Adventure in Replacing Dishwasher Door Springs

[Talent312]

We realized something was wrong when the dishwasher door dropped like a dead weight, and as a result, the washer detached itself from its moorings in the cabinet.

Using the original manual, I found a part # and ordered replacement springs from an online supplier. I also printed out instructions and watched a YouTube video on the subject.

It seemed simple enuff, but what should take ~two hours, took me two days.

(1) Turn off power and water supply.
-- The circuit breaker was not labeled. Tried six before I found it.

(2) Remove lower cover and toe kick.
-- How about all the dirt & cobwebs down there?
-- The little screws are awfully hard to see. Get up and find a flashlight.
-- Try to remember how they came out, so I'll know how they go back in.

(3) Remove the screws holding the dishwasher in place.
-- It did that itself.

(4) Detach the electric wires and water line inside.
-- Open the inside junction box (another little screw that's hard to find).

(5) Pull dishwasher out from cabinet.
-- Won't go without adjusting its little feet to lower it from the counter.

(6) Replace the springs on each side. Easiest part of the deal.

(7) Put dishwasher back in place and reattach electric wires and water.
-- Also need to adjust its little feet again to raise it up.

[Not in Instructions]
Drop screw into drain mechanism requiring removal of lower wash assembly and screen filter, with about 12 screws. Find all sorts of undigested gunk, like lemon wedges. Call it a day and go watch TV...

[Next Day]
-- Reassemble lower wash mechanism. Reattach toe kick and cover.
-- Turn power back on. Run cycle to test. But no water. Huh?
-- Remember to turn water back on.

Wonderful weekend. At least its done. <sigh>
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[ronparise]

but think of all the money you saved

 

[Elan]

Kudos for DIY. Most folks would have been clueless and just called a repairman, paying half the price of a new DW to do a minor repair.

 

[Phydeaux]

Dishwashers are simple to work on. Most repairs are a breeze.

Anyone that has basic tools and can use the web (Youtube) can repair most anything around the house these days. :whoopie:

 

[clifffaith]

We took the easy way out when that happened to us a couple years ago. Call repairman, write check for $400, done.

 

[Elan]

Dishwashers are simple to work on. Most repairs are a breeze.

Anyone that has basic tools and can use the web (Youtube) can repair most anything around the house these days. :whoopie:

So true, yet so many don't even contemplate fixing things themselves.

 

[VacationForever]

I have a Kitchen Aid dishwasher that did that, within the first year. I got lazy and it got worse where the door would drop straight down in the 2nd year. I did not have extended warranty but contacted Kitchen Aid. They said it was a known problem with that model and paid for their repairman to fix the problem even though it was beyond the 1st year of ownership.

 

[Talent312]

[Kitchen Aid] said it was a known problem with that model and paid for their repairman to fix the problem even though it was beyond the 1st year of ownership.

Sweet! But our dishwasher is ~18 years old, so no such luck.

It would'a been nice if Nissan had accepted responsibility for a steering column lock that turns Altimas into bricks -- a $1000 fix.

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