Dishwasher issues

[TBman]

We have a fairly new (2 years old about) GE dishwasher and the door that holds the soap at times doesn't open when its supposed to. Therefore the powdered soap turns to rock behind the little door. We've used the soap packets, which work better, but my wife is highly sensitive to things that are overly scented.

Does any one know of a maker of soap packets that are unscented? Our local grocery story doesn't carry unscented.

[Pitar]

The computer in the door is the problem on mine. It's supposed to release the latch-held, spring opened door after a certain time has elapsed. The cost of the computer renders the entire unit beyond economical repair. I just finished rebuilding the pump motor with a new water seal and stainless ball bearings to replace the old leaking seal and iron bearings, which seized with rust.

Now I'll probably remove the computer board and isolate the circuit that operates the door latch solenoid, which I already checked out as operable.

It just never ends.

But, my primary dishwasher lies at the ends of my arms as I usually use the dishwasher for storing cookies in Tupperware containers. I really don't mind washing dishes and saving the extra cost of water heating and usage.

Scented stuff is my bane. I get sneezing fits at the store down that isle. Sorry, can't help you with that.

[chitz]

Had similar happen to me. Turned out a tall dish was keeping the soap door from opening.
Placed tall items toward the back of washer and no problems since.

[TBman]

Originally Posted by chitz

Had similar happen to me. Turned out a tall dish was keeping the soap door from opening.
Placed tall items toward the back of washer and no problems since.

Ours has a silverware tray on the bottom and the top. I'm going to try to leave that area free of anything and test it out. Thanks.

[sled]

Try liquid dishwashing soap...

[jstegeman]

Originally Posted by sled

Try liquid dishwashing soap...

No, don't! I speak from experience. Liquid soap makes suds, and that will not be a pretty result

[TBman]

Originally Posted by jstegeman

No, don't! I speak from experience. Liquid soap makes suds, and that will not be a pretty result

They make liquid dishwasher soap, not to be confused with the liquid soap we use when washing dishes by hand. Different animal. I was thinking about doing this. It's the next step in finding a solution.

[architype]

For what it is worth, I deal with several builders and none of them will install GE dishwashers in their homes unless the owner specifies it. GE builds them right here in Louisville and they still won't buy them. I've not heard any complaints about GE ovens, cooktops, or refrigerators, just dishwashers.

[Pitar]

Originally Posted by jstegeman

No, don't! I speak from experience. Liquid soap makes suds, and that will not be a pretty result

Troof! Do not use liquid detergent!

______________________________________

I isolated my problem. In the circuit, which is probably a common circuit in these various brands, lies an arming switch (door handle mounted) closed by the latch when the door is closed, a cycling relay that actually fires the door solenoid circuit 45 seconds after the wash cycle is started, the solenoid itself and then there's a triac (solid state switch) in the neutral path after the solenoid to prevent neutral line kick-back to the control board. The cycling relay and the triac are mounted on the control board and easily replaced, if necessary. The solenoid for the soap dispenser door is mounted in between the inner and outer door panels on a mount and wired up to the board.

The solenoid coil is supposed to have a certain resistance, in ohms, and mine is completely open. The board cycling relay is sending the triggering signal fine but because the solenoid coil is open it won't operate the door latch of the soap dispenser. I will probably rewind that coil by hand, like a mag pup is done for a guitar, if I have the correct size bell wire. If not, the whole dispenser door assembly is $60.00.

BTW, each appliance made must have a wiring schematic shipped with it and is usually buried inside one of the many removable panels. The dishwasher schematic and troubleshooting guide I found in a plastic enclosure on the inside surface of the lower kick panel, which is held on with two Phillips head screws.

[sled]

Liquid dishwashing soap FOR DISHWASHERS..like Cascade. Geeze.... It's all I use, and it works great. Suds....NOT!

[Nyghthawk]

I recently replaced mine. I am very pleased with the (relatively cheap) Whirlpool I bought to replace the old one. You can barely hear it run and it is an "Energy Star" appliance. I am NOT affiliated with Whirlpool in any way. Just sayin'.

[mr. beaumont]

Originally Posted by chitz

Had similar happen to me. Turned out a tall dish was keeping the soap door from opening.
Placed tall items toward the back of washer and no problems since.

Yep, we've had that problem occasionally. I try to make sure nothing's blocking it.

[BrunoBlack]

Are you overfilling the compartment? Most of them have 3 fill levels and normal wash cycles only need to be 1/3 full of detergent.

[Bob Womack]

Hehehehe. About fifteen years ago, when the kids were still in the house, we were struggling financially, and the dishwasher croaked, I scraped together all the pennies that were in my guitar fund and bought my wife a new one. I installed it myself. It was cheap, probably the bottom of the line, made by "Inglis by Whirlpool Corporation," clearly the low-line of Whirlpool. It is so cheap, in fact, that it features an old-school rotary mechanical timer. But here's the funny thing: We can't get the thing to croak (fingers crossed). It's like the silly Energizer Bunny. It's only foible is that the mounting points for the unit are located of each side of the door latch strike plate making spacing of the mounting pretty critical. If you don't get it right, the door latch... won't. Seeing that the door latch also carries the master unit power switch, bad spacing, no workee.

But the cheapo chugs on.

Bob

[Parlorman]

Originally Posted by TBman

Does any one know of a maker of soap packets that are unscented? Our local grocery story doesn't carry unscented.

There are several brands available on Amazon.

Seventh Generation Dishwasher Detergent Packs, Fragrance Free, 73 Count https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MECSGOU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_NBY.ybRDZKXWB