Maytag MDB8951BWS (Control Panel VS Control Board)

Dishwasher Repair
,
1

Okay, so I am trying to determine which part I need to replace:

[LIST]
*]http://www.appliancepartspros.com/Appliance-Parts/whirlpool-panel-cntl-item-number-ap4309083.aspx ($216.47 - Control Panel AKA Button Panel)
*]http://www.appliancepartspros.com/Appliance-Parts/whirlpool-cntrl-elec-item-number-ap4418991.aspx ($128.59 - Control Board AKA Circuit Board)[/LIST] The issue I am having started off very slowly but over the last year it has made my dishwasher completely unusable. At first it worked just fine, but now I am getting no lights or any kind of response from the button panel at all.

For a while there I would have to try a few times to get the dishwasher to cut on. When I say try a few times I mean I would have to push the Auto Clean button and then Start/Cancel button AND hope the lights would come on and the dishwasher would start washing. As time went on, I noticed I was spending more and more time just trying to get the dishwasher lights to come on and cycle to start with less successful results. Eventually, the lights would not come on at all anymore but the dishwasher would still run through its cycle every now and then even though the lights would never come one anymore. Now I get no lights and the dishwasher will not run through a cycle at all.

I have tried the following:
[LIST]
*]Reset the circuit at the break box in my house
*]Verified 120 volts is going to the dishwasher in the electrical housing box underneath when the circuit is on and no power goes to the dishwasher when the circuit is off(A single 20 amp breaker is being used)
*]Took the dishwasher apart and cleaned all parts underneath and cleaned the drain out in case of any clogs
*]Unplugged and securely replugged/reseated all cables going to the Circuit Board[/LIST] I am still getting no lights or anything from the Button Panel. Three things I have found through doing some research are possible reset sequences for this Button Panel:
[LIST]
*]Push Hi Temp then Heated Dry (Repeat this process x3)
*]Push Normal then Heated Dry (Repeat this process x3)
*]Hold down Heated Dry for 5 seconds[/LIST] I am going to try all 3 of these options as soon as I get home but I am curious if there is ANY OTHER way to determine if it is the Button Panel or the Control Board. Maybe with a volt meter to a certain location on the Control Board?

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR THIS ISSUE:
Parts and Diagrams = http://appliancepartspros.com/partsearch/model.aspx?model_id=5175966
User Manual = http://www.kitchenaid.ca/assets/pdfs/literature/User Instructions - W10157789.pdf

Thanks,
Tommy

3

Hi Tommy,

In such situation I would replace the control panel first. You can order both parts from APP and later return unneeded one. You can return any part even if it was installed.

Gene.

4

Hey Gene,
Thanks for the input and I was leaning towards the control panel as well. I was just trying to find a concrete way to troubleshoot this before ordering the parts but if I can return it regardless then that is what I will do!

Thanks again,
Tommy

5

You are welcome Tommy. Keep us posted.

Gene.

6

My part arrived 2 days after it shipped and fixed my problem 100%! Thanks for the input :wink: Now my dishwasher is back to normal!!:slight_smile:

7

You are welcome Tommy. I’m glad it’s up and running.

Gene.