Detergent dispenser does not open - KitchenAid Architect Series II KUDS40FVBL Fully Integrated Dishwasher - Black

There is a solenoid in the detergent dispenser that opens at the appropriate time to let the door open and drop detergent. The solenoid might be faulty if the door spring appears alright. One option is to stop using the powder detergent and switch to tablets. One tablet like Finish diamond in the cutlery basket does wonders.
Not sure if you can buy the dispenser to replace.

You can try from the inside the drawer, eventually try using a screwdriver to unclog it.

make this tests and fix it. God bless you

Dispenser Lever

If the dispenser is broken and doesn't open or close properly the dispenser lever might need to be replaced.


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Detergent Dispenser Cover

If the detergent dispenser cover is broken and the detergent dispenser doesn't work, the dispenser assembly should be replaced.


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Wax Motor Actuator

If the dispenser will not release the detergent the actuator connected between the wax motor and the dispenser might be broken. Check the wax motor actuator and replace it if necessary.


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Detergent Container

If the dishwasher dispenser doesn't work the detergent container may need to be replaced.


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Dispenser Lid

If the dispenser is broken and doesn't open or close properly the dispenser lid may have to be replaced.


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Detergent Dispenser

If the dishwasher dispenser doesn't work the problem is often related to the release mechanism. If the problem is with the dispenser itself, it may be easier to replace the entire dispenser.


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Dispenser Door Spring

If the dispenser is broken and doesn't open during the wash cycle the dispenser door spring may have to be replaced.


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Dispenser Latch

If the dispenser is broken and doesn't open or close properly the dispenser door latch may have to be replaced.


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Dispenser Door Pin

If the dispenser is broken and doesn't open or close properly the dispenser door pin may have to be replaced.


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Dispenser Actuator

If the dispenser is broken and doesn't open or close properly the dispenser actuator may have to be replaced.


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Dispenser

If the dispenser is broken and doesn't open or close properly the entire dispenser assembly may have to be replaced.


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Wax Motor

There is an electrically powered device called a wax motor which opens the detergent dispenser. If the dispenser is broken and will not open to release the detergent, the wax motor might need to be replaced.


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Bi-Metal

If the dishwasher dispenser doesn't work the bi-metal actuator might be burned out or defective. The bi-metal is a simple metal loop which acts as a latch for the dispenser door. As electricity is applied to the metal loop, the loop deforms and bends away from the latch, releasing it. If the bi-metal is burned out it won't deform or release the detergent door.


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Dispenser Slide

If the dispenser is broken and doesn't open or close properly the dispenser slide may need to be replaced.


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Dispenser Repair Kit

If the dispenser is broken this dispenser kit may need to be replaced.


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Main Control Board

The main control board provides power to nearly every component of the dishwasher including the detergent dispenser. If the dispenser will not actuate the main control board might be defective. You should first check for more common parts. Many times control boards are replaced unnecessarily because the problem was not diagnosed properly.

follow this steps and fix it. God bless you

Dispenser Lever

If the dispenser is broken and doesn't open or close properly the dispenser lever might need to be replaced.


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Help me find my model number

Detergent Dispenser Cover

If the detergent dispenser cover is broken and the detergent dispenser doesn't work, the dispenser assembly should be replaced.


Enter your model number to see parts for your dishwasher.
Help me find my model number

Wax Motor Actuator

If the dispenser will not release the detergent the actuator connected between the wax motor and the dispenser might be broken. Check the wax motor actuator and replace it if necessary.


Enter your model number to see parts for your dishwasher.
Help me find my model number

Detergent Container

If the dishwasher dispenser doesn't work the detergent container may need to be replaced.


Enter your model number to see parts for your dishwasher.
Help me find my model number

Dispenser Lid

If the dispenser is broken and doesn't open or close properly the dispenser lid may have to be replaced.


Enter your model number to see parts for your dishwasher.
Help me find my model number

Detergent Dispenser

If the dishwasher dispenser doesn't work the problem is often related to the release mechanism. If the problem is with the dispenser itself, it may be easier to replace the entire dispenser.


Enter your model number to see parts for your dishwasher.
Help me find my model number

Dispenser Door Spring

If the dispenser is broken and doesn't open during the wash cycle the dispenser door spring may have to be replaced.


Enter your model number to see parts for your dishwasher.
Help me find my model number

Dispenser Latch

If the dispenser is broken and doesn't open or close properly the dispenser door latch may have to be replaced.


Enter your model number to see parts for your dishwasher.
Help me find my model number

Dispenser Door Pin

If the dispenser is broken and doesn't open or close properly the dispenser door pin may have to be replaced.


Enter your model number to see parts for your dishwasher.
Help me find my model number

Dispenser Actuator

If the dispenser is broken and doesn't open or close properly the dispenser actuator may have to be replaced.


Enter your model number to see parts for your dishwasher.
Help me find my model number

Dispenser

If the dispenser is broken and doesn't open or close properly the entire dispenser assembly may have to be replaced.


Enter your model number to see parts for your dishwasher.
Help me find my model number

Wax Motor

There is an electrically powered device called a wax motor which opens the detergent dispenser. If the dispenser is broken and will not open to release the detergent, the wax motor might need to be replaced.


Enter your model number to see parts for your dishwasher.
Help me find my model number

Bi-Metal

If the dishwasher dispenser doesn't work the bi-metal actuator might be burned out or defective. The bi-metal is a simple metal loop which acts as a latch for the dispenser door. As electricity is applied to the metal loop, the loop deforms and bends away from the latch, releasing it. If the bi-metal is burned out it won't deform or release the detergent door.


Enter your model number to see parts for your dishwasher.
Help me find my model number

Dispenser Slide

If the dispenser is broken and doesn't open or close properly the dispenser slide may need to be replaced.


Enter your model number to see parts for your dishwasher.
Help me find my model number

Dispenser Repair Kit

If the dispenser is broken this dispenser kit may need to be replaced.


Enter your model number to see parts for your dishwasher.
Help me find my model number

Main Control Board

The main control board provides power to nearly every component of the dishwasher including the detergent dispenser. If the dispenser will not actuate the main control board might be defective. You should first check for more common parts. Many times control boards are replaced unnecessarily because the problem was not diagnosed properly.

Dispenser Lever

If the dispenser is broken and doesn't open or close properly the dispenser lever might need to be replaced.

Detergent Dispenser Cover

If the detergent dispenser cover is broken and the detergent dispenser doesn't work, the dispenser assembly should be replaced.

Wax Motor Actuator

If the dispenser will not release the detergent the actuator connected between the wax motor and the dispenser might be broken. Check the wax motor actuator and replace it if necessary.

Detergent Container

If the dishwasher dispenser doesn't work the detergent container may need to be replaced.

Dispenser Lid

If the dispenser is broken and doesn't open or close properly the dispenser lid may have to be replaced.

Detergent Dispenser

If the dishwasher dispenser doesn't work the problem is often related to the release mechanism. If the problem is with the dispenser itself, it may be easier to replace the entire dispenser.

Dispenser Door Spring

If the dispenser is broken and doesn't open during the wash cycle the dispenser door spring may have to be replaced.

Dispenser Latch

If the dispenser is broken and doesn't open or close properly the dispenser door latch may have to be replaced.

Dispenser Door Pin

If the dispenser is broken and doesn't open or close properly the dispenser door pin may have to be replaced.

Enter your model number to see parts for your dishwasher.

Dispenser Actuator

If the dispenser is broken and doesn't open or close properly the dispenser actuator may have to be replaced.

Dispenser

If the dispenser is broken and doesn't open or close properly the entire dispenser assembly may have to be replaced.

Enter your model number to see parts for your dishwasher.

Wax Motor

There is an electrically powered device called a wax motor which opens the detergent dispenser. If the dispenser is broken and will not open to release the detergent, the wax motor might need to be replaced.

Enter your model number to see parts for your dishwasher.

Bi-Metal

If the dishwasher dispenser doesn't work the bi-metal actuator might be burned out or defective. The bi-metal is a simple metal loop which acts as a latch for the dispenser door. As electricity is applied to the metal loop, the loop deforms and bends away from the latch, releasing it. If the bi-metal is burned out it won't deform or release the detergent door.

Enter your model number to see parts for your dishwasher.

Dispenser Slide

If the dispenser is broken and doesn't open or close properly the dispenser slide may need to be replaced.

Enter your model number to see parts for your dishwasher.

Dispenser Repair Kit

If the dispenser is broken this dispenser kit may need to be replaced.

Enter your model number to see parts for your dishwasher.

Main Control Board

The main control board provides power to nearly every component of the dishwasher including the detergent dispenser. If the dispenser will not actuate the main control board might be defective. You should first check for more common parts. Many times control boards are replaced unnecessarily because the problem was not diagnosed properly.

God bless you . see the photo attached.

Dispenser Lever

If the dispenser is broken and doesn't open or close properly the dispenser lever might need to be replaced.

Detergent Dispenser Cover

If the detergent dispenser cover is broken and the detergent dispenser doesn't work, the dispenser assembly should be replaced.

Wax Motor Actuator

If the dispenser will not release the detergent the actuator connected between the wax motor and the dispenser might be broken. Check the wax motor actuator and replace it if necessary.

Dispenser Lid

If the dispenser is broken and doesn't open or close properly the dispenser lid may have to be replaced.

Detergent Dispenser

If the dishwasher dispenser doesn't work the problem is often related to the release mechanism. If the problem is with the dispenser itself, it may be easier to replace the entire dispenser.

Dispenser Door Spring

If the dispenser is broken and doesn't open during the wash cycle the dispenser door spring may have to be replaced.

Dispenser Latch

If the dispenser is broken and doesn't open or close properly the dispenser door latch may have to be replaced.

Dispenser Door Pin

If the dispenser is broken and doesn't open or close properly the dispenser door pin may have to be replaced.

Dispenser Actuator

If the dispenser is broken and doesn't open or close properly the dispenser actuator may have to be replaced.

Dispenser

If the dispenser is broken and doesn't open or close properly the entire dispenser assembly may have to be replaced.

Wax Motor

There is an electrically powered device called a wax motor which opens the detergent dispenser. If the dispenser is broken and will not open to release the detergent, the wax motor might need to be replaced.

Bi-Metal

If the dishwasher dispenser doesn't work the bi-metal actuator might be burned out or defective. The bi-metal is a simple metal loop which acts as a latch for the dispenser door. As electricity is applied to the metal loop, the loop deforms and bends away from the latch, releasing it. If the bi-metal is burned out it won't deform or release the detergent door.

Dispenser Slide

If the dispenser is broken and doesn't open or close properly the dispenser slide may need to be replaced.

Dispenser Repair Kit

If the dispenser is broken this dispenser kit may need to be replaced.

Main Control Board

The main control board provides power to nearly every component of the dishwasher including the detergent dispenser. If the dispenser will not actuate the main control board might be defective. You should first check for more common parts. Many times control boards are replaced unnecessarily because the problem was not diagnosed properly.

Gd bless you

If the dispenser is broken and doesn't open or close properly the dispenser lever might need to be replacedIf the detergent dispenser cover is broken and the detergent dispenser doesn't work, the dispenser assembly should be replaced.
If the dispenser will not release the detergent the actuator connected between the wax motor and the dispenser might be broken. Check the wax motor actuator and replace it if necessary.
God bless you

Try starting a cycle without using detergent at all. If the dispenser opens, you just need to use powder detergent because the tablets are too big for the dispenser. If it still doesn't work, replace the dispenser. Go to the link to see how to take the door apart and replace the dispenser.

http://www.appliancerepairlesson.com/2011/01/29/dishwasher-soap-cup-dispenser-replacement-dishwasher-repair/

Good luck

www.ApplianceRepairLesson.com

Was the dispenser cup wet when you added detergent?
Make sure the dispenser cup is dry before adding powdered detergent. If dispenser cup is wet, the detergent can clump.
Is the cycle incomplete?
If the previous cycle did not complete, the detergent can become caked in the dispenser cup if it is left sitting in the dishwasher.
Is the detergent old?
Older detergent exposed to air will clump and not dissolve well, which will cause the dispenser door to stick to the detergent. Replace detergent if necessary and store the detergent in a tightly closed container in a cool dry place.
Is the water temperature too low?
For best washing and drying results, water should be 120oF (49o C) as it enters the dishwasher.
Were items blocking the dispenser that kept it from opening?
Items blocking the detergent dispenser will keep it from opening. Make sure water action can reach the dispenser.
Detergent guidelines

• Use automatic dishwashing detergent only.
• Other detergents can produce excessive suds that can overflow out of the dishwasher and reduce washing performance.
• Store tightly closed detergent in a cool, dry place.
• Fresh automatic dishwasher detergent results in better cleaning.
• Add detergents just before starting the cycle.
• The amount of detergent to use depends on the hardness of your water and the type of detergent.
• If you use too little, dishes won't be clean.
• If you use too much in soft water, glassware will etch.
• Suggested fill amounts are for standard powdered detergent. Amounts may vary if you use liquid or concentrated powdered detergent. Follow instructions on the package when using these detergents.
• Water hardness can change over a period of time. Find out your water's hardness by asking your local water department, water softener company, or county extension agent.

this is Usually caused by a tablet sticking in the Detergent Dispenser. This will stop the Detergent Dispenser from opening at the correct time on the wash cycle.