PDWT400V50WW General Electric Dishwasher - Instructions

I just ordered another one of the wheel rack and it was that easy. No tool required.

installed new silverware basket

Took old one out, put new one in in less than 20 seconds!

Ordered part online, arrived two days later. Removed and replaced dispenser with new unit. Easy job. Dishwasher works like new.

Simply took out the broken rack and inserted the new one.

Installed new rack assembly and it works fine. Thanks

Opened dishwasher after it completed a wash cycle. Found the rinse dispenser cap had come off during the wash and melted on the heating coil at the bottom of the machine. Pulled cap off of coil, made sure coil was not disturbed. Looked in various sites for cap. Finally found this site where I didn't need to order the whole mechanism and could order just the cap. Received the cap, screwed into the dispenser, fixed. The only problem I had was that there were two possible caps so I picked the one that was the same color as the original one. Project completed. Thanks

removed original rack, inserted replacement.

Twisted new one in place of old. Disappointed that there was a melting issue at all. Need to investigate problem.

Removed old basket, put in recycle bin, placed new basket in dish washer. The damage to the original basket was my fault. I now know not to drop heavy knives point down into the basket.

Removed the door gasket and cleaned the track prior to installing the new gasket. The online repair instructions didn't mention a thin wire that is stored at the bottom of the tub near the door and is used to hold the ends of the gasket in place. Gently remove the ends of the gasket from the wire prior to pulling the entire gasket out of the machine track.

On the Model PDW9880, there are about 14 screws to be removed. I used a large Phillips driver and a pair of needle nose pliers. You cannot use a cordless drill driver for about 10 of the screws unless you have a long bit, as the 10 screws are so close to the body of the dishwasher door that the chuck of the drill will not clear. At the top of the door there are two screws on either side of the latch. The two screws are attached to white plastic blocks that serve as a lip to hold the outer door to the liner. It took a little wrestling with the two plastic blocks to slide them out from under the lip, releasing the outer door. Be sure not to let the outer door drop away, as it will tug on the ribbon cables that connect the display to the dishwasher. Keep a towel or sponge handy to keep the
dishwasher handle from resting on the tile floor. There were 4 electrical connections, including two ribbon cables, both of which just pulled out. I needed a needle nose pliers to remove the 2 spade connectors from the detergent dispenser solenoid, in order to pull on the connector, not tug on the wire. The entire repair is actually pretty straightforward and easy. It took 40 minutes, doing it slowly and carefully. But please don't tell anyone that it is easy, because my wife thinks it was an extremely complex repair, involving the risk of high voltage electricity.

The replacement part fits different makes and models, and does not have any brand identification, other than the Cascade logo cast into the front. Other than that, it appears to be identical to the original. Note: The
soap cup does not open for several minutes in the cycle, so don’t waste time or frustrate yourself (as I did) by checking the dispenser during the first 10 minutes of the cycle. Incidentally, although the company is in Canada, my part shipped from Central California (Fresno) and arrived in the Los Angeles area the next business day.

Replacing the soap dispenser was relatively easy, But a word of caution.when I removed the front panel, as it fell off, it pulled the electrical tape out of the door. That of course ruined the electrical panel. Even better, that panel is no longer made. So unless you really want a new dishwasher, be sure you support the front panel when removing. Probably the easiest way to do that (I found out later) is to sit on the floor with the front panel on your legs as youminscrew it. Do read other reviews about how to do the repair as the part comes with no instructions and GE is of virtually no help.

We noticed our detergent door was not opening on cue to dispense the soap and it was leaving our dishes dirty. It came to be that our spring was sprung on the detergent door. I researched it and I could either buy the spring or the whole detergent contraption (installing the contraption was one wrench easier but cost $35 more). Knowing my husband the way I do, I decided to do the more costly route. I followed the instructions from previous installers on here and me and my husband did it in 30 minutes! I do agree that it is a two man job for some of it as I stressed to him NOT to take the front off haphazardly, as it was $400 to replace that! We took the 12 or so screws off, detached the line to the detergent dispenser, reattached, screwed it into the door and replaced the front 12 or so screws again. Easy peasy! Unbelieveable!

I examined how the old gasket was attached before removing it. I then pushed in the new gasket needing no tools. There has been no water leakage since.