Dishwasher door won't close

Dishwasher door won't close A dishwasher malfunction can occur at the most inopportune moment. This happens, for example, when you load the machine with dishes and detergents, and suddenly the door does not close or does not fit tightly, resulting in a large gap through which water flows. What to do in such a situation?

Causes of malfunction

First you need to find out the reason why the dishwasher door does not close tightly or does not close at all. To do this, disconnect the machine from the electrical network and proceed to inspect it and search for causes.

If the rubber seal is deformed, the door will not close tightly.
Check to see if the dish container is installed correctly; perhaps the door does not close because the container needs to be installed correctly.
Check whether the dishwasher is installed level; maybe the door is hitting something due to the tilt of the machine, and that’s why it doesn’t close.
Inspect the lock; if it is deformed, it needs to be repaired or replaced.

Lock installation and repair

It is quite possible to replace the dishwasher door lock yourself; before you begin, buy an original spare part for your machine model. Let's consider the replacement algorithm using the example of a Bosch dishwasher:

The installation begins by opening the machine door and unscrewing the bolts around the perimeter that hold the front panel.

Be careful to hold the door panel with your hands so that it does not fall and pull the wires along with it.
Take a photo of the location of the wires on the lock and disconnect them.
Next, on the top of the door you need to unscrew the two cross bolts that hold the lock.
Take the new lock and screw it in place of the old one.
Connect the wires and assemble the door. The installation of the new lock is complete.

In some cases, you don’t have to buy a new lock, but rather repair the old one. Usually, the retaining “tendrils” of the plastic lock on dishwashers break off. This is how they can be restored. To do this you will need:

metal plate 0.5 mm thick and 4 mm wide;
file;
drill;
two small screws;
a little patience.

Using a file, it is necessary to sharpen the uneven edges of the broken tendrils. And bend a bracket from tin as shown in the photo.

dishwasher lock repair

Next, you need to use a drill to make holes with a diameter of 1.5 mm on the sides of the metal plate. On the sides of the lock you need to make holes with a diameter of 1 mm, so that their location coincides with the holes of the plate. We connect the plate and the lock with small self-tapping screws. Now you can install the lock on the door.

dishwasher lock repair

Changing the rubber seal

Installing the sealing rubber located along the contour of the dishwasher under the door is even easier. Let's look at replacing the rubber band using the Zanussi dishwasher as an example.

First you need to tear off the old rubber band with your hands.
Next, take a rubber band for your dishwasher, which can be purchased at a specialized spare parts store.
Now you need to insert a new rubber band in place of the old one so that it fits tightly into the groove, gradually moving along the perimeter of the body.
If the rubber band turned out to be too long, then you need to cut off the excess with scissors.

What to do if the door does not lock

Very often, after buying a new one built-in dishwasher, users complain that the door is very difficult to open and does not lock in the open position. However, this is not a reason to panic. In fact, the door will open well only after it is installed and secured to the facade door.

In addition, the machines have spring tension adjustment. In some dishwasher models, for example Samsung, the adjusting bolts are located on the top. There are dishwashers, such as Bosch, that have adjustment bolts on either side of the door at the bottom of the dishwasher.

For your information! The tighter the bolts are tightened, the greater the force required to open the door. Typically, this force ranges from 2.5 to 8.5 kg.

adjusting the dishwasher door

So, the dishwasher door may not close for a number of reasons, one of which is improper installation of the built-in dishwasher. In most cases, this problem can be fixed by yourself. Be patient and follow the instructions.