Dishwasher repair

[14Accent]

I don't know if this belongs here or in the Electronics section, but I have an Ikea (Whirlpool) dishwasher, model # IUD9750WS4 that decided it no longer wanted to latch it's door the other day.

I looked up the latch at a local distributor, and pulled out the old one today. Low and behold, the problem was obvious:

Looking at the picture, you can see the silver retaining bar that holds the latch in the "locked" position when the latch meets the striker. This bar was bent, on mine, and would not allow the latch to spring into the locked position. I pulled out the pin, straightened it, and reassembled. She's back up and running, for a grand total of $0 and 15 minutes of my time.

I wonder what a repair man would have charged, probably $150 + $80 for the part? Maybe more?

This same latch is used in many Ikea, Whirlpool, and Maytag units, in case anyone else has the same issue in the future.

 

[Donald]

Good fix.

But I think the proper fix for a repairman is to replace the proper part. Even if it costs more.

What caused it to bend? Maybe the replacement is a re-engineered part that is stronger due to old part bending.

 

[thastinger]

I buy my appliance replacement part from that repair clinic place as they have an entire series of instructional and troubleshooting videos on youtube. They are less expensive than my local parts house and I don't have to drive 25 miles to get to them and they go to the trouble of helping you diagnose your problem for free.

 

[14Accent]

Originally Posted by Donald
Good fix.

But I think the proper fix for a repairman is to replace the proper part. Even if it costs more.

What caused it to bend? Maybe the replacement is a re-engineered part that is stronger due to old part bending.


The part itself is $35, and very easy to install. But why replace it if I can fix the old one? If it fails again I'll pop for a new one.

 

[Eddie]

Somebody slammed the door closed with the latch in the locked position would be my guess. Ed

 

[Donald]

Originally Posted by 14Accent
Originally Posted by Donald
Good fix.

But I think the proper fix for a repairman is to replace the proper part. Even if it costs more.

What caused it to bend? Maybe the replacement is a re-engineered part that is stronger due to old part bending.


The part itself is $35, and very easy to install. But why replace it if I can fix the old one? If it fails again I'll pop for a new one.


My point was while you did the right thing as an appliance owner, if I hired a repairman I would assume he would replace the part.

 

[philipp10]

Originally Posted by Donald
Originally Posted by 14Accent
Originally Posted by Donald
Good fix.

But I think the proper fix for a repairman is to replace the proper part. Even if it costs more.

What caused it to bend? Maybe the replacement is a re-engineered part that is stronger due to old part bending.


The part itself is $35, and very easy to install. But why replace it if I can fix the old one? If it fails again I'll pop for a new one.


My point was while you did the right thing as an appliance owner, if I hired a repairman I would assume he would replace the part.

of course he would. One, it''s more money to be made AND like you said, the part might be re-engineered. Plus he cannot afford callbacks.

 

[zzyzzx]

At least you could fix it. When I read the thread title, I was expecting something involving broken plastic.

 

[Sayjac]

I replaced a similar latch on a Whirlpool dishwasher not too long ago. Ordered Whirlpool part off an ebay seller in Pa, works prefect. EZ fix. Now if could just find a lower washer rack. Even if they can be found, the price is such that most just replace the dishwasher. Planned obsolescence.