[thinairflyer]

Dishwasher stopped taking soap from cups. Dishes weren't clean. Pulled and cleaned the two top filters. Washed fine for about two weeks and filter is stopped up again. (the one that makes a circle) Thanks for tips.

[PS Staff - Sheila]

Is it the soap dispenser on the door that is not working.

Here is a link to your dishwasher model mdbd880aww.

[thinairflyer]

No, the soap dispenser door opens, the filter is stopping up, so little or no flow through the washer arms. Not enough flow to wash all the soap out of the soap container. Washer worked fine for five years, but now stops up the filter in about two weeks. Does the filter backwash? Does the motor reverse to backwash? My first thought is something is not right to backwash the filter, but I'm not familiar enough with the washer to know why. Thanks for any info.

[thinairflyer]

Anyone? Does this filter backwash?

[PS Volunteer - Appguy]

Pull all the lower spray arm housings out. You will find a heavy mesh screen under there that gets clogged up.

[thinairflyer]

I've cleaned that filter. Once after five years and then again after two weeks. I'm wondering if that filter backwashes and if so, how it is done. Does the motor reverse to backwash?

[PS Volunteer - Appguy]

Make sure the tub fills up to the heating element or the pump will cavitate. Also, pull the door open while it is washing and verify spray arms are moving

[thinairflyer]

Washer fills properly and spray arms work normally as long as the filters are clean.

Initial problem was stopped up filters which stopped up again after two weeks.

Again, does the filter backwash and if so is it by motor reversal or other means?

[thinairflyer]

Originally Posted by thinairflyer

Washer fills properly and spray arms work normally as long as the filters are clean.

Initial problem was stopped up filters which stopped up again after two weeks.

Again, does the filter backwash and if so is it by motor reversal or other means?

Now I'm not a washer tech and do not have a manual for this Maytag, but when the washer lost pressure in the wash cycle again, when I pulled the filters out I noticed the Rinse Arm Assembly (#7 in the parts PUMP AND MOTOR diagram)

Maytag MDBD880AWW Parts List

which I now see backwashes the Pump Housing Filter (#6 in the diagram) was completely stopped up at the discharge slots. They were so stopped up I had not even noticed the slots before. A manual to read the operation would have saved me some time, but that's water under the bridge. Maybe now I'll get another five years of service before the filters stop up again. 'laughing'

Actually, I'll probably clean the three filters, the Spray Arms and the rinse Arm Assembly every couple of years now.

I can't complain about this washer, we do a full load of dishes nearly every day and we do not rinse anything before dropping them in the washer.

When first put on service five years ago I had to tighten the door latch one notch to stop water from occasionally seeping out the left side of the door at the tub. No other problems at all until the filter problem five years from new.

Even though I did not get a correct answer here to my probem this time, thanks anyway to Parts Select for having the forum. L D Walker Westcliffe, CO