DW door spring becoming 'tired'

[Richard]

The spring which prevents the door of my built-in dishwasher falling open when the catch is released seems to be losing it's tension - if such a thing is possible. Symptoms are that the door now opens much more easily once the catch as released than it did when new - approx. 4 years ago. This has been noticeable in the last two weeks or so.

So, do whatever supports the door in a dishwasher have any adjustment?

It's an AEG unit if that makes any difference.

TIA

Richard

[Pete Verdon]

While transporting my Bosch one I had it at all sorts of odd angles. One such (maybe upside down) allowed me a view into the door mechanism. It involved a pair of what looked like sash cords, attached to springs. If yours is similar, you might be able to tie a know in the cord, or otherwise shorten it.

Pete

[Vortex3]

Try the forums on

to answer this. You wiill find a specialist dishwasher forum.

D

[john.sabine]

Normally the tension spring can be adjusted: not seen an AEG, but on several different models it's been by turning an allen bolt.

Open the door, and have a look along the top front of the dishwasher body for a bolt head. Often three quarters hidden behind a rubber or plastic sealing strip.

Still got the manual, or checked the website? Have a look at the pages about installing the door panel. You need to adjust the tension spring depending on the weight of this, so the detail is normally here.

(Start here to find PDF manuals:

[Andrew Gabriel]

There are two parts to this -- a spring which counter-balances the weight of the door, and a brake which applies friction to door motion (sometimes a steel ribbon sliding round a pulley which doesn't go round). It's not very clear from your description which part isn't working.

Not one I'm familiar with.

[Richard]

Thanks to all.

A better description of the behaviour of the door goes like this: upon releasing the catch, the door opens much quicker than expected - i.e you feel as though you have to support it to prevent it crashing fully open. At about 50% open, i.e. door open 45 degrees, resistance to the rate of opening increases and the door slows to its normal rate of opening.

Cheers

Richard

[Andrew Gabriel]

Still difficult to be sure, but that sounds more like the brake has failed. Failure of the spring counter-balance has a more significant effect when the door is open horizontal, where it would feel much heavier than normal, and much less effect when nearly in the closed position, where the effect of the brake will predominate.

[Richard]

Thanks Andrew

I've posted the problem to the whitegoodsforum and wait with baited breath

Richard

[John]

I was over enthusiastic with a spray lubricant and this upset the brake - I ended up taking the sides off to degrease the bands and the pulleys.