Maytag dishwasher repair that starts with the tub
Maytag's first big dishwasher recall came in 1995: 553,000 units built March 1994 to January 1995 had a base component that could overheat. Their serial sat in the upper left corner of the tub, just under the countertop.
Where is the water sitting in your Maytag?
| What you see or hear | What Maytag says it points to | Owner check or repair |
|---|---|---|
| A little water just over the filter screen | A partly blocked filter, sump or drain hose | Clean the filters and look in the sump with a flashlight |
| Water up near the door opening | A severe blockage, or a drain pump that is not running | Check the hose and disposer, then book a pump diagnosis |
| Steady hum, no water moving | A jammed impeller or an obstruction in the pump | Technician job: the pump has to come apart |
| Grinding during drain | Hard debris, glass for example, in the pump area | Stop running it; broken glass in a pump is a repair |
| F9E1 on the display | A long drain | Filter, hose kinks, disposer knockout plug, air gap cap, suds |
Maytag dishwasher numbers
Sources: CPSC 1995 and 2010 Maytag dishwasher notices; Maytag product help on drying and draining
How to tell if a Maytag is really heating
Pick Sanitize
Run a normal load with the Sanitize option on. A steady Sanitize light at the end means the element reached full temperature.
Watch the light
A blinking Sanitize light means the cycle never got hot enough. With hot water confirmed, the element or its control is suspect.
No Sanitize?
Run the 1-hour wash with Heat Dry selected. The whole cycle should last about 1.5 hours, and the dishes should come out warm.
Then call
Cold dishes, a tripping breaker or an error code means we test the element, its wiring and the control board on site.
Does every Maytag dishwasher have a filter to clean?
No. Many Maytag models use a two-part filter you remove with a quarter turn and rinse about once a month. Some have a maintenance-free system instead, with no routine cleaning. On those, a foreign object cup at the front, under the lower rack, keeps olive pits and glass out of the pump. Press the tab in its center, lift it, empty it and push it back until it locks. Models with a Clean Filter light reset after you hold that button for 3 seconds and then open and close the door.