[tde5]

This happened out of the blue yesterday to my Maytag Quiet Series 100 dishwasher. I run a load of dishes usually once a day, then yessterday I started a load of dishes and it began filling with water as it normally does, then about 2 minutes later it stopped before completely filling. The lights remained on the control panel for another minute or so, then they turned off as well and nothing else happened - didn't begin washing, didn't drain, nothing.

Curious, I pressed the start button again and it again began filling with water - stopped about 30 seconds later, then the lights turned off shortly thereafter.

When I opened the door the water that did fill was still there, so I hit the cancel button and shut the door again and the water drained.

I checked the water float for blockage; could hear it click when I raised and lowered it, and cleaned the inside of the dishwasher (simple cleaning; didn't take anything apart), thinking there was crud in there somewhere, but nothing.

I then noticed that the door didn't seem to be closed completely and if I pulled on the door (without forcing it) it would open without me having to hold & lift up the handle, or use the handle at all for that matter. The handle itself doesn't jiggle lifelessly and the door is closed enough where you can feel it does connect with the catch on the DW unit itself...but the catch doesn't hold it. It won't come open unless you pull it slightly, so I don't know if there is an internal mechanism that broke or what.

Logic would tell me that the dishwasher wouldn't even fill a little bit if it detected the door wasn't locking shut, so I am thinking the door handle thing is a separate issue...am I wrong here?

What could some possibilities be here? I've done a little Google searching on the issue and only came up with troubleshooting tips for dishwashers that don't fill at all. Hopefully some one on here has had a similar experience and a remedy I can use to fix the problem. The dishwasher is just under 4 years old and cleans dishes nicely, so it would be a shame to junk it. I'm hoping it is a minor repair I can make myself.

Thanks for any insight to this issue!

[PS Staff - Sheila]

Try starting the dishwasher again, when the dishwasher stops fill push in on the door latch and see if it starts again.

It does sound like a problem with the door latch.

If the switches in the latch assembly are not staying closed the dishwasher will not continue to run.

Here is a link to your dishwasher model MDBF550AWW.

[snackinattitude]

TDE5:
I'm experiencing the same symptoms. Did you find a solution?
Thanks for your help.

[snackinattitude]

Hi,
I tried pushing in on the door. Any other suggestions?
Thanks.

[Intense72]

You may have to replace the door switch. You can also check to see if the strike plate (the part that goes into the door switch is bent. You could then bend it back out and then try to restart the DW. If that doesn't fix it you may want to call a service tech to replace the door switch.
Also you could check the tub seal and see if it has come out of it's area as well. You can press it in by hand.

[denman]

Here is a link to your parts, should help you find where things are
Maytag MDBF550AWW

Here is a link to a service manual
Free Appliance Repair Forum - Downloads

It says that a service diagnostics sheet should be behind your kick plate

I do not know about this unit but some units with a turbidity sensor will drain if it thinks the water is too dirty but it should refill