Dishwashers are a modern convenience whose sudden absence is felt throughout the household. The time saved from this appliance must now be diverted to once again wash dishes by hand. One of the problems that can down a dishwasher is a broken door latch assembly. An improperly operating door latch will cause the dishwasher not to operate due to safety factors. Fortunately, replacing a dishwasher door latch is a straight forward process and you will only need the following tools:

- #20 Torx Bit Screwdriver
- Flat Blade Screwdriver

Step 1: How to Replace a Dishwasher Door Latch

Any household repair begins with the isolation of power sources from the device being repaired. With the dishwasher, unplug the machine and turn off the breaker in the electrical panel. Personal safety is paramount in any home repair.

The door latch repair and replacement can now begin. The perimeter of the inner door panel has eleven screws. Torx screws are frequently used to prevent the stripping of the head of the screw. Upon removal of all the screws, gently lift the inner panel. The door latch apparatus can now be seen.

The electrical leads now need to be removed from the switch. Using a volt meter, measure each individual lead to each other and then to a source of grounding. This redundancy is to make sure that electricity is indeed off. Once confirmed that the leads are not hot, gently use a screw driver to pry the leads off of the switch.

The latch assembly will need to be in the locked position before removal. Experience has shown that this step lessens the hassle and potential problems during the repair. Using the screwdriver, locate and press down on the small cam that is present in the handle. This will effectively put it in the latched position.

Step 2: How to Replace a Dishwasher Door Latch

The handle can be removed with a flat edge screwdriver. In one smooth motion, pry at one end while lifting on the other end. Once one end has been effectively lifted, shift to the other end and lightly do the same. The two pivot points are now free. In a smooth motion, slide it forward and lift.

Transfer the handle to the replacement latch. A sliding motion will enable the pivot points to reassemble the latch to the handle. The pivot points are tapered which aid in re-attachment. By an upwards pulling motion, the two pieces lock in place. The latch will have rotated downwards. It’s key to note that the latch will now stay in this locked position until the installation is complete.

Step 3: How to Replace a Dishwasher Door Latch

At this point, a visual inspection of the wire harness is necessary. Pinch points are a concern for wires. Bunching can cause wires to eventually break or have their insulation worn away. With the wire harness safely out of the way, examine the latch one last time before setting it in place. The handle should be in the same position through the door slot that it was before the repair started.

Step 4: How to Replace a Dishwasher Door Latch

The replacement is close to completion. Refasten the electrical connections back to the switch. Locate the eleven screws and reattach them to the inner panel. Two simple tests remain. The first is to confirm that the door will open by using the handle. Once that is passed, plug in the dishwasher and turn on the circuit breaker. Attempt to start the dishwasher. If the dishwasher starts, the repair has been successful.

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To view the video of this repair, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u34A8cuwJZs