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MDBS561AWS Maytag Dishwasher - Instructions

All Instructions for the MDBS561AWS
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Wash motor not pumping and making a grinding sound
I went to PartSelect and found the parts pictorial. A replacement motor was listed for 3 series of the dishwasher. The series can be identified by the first 2 digits of the dishwasher serial number. Mine was 22 so I needed parts for the series 20 dishwasher.

According to the pictorial it looked like the motor seals were included with the replacement motor. When the motor arrived, I found the seals were not included. I called PartSelect and they shipped the seals to me with free overnight delivery.

I had no trouble disassembling the wash manifold and spray parts using the instructions provided with the replacement motor and the instructions from the Maytag repair manual that I found online. The motor is removed from the inside of the tub.... very nice. You don't need to remove the dishwasher from under the counter in order to get at the motor.

I made a mental note of the orientation of the faulty motor before I removed it. I installed the replacement motor with the same orientation along with the wash parts. The dishwasher worked successfully.

Thank you PartSelect.
Parts Used:
Motor
  • George from Poughkeepsie, NY
  • Difficulty Level:
    Really Easy
  • Total Repair Time:
    30 - 60 mins
39 of 50 people found this instruction helpful.
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Scratches in Surface
This product comes in a bottle with a brush like Liquid Paper. It goes on incredibly easy. A second coat might be needed. I wanted to prevent rust from setting in so I covered the scratches and dings. The paint is a little brighter since my washer is 10 years old but it still looks great.
Parts Used:
Touch-Up Paint - White
  • Michelle from Richardson, TX
  • Difficulty Level:
    Really Easy
  • Total Repair Time:
    Less than 15 mins
64 of 125 people found this instruction helpful.
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Dishwasher would not do anything
1. Turned off power at breaker. 2. Removed the six screws holding the interior panel to front panel. 3. Disconnected the power cables from the soap door and the handle release. 4. Removed the 3 screws holding the computer control board. 5. Removed the wire bundles from the board...only one way to take them off and put them back on...very easy. 6. Found two clips holding the board in place and removed the computer control board. 7. Replaced with new board into clips...and re attached the wire bundles. 8. replacing the panel control was a snap with 2 screws and the wires fit onto the control board easily. 9. Replaced the interior panel and attached the wires back to the handle release and the soap dispensor. 10. Replaced the screws for the panel. 11. Reset breaker 12. Wahlah....ran the dishwasher like it was new.
Parts Used:
Electronic Control Board Control Panel with Touch Pad
  • Robert from Olathe, KS
  • Difficulty Level:
    Really Easy
  • Total Repair Time:
    15 - 30 mins
  • Tools:
    Nutdriver, Screw drivers
38 of 48 people found this instruction helpful.
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Broken latch made dishwasher difficult to open
This very easy repair made the appliance usable again.
First, turn off power to the unit (wall switch, in my case, may be a breaker in your case, just to be safe).
Simply removed all of the torx screwdrivers (I think I used torx driver bit #27, maybe #26, found in most security screwdriver bit sets).
Had to remove all the screws on both sides and along the top of the interior metal cover of the dishwasher door.
Once those were removed, worked the inner half of the door loose from the outer part (it did not have to come all the way off, just held it apart long enough to do the repair).
Then found the broken parts that had fallen in and remove them, then gently worked the latch assembly loose from the front panel and found the only way that the replacement part would fit, with the two small hinge points that snapped it into place on the latch assembly.
Replaced the latch assembly and moved the metal panel back into place, lining up the screw holes, started the two screws that go into the latch assembly itself and then a couple of screws on the sides to hold the panels together.
You can move the metal panel to position it just right before tightening any of the screws down all the way. I started with the two middle screws that held the latch assembly and then added all the rest, tightening them all loosely at first and then adjusting the fit before alternating sides to tighten them all firmly.
Latch works fine now.
Parts Used:
Door Latch Handle - white
  • Chris from Austin, TX
  • Difficulty Level:
    Easy
  • Total Repair Time:
    15 - 30 mins
  • Tools:
    Screw drivers
33 of 36 people found this instruction helpful.
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dishes still dirty, soap remained in dispenser.
After repairing this dishwasher 5 times during the past 8 years this one was real easy: Open door, unscrew inside cover and carefully move over to one side. Unplug soap dispenser, unscrew soap dispenser and remove. Fit new dispenser, reconnect it, put inner cover back in its place and secure it with the retained screws and you are back in operation. Hans.
Parts Used:
Detergent and Rinse Aid Dispenser
  • Hans from Show Low, AZ
  • Difficulty Level:
    Really Easy
  • Total Repair Time:
    15 - 30 mins
  • Tools:
    Nutdriver, Screw drivers
35 of 42 people found this instruction helpful.
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Dishes were coming out dirty with specs of debris on them
I noticed there was a filter type of material in the bottom of the dishwasher that had a small tear in it and figured that was my problem. I removed the nut from the sprayer arm at the bottom of the tub, removed the sprayer arm, removed 3 screws of the plastic cover below that. Removed six screws on the plastic cover below that. Removed one screw fron the center of the black pump spinner wheel that allowed me to lift off that cover. Then I lifted out the flowplate assembly. Placed the new part in and reversed the steps. Works like new again! All for about $30...I am not trianed in any way and have no experience in this kind of thing but am motivated trying to avoid a large service bill for a few screws. I am so happy...Thanks PartSelect!
Parts Used:
Accumulator Filter Wash Arm Cap
  • Eric from Newton, WI
  • Difficulty Level:
    Really Easy
  • Total Repair Time:
    15 - 30 mins
  • Tools:
    Screw drivers
32 of 35 people found this instruction helpful.
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leaking dishwasher
I first replaced the door seal and that did not stop the problem but noticed two little seals on the door. They were terribly worn so I unscrewed the door and cut the little washers that were holding the old ones in place. I replaced the seals and put the cut washers back on (I didn't have new ones) and it was done. All is well.
Parts Used:
Bottom Door Seal
  • Brooke from Edmond, OK
  • Difficulty Level:
    Easy
  • Total Repair Time:
    15 - 30 mins
  • Tools:
    Pliers, Screw drivers
33 of 41 people found this instruction helpful.
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the bottom dishrack beginning to rust
the new dishrack fit right in immediately with no tools needed. Delivery was prompt
Parts Used:
Lower Dishrack Kit
  • margaret from san diego, CA
  • Difficulty Level:
    Really Easy
  • Total Repair Time:
    Less than 15 mins
32 of 38 people found this instruction helpful.
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Broken latch
Having read some of the other stories on this site, and not really sure what subpart was ACTUALLY broken, I ordered the latch assembly rather than the latch - and as another user mentioned, it's actually cheaper. I

Installation was an absolute breeze - the drill/driver is just added hedonism - but if you are going to use one, make sure it has a variable clutch so that you can put it on one fo the loosest settings to avoid stripping the screws.

I open the dishwasher door and held it open with a heavy pot and removed the screws (about 14) around the edge of the inside panel in the door.
The panel lifts way easily (if you remove the pot). The panel is attached to the latch assembly by two wiring harnesses - make note of which goes to which, they ARE IDENTICAL and you will not be able to tell them apart later.
I just lifted the broken assembly out, and fished out the other shards
Next, after repeated attempts to remove the harness from the switches in the assembly and failing, I just swapped the old switches still attached to the harness into the new assembly.
Place the assembly back in its slot, the panel fits back on fairly easily, drive the screws back in without stripping, and enjoy the silky feeling of a latch that shuts again
Enjoy beer
Parts Used:
Door Latch Assembly
  • Amitava from Stony Brook, NY
  • Difficulty Level:
    Really Easy
  • Total Repair Time:
    Less than 15 mins
  • Tools:
    Screw drivers
29 of 32 people found this instruction helpful.
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Leaking at bottom of door
The initial repair was more involved due to figuring out how to get at the problem. A foam sealer strip located at the bottom of the inner door had lost it's seal. I first sent off for one and it was of relatively thin material. It was carefully installed but still leaked. I ordered another one from Part Select and it had thicker foam. It was installed right over the previously installed strip and made a tight seal. (knock on wood)
Parts Used:
Inner Door Foam Insulation Strip
  • E L from Seeley Lake, MT
  • Difficulty Level:
    Difficult
  • Total Repair Time:
    15 - 30 mins
  • Tools:
    Screw drivers
27 of 28 people found this instruction helpful.
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broken door springs
I pulled the unit from under the counter. the springs and cables are on the front sides of the dishwasher. I moved the insulation removed the broken spring and cables and replaced them with the new parts. just one side was broken, but I replaced both while I had the unit out.
Parts Used:
Door Spring Door Cable Link
  • jeffrey from holland, PA
  • Difficulty Level:
    Really Easy
  • Total Repair Time:
    15 - 30 mins
  • Tools:
    Pliers
30 of 37 people found this instruction helpful.
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Door latch would fail
I removed the 11 screws that hold the plastic inner liner to the outer sheet metal of the door. The latch will be right there, and very easy to access. I Just removed the two connectors for the wires, which are a bit stubborn, and used a pliers for leverage to get them off the latch. Installed them on the new latch, and put the door halves back together, and ran the 11 screws back in. A side note, I have noticed that on the plastic front panel that houses the buttons, that there are two plastic tabs that are cast into the unit, that are chronically broken. They are there to help hold the latch solid when you put the two halves of the door together. I have been really easy on the door, but they still break, but it seems to work pretty well without the tabs intact. This happened to me twice, because I replaced the front upper panel on it, and the same thing happened again. Engineering issue I assume. Overall, a quick and simple install.
Parts Used:
Dishwasher Door Handle And Latch Assembly with Switch
  • Patrick from Bismarck, ND
  • Difficulty Level:
    Really Easy
  • Total Repair Time:
    Less than 15 mins
  • Tools:
    Pliers, Screw drivers
28 of 32 people found this instruction helpful.
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Dishwasher wouldn't drain.
It was very simple. After disconnecting the dishwasher, I pulled it out from it's space under the cabinet and turned it over on it's side. The pump twists into place and is held by two small bolts. It's very easy to get to and nothing else needs to be taken apart or disconnected. Used some silicon sealant to hold in place after replacing the pump and waited 24 hours to run. The pump was the problem and the dishwasher now runs fine.
Parts Used:
Drain Pump
  • mark from pearland, TN
  • Difficulty Level:
    Really Easy
  • Total Repair Time:
    30 - 60 mins
  • Tools:
    Screw drivers, Socket set, Wrench set
27 of 30 people found this instruction helpful.
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Dishwasher wouldn't stay on without pushing on door due to faulty switch.
Removed plastic lining from dishwasher door with torx screwdriver, then removed screw holding door latch assembly in place. Removed existing switch from door latch assembly and replaced.

This switch was not the correct one initially as it was a normally closed switch, whereas the existing switch was a normally open. Was able to pry open the switch and switch the contacts to normally open so it worked out in the end. Would recommend purchasing the complete latch assembly w/ switches if you aren't comfortable taking the switch apart.
Parts Used:
Door Switch
  • Andrew from Azusa, CA
  • Difficulty Level:
    A Bit Difficult
  • Total Repair Time:
    30 - 60 mins
  • Tools:
    Nutdriver, Pliers
32 of 47 people found this instruction helpful.
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plastic latch handle on dishwasher broke off...
first i removed eight torx (t-20) size screws...from the inner door . Then the wired harness surrounding the latch handle...( just a warning..im very very handy..esp with electric and got a little too cocky....pls make sure you turn off the power to the dishwasher...and avoid being zapped as i did ok?) the replacement part snapped in perfectly and was actually better quality than the maytag original...all it took then was to put the eight screws back and the washer was up and running in about 1o mins..
Parts Used:
Dishwasher Door Handle And Latch Assembly with Switch
  • john from nutley, NJ
  • Difficulty Level:
    Really Easy
  • Total Repair Time:
    Less than 15 mins
25 of 27 people found this instruction helpful.
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All Instructions for the MDBS561AWS
31 - 45 of 1826