For the flashing or blinking lights, the light blinking sequence indicates which part or parts on your dishwasher need to be checked or replaced. Here are some of the common flashing lights and what they mean:
Clean light flashing 1-1( 1 time followed by 1 flash)
The error means the electronic board is detecting a stuck electrical relay on the circuit board.
Remedy: Remove power to the dishwasher for 5 minutes to try and reset. Check the wiring and the components if the error code comes back when power is restored.
Clean light flashing 7-1
The error code means the heating element is not heating.
Remedy: Remove power to the dishwasher and check the heating element. Replace it if it’s burned out or faulty, or the wiring checks out.
Clean light flashing 8-1
The error code means the water is draining too slow.
Remedy: Remove power to the dishwasher and turn off water supply to the dishwasher. Check drain path to see if there is something blocking it. If not, and also the wires on drain pump are okay, replace the drain pump.
Clean light flashing 8-2
The error code means there’s an electrical problem with the drain pump.
Remedy: Remove power to the dishwasher and turn off the water supply to the dishwasher. Check drain pump wires, if they check out then replace the drain pump.
Clean light flashing 8-3
The error code means the drain pump is stuck in the “ON” position.
Remedy: Remove power to the dishwasher and check the drain pump wires. If any damage to the wire harness, replace it. If not, then replace the electronic control board.
Clean light flashing 10-3
This error code means there is a drying fan issue.
Remedy: Remove power to the dishwasher and check the wires in the detergent dispenser. If the wiring is okay, then replace the drying fan.
Maytag Dishwasher Troubleshooting No Water Problem
If your Maytag dishwasher won’t fill then there could be several underlying causes:
Clogged or defective water inlet valve
If the water inlet valve is clogged or defective, water will not flow into the dishwasher.
Remedy: Check the water inlet valve. If defective, replace it.
Defective float switch
The float switch works to stop the dishwasher from overflowing. If defective or stuck, it might not work as it should.
Remedy: Check the wiring to the float switch. If the wiring checks out, replace the float switch.
Water supply problem
Calcium deposits can build up in the water supply valve overtime, effectively preventing your dishwasher from filling properly.
Remedy: Shut off the water supply and check the water line and valves for clogging. Also the check the water pressure to the valve-it requires at least 20 psi to work properly.
Maytag Dishwasher No Power to Control Panel Fix
If your dishwasher doesn’t light up or is not getting power;
- Check where it plugs into the wall and ensure it is plugged in.
- If it is plugged in, check to ensure it has not tripped.
- Try to resetting the control panel of your dishwasher.
- If this doesn’t work, you could be dealing with a faulty control panel. Try checking the wiring and if they check out, replace the control board.
Maytag Dishwasher Not Draining
- Check the filter at the bottom of the dishwasher and clean it to remove any particles blocking filter inlet.
- Check if the sink drains out water. If not, unclog it and then test the dishwasher.
- Remove the clog in the plumbing with a plunger to make the dishwasher drain properly.
- Turn ON Garbage disposal as a clogged garbage disposal can prevent the dishwasher from properly draining.
- Run water and turn on the garbage disposal to unclog and allow your dishwasher to drain.
Why is My Maytag Dishwasher Not Starting?
There could be several reasons why your dishwasher won’t start:
Defective door switch
The door switch prevents your dishwasher from running while the door is open. With a defective door switch, the switch will prevent the dishwasher from running even when the door is closed.
Remedy: To determine if the door switch is faulty, use a multimeter to test for continuity. Replace it if it doesn’t have continuity.
Broken door latch
The door latch ensures that your dishwasher door latches shut. If the door doesn’t latch properly, the door switch might prevent the dishwasher from starting.
Remedy: Check the door latch and if it’s broken, replace it.
Blown out thermal fuse
The thermal fuse shuts the power to dishwasher off if it overheats. A blown thermal fuse will prevent the dishwasher from starting.
Remedy: Use a multimeter to test for continuity and replace the thermal fuse if it doesn’t have continuity.
A faulty main control board
The main control board provides power to almost every component of the dishwasher. A problem in this part can stop it from sending voltage to the dishwasher, preventing the dishwasher from starting.
Remedy: More often control boards are misdiagnosed. Check and rule out more commonly defective parts before replacing the main control board.
Faulty timer
The timer allows power to flow to the right parts at the right time. If the timer is faulty, it might not send voltage to the dishwasher, preventing it from starting.
Remedy: Also often misdiagnosed. Check and rule out more commonly defective parts before replacing the timer.
Unresponsive touchpad
A faulty touchpad can also be the reason your dishwasher is not starting.
Remedy: Try pressing various buttons on the touchpad and see if they respond. If the touchpad isn’t working properly, replace it. You may need to replace the touchpad and control panel as some manufacturers don’t sell it separately.
How to Reset a Maytag Dishwasher
- Open and close your Maytag dishwasher door.
- Locate the “Rinse” button on the dishwasher control panel.
- Press and release the button 5 times in quick succession.
- Press and release the adjacent “Drain/Off” button on the control panel 2 times. This will deactivate the dishwasher’s demo mode and reset your dishwasher.
Check this too: Kenmore Elite Dishwasher Troubleshooting
Maytag Dishwasher Stuck on Auto Clean Fix
If you have this problem, it could be that you touched the keypad/display inadvertently, DELAY Wash Cycle has been turned ON, the keypad or display panel has a stuck button or unresponsive buttons, or the main control board needs a reset or its faulty.
To fix this:
- Ensure the dishwasher controls aren’t touched inadvertently.
- Make sure you are not pressing certain buttons inadvertently when the wash cycle has ended and you open the dishwasher.
- Check if you are mistakenly setting the dishwasher on a DELAY MODE wash cycle.
- Check for any stuck keys on the dishwasher control panel.
- Ensure all the buttons and keys on the display panel are responsive and working.
- Attempt a main control board reset by shutting off the dishwasher for 15 minutes.
- If all the above checks out, your main control board or keypad/panel may be faulty.
For more information on your Maytag dishwasher, refer to the instructions manual or get in touch with the manufacturer.