The float switch on your Maytag dishwasher helps to control the amount of water flowing into the appliance. The float sits in the dishwasher cabinet and raises and lowers according to the amount of water present. When the water reaches a preset level, the float lever trips the float switch, which cuts off the water input. A malfunctioning float switch can cause havoc with a dishwasher water supply. There are a couple of different ways you can go about fixing a float switch on a Maytag dishwasher.
Instructions
1. Turn off the electricity for the Maytag dishwasher. Most home dishwashers are hard wired into the house circuits; locate the main circuit breaker to cut the power. Open up the breaker panel and identify the circuit that controls the Maytag. Flip this switch to the "off" setting. Tear off a small piece of electrical tape and place it over the circuit breaker.
2. Open the dishwasher door. Look for the float switch assembly, which is usually located in one of the corners of the machine. It looks like a small lever with a ball at the end. Lift the lever up and down several times. Restore power to the Maytag and see if it is working normally.
3. Remove the kick panel and toe panel from the Maytag dishwasher. These are the panels that are located underneath the dishwasher door. The kick panel is directly beneath the door, while the toe panel is between the kick panel and the floor. Loosen the screws on the side of the kick panel and the front of the toe panel with a screwdriver and remove.
4. Look for the float switch cover, which is located at the same corner of the machine underneath where the float switch is placed in the cabinet above. Remove the switch cover, either by pulling off or loosening the screws that hold it in place.
5. Test the switch for continuity by holding the multitester terminals to the switch terminals. Set the ohm reading on the meter to "X1." Watch the meter as you touch the terminals with the multitester. The needle should either stay on the zero marker or flip to infinity at the opposite end. Keep the probes in place and press the float switch. The needle should change to the opposite end of the meter. If not, the switch is defective and needs to be replaced.
6. Pull off the terminal wires with a pair of needle-nose pliers. Make a note of which colored wire is connected to which terminal before removing.
7. Loosen the screws holding the terminal switch in place. Pull the switch out of the switch box.
8. Insert a new switch into the switch box. Secure with screws.
9. Reconnect the terminal wires to the correct terminals.
10. Replace the switch cover and secure.
11. Restore power to the Maytag dishwasher. Start a short load. Check that the dishwasher is running properly.
12. Replace the toe and kick panels.
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