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Maytag Dishwasher Light Flashing Meaning

Lights on the dishwasher control panel are how we know which setting is activated. But it’s also how our dishwasher tells us something is wrong. Are the lights on your Maytag dishwasher flashing?

Generally speaking, Maytag dishwasher light flashing meaning is how your dishwasher communicates to you when something needs your attention. Lights will flash to notify you when the temperature is too low or if the water cannot drain out, and if the door is not securely closed.

White dishwasher in the kitchen

While it can be stressful when we see these lights flashing, the solutions are often simple and can be resolved in a few minutes. This article will address some of the common reasons why your Maytag dishwasher has flashing lights and how you can troubleshoot the issue.

Maytag Dishwasher Clean Light Flashing

White dishwasher in the kitchen

When the dishwasher has completed a wash cycle, the Clean light will illuminate. But what does it mean when the clean light is flashing?

If the Maytag dishwasher clean light flashing, the float switch may have become stuck. The float switch is used to monitor the water level inside of the dishwasher, making sure the water level is not too high. Manually move the float switch up and down to ensure it is not obstructed.

Some other reasons why the clean light will flash include the water not heating up in the required time frame, an issue with the water flow rate, and an issue with either the drain pump or drain hose.

Flow Rate

We don’t often think of our water heaters when we experience issues with our dishwashers but the most common reason why the heating element would malfunction has to do with the water heater.

Water heaters have a minimum flow rate. For example, the minimum flow rate for tankless water heaters is a gallon per minute. Dishwashers have a lower flow rate.

This means that when the dishwasher’s heating system is activated, the dishwasher is not getting enough water to heat up and the heating element or assembly will fail.

Heating Error

When the water coming into the dishwasher is too cold, it will take the dishwasher a long time to heat it up to the required temperature. The temperature on the water heater can be adjusted to a higher setting to correct this issue.

You can clear out the error, or in this case, the flashing light, by resetting the control board. On the touchpad, you will press ‘High Temp Wash’ and ‘Heated Dry’ in sequence until all of the lights on the touchpad are illuminated.

If your dishwasher does not have a ‘Heated Dry’ option, press either the ‘Air Dry’ or ‘Energy Saver’ button instead.

Drain Pump or Hose

The drain pump is what is responsible for forcing water from the dishwasher out through the drain hose. If either the drain pump or drain hose is blocked, the water cannot drain out.

Food and other debris, including broken glass, can collect around the drain pump, blocking water from draining out.

The drain hose behind the dishwasher can become pinched or kinked, even clogged, preventing water from draining out. You will need to pull the dishwasher out to inspect the hose. You can remove the drain hose from the dishwasher and run water through it to ensure there are no clogs.

Maytag Dishwasher Start Button Keeps Flashing

Man putting plates on the dishwasher

Is the start button on your Maytag dishwasher flashing? The reason why is a simple one.

If the Maytag dishwasher start button keeps flashing, this means power to the dishwasher has been disrupted. This will happen when the door is opened mid-cycle or at the start of a cycle. You can clear out this error by restarting the dishwasher cycle or unplugging the dishwasher for 5 minutes.

One feature of Maytag dishwashers is that they have a 3-second window after the Start button is pressed. If the door is not closed or is opened after three seconds, the dishwasher will not start and the Start button will flash to let you know it’s not happy.

Door

A safety feature on all Maytag dishwashers is the door latch. A tight-sealing door is crucial to ensure the dishwasher is not only water-tight but also that the internal temperature stays hot.

The dishwasher will not start if the door is not securely shut. Anything that prevents the door from having a tight seal will prevent the dishwasher from starting.

Inspect the rubber seal along the door to remove any food that may be collected inside the seal. It is also a good idea to inspect the screws along the inside of the door. If one screw is not flat, it could prevent the door from having a water-tight seal.

The door latch also has electrical switches that communicate to the control panel when the door is closed or opened. Over time, these switches can become corroded or damaged. If the door latch is broken or bent, it will need to be replaced.

Maytag Dishwasher Flashing Cancel Light

Man putting plates on the dishwasher

Is the cancel light flashing on your Maytag dishwasher? The solution can easily be solved with an eraser.

If the Maytag dishwasher flashing cancel light, commands from the control board are not being received. This will happen if the control board is defective or if it has a loose connection. A stuck button will also cause the cancel light to flash.

The control board is the brain of the dishwasher, communicating with each component of the dishwasher. Over time the control board can wear out or the components inside the control board become loose or corroded.

The best to know if this is the touchpad or control panel is defective is to press some of the buttons and see if the dishwasher responds. If the dishwasher responds to some of the commands but not all, the touchpad is defective.

When a button is stuck on the control panel, the dishwasher will become inoperable. Clean the control pad with a damp cloth or cotton swab, gently wiping each button. Afterward, run a test wash cycle to make sure the error code is cleared out and the light does not start flashing again.

Depending on the model of the Maytag dishwasher you have, you can purchase a replacement touchpad independently of the control panel. If none of the buttons respond, the control panel needs to be replaced.

Maytag Dishwasher Control Lock/Panel Light Blinking

Man fixing the dishwasher

The control lock on a Maytag dishwasher is a great safety feature to prevent the dishwasher from being accidentally turned on. What does it mean, though, when the control lock/panel light is blinking?

If the Maytag dishwasher control lock/panel light blinking, the control lock button is stuck. You can release the control lock button by simultaneously pressing and holding the ‘Control Lock’ and ‘Heated Dry’ buttons for 3 seconds or until the light stops flashing.

Another common reason why the control lock/panel light is blinking is when a cycle has been interrupted.

Disrupted Cycle

We have all done it. We start the dishwasher and then realize we forgot to put something in. We open the dishwasher, pausing the wash cycle, and load our dish in.

Sometimes, though, the start and stop of a cycle can cause the dishwasher to become stuck. When the power is interrupted, the dishwasher can become frozen in time and it will not restart and lights on the control panel will start flashing.

When this happens, unplug the dishwasher for at least 5 minutes and then restart the cycle.

Maytag Dishwasher Normal Light Flashing

Man fixing the dishwasher

Is the ‘Normal’ light on your Maytag dishwasher flashing? The answer may surprise you.

If the Maytag dishwasher normal light flashing, the control panel wiring could be defective. Some models of Maytag dishwashers have the steam vent by the control panel wiring. Heat and steam from the vent will cause the control panel wires to become corroded and short out.

Unfortunately, because this issue is a design flaw with some Maytag dishwashers, the only way to resolve the issue is to replace the control board. You can consult the Maytag User’s Manual to identify the type of panel you need or you can contact a qualified Maytag technician to replace it for you.

Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on April 13, 2022.

How To Reset Maytag Dishwasher Light Flashing

Man fixing the dishwasher

It can be very frustrating when we see lights flashing on our dishwasher control panel. Dishwashers have a lot of moving parts but they are not complicated machines.

Oftentimes, the flashing lights are the dishwasher’s way of telling you it needs a reset. Our dishwashers are used so much that commands can become stuck in the dishwasher memory. Resetting the dishwasher will clear out these errors and refresh everything.

To reset your dishwasher, unplug your dishwasher for at least 5 minutes. This will allow for any electricity remaining in the dishwasher to drain out so the dishwasher can restart fresh.

You can reset Maytag dishwasher light flashing by pressing the ‘High Temp Wash’ and ‘Heated Dry’ buttons in sequence until all of the lights on the control panel are illuminated. If your dishwasher does not have a ‘Heated Dry’ button, press either the ‘Air Dry’ or ‘Energy Saver’ button instead.

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