How do I repair the spring that holds dishwasher door?

There is a service bulletin on the spring and connector(the cord that connects the spring to the door)The spring for the hinges part number is 4970ED4004G. You will need to change the connector assembly for each hinge (plastic colored black at each end of the cord instead of white) and that part number is 4933DD3001B. I use a heavy coat hanger with a hook bent at the end. At the other end where I hold it, I've bent the remaining length of the hanger into a handle of sorts. This gizmo is about 1.5 feet long. Release as much tension from the springs as possible by closing the door. Using a headlamp, remove the kick panel and locate where the springs are attached to the lower frame. Now, using the coat hanger, hook the end of the spring that is attached to the cord. Pull firmly against the spring tension with one hand and unhook the spring from the cord with the other. Do this on both sides. Reach underneath and remove the springs and replace them with the new versions, hooked in same place as the old ones. Replace the cords with the black upgraded versions and reverse the above procedure. You shouldn't have to remove the washer from the counter to do this. Just take your time and don't get frustrated--I do this all the time, you *don't*. The hardest part is trying to hold the spring forward enough to latch the cord connector onto the hinge. That's where having that coat hanger is a blessing! Otherwise, you're gonna have to pull the dishwasher out of the counter and that can be a real pill. Good luck and I hope I helped you!

Hello,

Please read our safety information before attempting any testing or repairs. Before repairing the door springs, unplug the dishwasher or shut off the power at the fuse box or breaker panel to avoid an electrical shock hazard.
The door opens and closes with the aid of springs. If the springs (or the cables that connect them on some dishwashers) break, the door will drop open hard. The door will also be heavier when closing. If the door drops open, it may also bend the door hinges out of shape resulting in a door that does not close properly and possibly leaks.

When replacing the springs or cables, all of them should be replaced at the same time.
To access the door springs and cables remove the lower panel located beneath the door. The panel is usually held in place with two screws either above or below the panel. It may be necessary to first open the door to the dishwasher to get to the screws over the panel, then close the door to remove the panel.
There are two common types of spring assemblies. One type connects the springs from a hook on the dishwasher cabinet of to a tang on the door hinge .

The doors have a combination of nylon cord and spring that works through a pulley system and could be the nylon cord or spring. You need to remove the side panel to repair this.

The spring or nylon cord attached to door hinge has probably snapped. take side off both sides for simple fix. if not then the plastic catch at top of door is probably not engageing correctly. good luck

Things You'll Need:

• Owner's manual
• Screwdriver
• Replacement spring (optional)

1. Turn off the power to your Kenmore dishwasher before attempting any repairs. If you have a portable Kenmore dishwasher, you can just unplug the power cord from the wall. Built-in dishwashers are hard-wired into the cabinet, so you will have to turn off the breaker switch at the home's circuit breaker box to cut the power.
   
2. 2 Remove the screws that hold the kickplate onto the lower front of the Kenmore dishwasher. Take the kickplate off to access the door springs.
   
3. Check the door springs to make sure they have not come loose from the door support or the adjustment holes on the dishwasher. Re-attach any ends that have slipped off their connections.
   
4. Replace the springs if they are connected at both ends but still do not have enough tension to support the weight of the door. Once a Kenmore dishwasher door spring is stretched out, it cannot be restored to its original condition. Unhook one end of the old spring from the adjustment hole. Unhook the other end from the door support and discard the spring. Insert one end of the replacement spring into the adjustment hole and the other end into the hook on the door support.
   
5. Open and close the door a few times to make sure the spring is now working properly. The door should not bounce up and down or sag on the hinges when it is in the open position.
   
6. Restore power to your Kenmore dishwasher by plugging it back in or turning on the switch at the home's circuit breaker panel.
   

The "STRING" is referred to as a LINK. The link has a plastic connector glued to each end. It is common for the plastic to get brittle with age (even less than 5 years) or the nylon cord to wear down and break. That is why you see the frayed cord. You have to pull the dishwasher out to fix the problem. I had to order my link online because parts store in my city didn't have it in stock. Go to the Kitchenaid website to and key in your model number to get the parts schematic for your dishwasher. Under Customer Care, go to Locate Manuals and Guides, key in your model # and click Go. At the bottom of the web page you'll see Parts List. Click on the link and this pdf pops up: http://shared.whirlpoolcorp.com/assets/pdfs/literature/Repair%20Part%20List%20-%208194009.pdf.) From the schematic you can find on page 7 "Link, Door Balance" which is #24 part 8535568. The spring hooks on to the back of the dishwasher frame and runs parallel to the floor. The Link end with the round hole attaches to the spring and the other end slips/hooks over the bracket arm that is attached to the door. Good Luck

The nylon cord is part of the door spring mechanism. One end hooks over a tounge at the bottom of the door, then the cord goes around a pully at the bottom, then hooks onto the spring. If the other sides spring is still attached, duplicate it.

your door's hinge link is broken

Pull your dishwasher from under counter (you may need to disconnect hoses and power connnections, so turn off power at the circuit breaker). Look for the broken rope-like item and replace it. Use the other side as an example on how to re-install the link. Attach link to spring, hook spring back into frame/chassis, threaded link through pulleys, attach other end of link onto door then reinstall dishwasher under counter. My replacement link package came as a pair, so replace both at the same time. The other side may still be attached and functioning, but will most likely show signs of wear.

Actually I found out that for a LG dishwasher it is as likely to be the cable/cord attached to the spring and door. This a very odd setup in that this cable is made of nylon cord, and not any thicker than a round shoelace! It clearly should be metal cable, and it's not that hard to replace the nylon stuff with steel. Anyway, it is worth it to pull the unit out and open the side panel to see if in facts it's a broken cord or spring first before ordering any parts.

I have had this issue TWICE now on a three year old dishwasher, and Sears charges you $150.+ to fix it. It is quite simple to fix, there is a special part that has all the pieces attached to it, except for the spring. You will have to remove the screws that are holding your dishwasher under the counter. This could be behind the rubber on the sides. I had to remove a gray plastic circle piece on the inside to see the screw (it pops right out, don't loose it!). Pull out the machine enough to see the out side- side. You will see a (plastic) white roller, string(rope), and a piece that attaches to the dishwasher. There is a number on the white plastic piece that looks like a L (it just slides out). Thess pieces are called the Dishwasher Door Balance Link. You will need to order these pieces, they are all inclusive, and come for both sides of the door, at a whopping price of $15.00. VERY simple to install. Attach one end to the spring, line up in roller then attach to the dishwasher. It is easier to look at it and follow what is on the dishwasher than me clearly explaining it. I feel that paying $1000.00 dollars for a dishwasher would warrant using metal pieces instead of substandard plastic, for this application. These door are very Heavy and like I have said I have replaced them twice with a waiting time of three weeks for the repair man. Please try it, you can do it.