I heard a noise from my dishwasher. Next thing I knew, the door got really heavy - like a spring had broke. When you open the door now, it just falls - before it would stay up. Can I fix this myself or do I need a repairman?

Hello,

Either the door spring is broken or the linkage that ties the spring to the door hinge...the springs hook onto the leg/frame asm that supports the tub then the spring fit into that linkage and the liknage fits onto the door hinges.

This link is a parts breakdown for your model and item #6 is the spring and item #11 is the linkage..their is 2 of them (one on the left and one on the right) and its reccomended that both are replaced at the same time

Here is that link so are can get a good look of how and where they go http://www.searspartsdirect.com/partsdirect/part-model/Maytag-Parts/Dishwasher-Parts/Model-MDB4000AWA/3048/0130000/M0512217/00002?blt=06&prst=0&shdMod=MDB4000AWA


GENE

If you need to replace the spring mechanism, go to Sears's website and access the parts direct section. Here you can enter your make and model. It will show you a cutsheet with part names and numbers. Order the parts you need from there.

Broken spring.

The side spring springs could have unhooked. Some springs connect to a nylon rope that slides over a plastic guide. The rope could also have snaped or slipped off the guide. You need to open the sides (normaly the back first) to check. This is easy to fix if you have the right tools...

One of the counter bakance springs OR the adjuster for it let go. I had a similar thing where the adjuster which was a thin metal "T" thing that screwed up into the spring as an adjuster folded and fell out of the spring.

Remove the bottom dress cover at the tope kick of the dishwasher. The springs are all accessable right there. The problem will be obvious. Just compare the two sides.

I had to beef up the "T" adjsuter in mine as it was too weak to continue holding in the spring.

One turns it into more or less coils of the spring to adjust the counterbalance.

well it sounds like you broke a spring,possably a cable you nooe to take off the bottom cover to find what broke.

If you need further help, I’m available over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/dude_653d05454b389bba

I think any parts person would recognize it by that name.

It's a fairly simple fix.

The one you have may just be loose on one end and not broken -- check that before you buy one.

I have just done this on my own dishwasher, and managed to bend the next curl of the springs to replace the broken ends, see instructions and pictures here:-
http://www.howtofixanything.co.uk/howto-260.html

There is normally 2 heavy springs & cables that control the "falling" of the door located in the bottom of the machine or it the door itself. Sounds like one (or both) have snapped.

hi you can do it if you have good hands open the cover side of the broken arm with the spirngs understand how the Mechanism works (in\out) and what went worng and hopefuly fix it or replace the springs that died good luck