FDB520RHS2 Frigidaire Dishwasher - Instructions

For some strange reason my new dishwasher was installed without a door gasket, which caused a very small water leak. The gasket I purchased was installed in less than 5 minutes and corrected the problem immediately - a very easy task and I am no handyman!

First I removed two screws that held the door panel on. Then I pulled out the old gasket, inserted the new one, replaced the door and screws and it was done! We tested the dishwasher and no more leaks!

First I removed the two screws that hold the dishwasher in place, I pulled out the dishwasher and on the bottom right located the leak. The two brass nuts that hold the heating element in place. The wires had been rusted to the element so I cut the wires (and later spliced them back together) and unscrewed the brass nuts. I ordered the part after finding them very easily on partselect.com and 2 days later screwed them back on to the dishwasher. Spliced the wires back together and put the dishwasher back in place.

Easy Fix.

If you are getting intermittent leaks especially when you put a pot lid up front, it’s probably just the door gasket. And this was the easiest project I’ve tackled as a homeowner since buying the place 20 years ago. I read the other stories and I think the suggestion I choose to follow is not the best thing to do. So, read passed where I cut the gasket. I used needle nose pliers to grab the bottom edge of the old gasket which then pulled out by hand with almost no effort. I used the old gasket to measure the new gasket as recommended in one of the other stories, and cut it. DON"T DO THIS. The gasket is very soft foam rubber. As you push it in (I just used my fingers), it will get longer as you push it in. I put it in the first time (took about a minute if that long) and even though I cut it to the same length as the old one, it was too long. Obviously I figured I did something wrong. So, I took it out and measured it again. Nope, same-same. So, I put in a second time, careful not to stretch it, and this time it was now too short. So, I recommend that you just establish the bottom edge 90 degree angle seat and try not to stretch it as you work your way around the seam. It should fit just find, maybe with a little adjustment back or forth, but without cutting it at all. By the way, the half inch I cut off at the recommendation of one of the other reviews did not ruin it. It works just fine. So you can cut it if you want I suppose. But that half inch I cut off was what I was short when I was carful not to stretch it.

I removed the screws from the inside of the door. There are also tiny screws you have to remove that holds the part onto the door. Then I was able to remove the part, unplug the power receptacles and install the new part. Very simple!!

Although the part I ordered was not an exact match, it was a Frigidaire piece and fit onto the spray arm assembley the same way. And if I do say so, it actually seems to clean the dishes better! All I did was clip the new one into place.

i just took off the old and poped on the new, it was way to easy! no tools required!

I ordered a PS12365196 BOARD from PartSelect that arrived in 2 days, a few lights came on but still did not work, next I called back to get the PS8689162 Control Assembly, (this took another 2-3 days) this has the buttons on the front that usually light up when you set up and run the dishwasher. Still no luck so i had to try and understand this as there really isn't much more to the control of the device. Went back in, by now I can take this apart in about 5 minutes, replaced the original control board and it stared right up! Called PartSelect and a few minutes later confirmed the return of the 1st part which did not seem to work. Got to go as my email just arrived with return instructions...

Internet search found high limit switch as primary failure, removed dishwasher existing part looked new, no signs of wear as was expected. Second failure was the heating element, I ordered the part; At the same time I found a random youtube video, that had me check the continuity of the heater and tested good. Then the video indicated the heater relay may have one leg that has lost the solder and stops the heater element from working. I took the control panel a part and the heater relay had the same failure, one leg had a missing solder joint. Using some flux, solder and soldering iron I repaired the connection and added some addition solder to the circuit. Reassembled and the dishwasher is heating as it was before everything is working as expected!
(P.S. The heater relay failure appears to be a common problem, but the actual root cause [relay failure due to poor solder joint] is never reported back to the company, they just hear the heater element stopped working and they never fix the real issue because the customers are throwing out the dishwasher, when it could have been repaired with a simple fix. More importantly it should be something that is investigated as it may needs an engineering redesign. but can't fix what you don't know about or fail to investigate. I did purchase a new relay to replace the existing one, to be installed upon arrival).
Once again a random youtube video identifies and resolves a problem, that would have had me purchasing a new dishwasher, and maybe this is all planned engineering obsolescence.
When will get smart dishwasher that have sensors or at least codes that report the failures correctly, to make DIY repairs?

The replacement hose was not as long and the original and therefore did not fit into the track made for the original one. Though it was long enough to work, an additional 4 inches would have been an exact fit.
As a result, the replacement had to be duct taped to the side of the dishwasher to hold it in place. Otherwise, the new hose was of better quality that the flimsy original. All in all, I could have picked up 3 feet of rubber hose from an auto parts or hardware store cheaper and done the job just as well, if not better.

I watched the partselectrepair videos for tub gasket, bottom gasket, and splash shield. The instructions were very clear and easy to follow, thank you so much now I have a dishwasher that's good as new.

It only took about 20 minutes to replace. Thanks for the video.

I rolled out the old bottom dish rack and rolled in the new one with no problems. In fact, the new bottom dish rack is much better that the original that came from the factory. It only took about less than one minute.

Disconnected power, water, and drain tube from dishwasher. Pulled dishwasher out and laid it on right side. It was not necessary to remove the pump motor. When disconnecting the water line, it is better to remove 3/8 line from the appliance adapter rather that the appliance adapter from the dishwasher as the nylon connection tends to strip.

Easy as pie. Just turned off water and electricity. Disconnected hoses and wires and replaced with the new valve.