Maytag MDB8959SKZ – Touchpad not working Repair Guide

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Model: Maytag MDB8959SKZ
Brand: Maytag
Model Number: MDB8959SKZ

🔍 Problem Description

Reset control; test membrane switches; replace control panel

📋 What You’ll Need

  • Control panel

    • 🔧 Step-by-Step Repair Instructions

      🔧 Step 1: Reset control panel (unplug for 30 seconds)

      1. Open the dishwasher door fully until it rests at approximately 45 degrees from vertical.
      2. Locate your home’s electrical panel/circuit breaker box and identify the breaker labeled for the dishwasher (typically 15 or 20 amp).
      3. Flip the dishwasher circuit breaker to the OFF position – the switch will move to the opposite direction and you’ll feel a distinct click.
      4. Return to the dishwasher and look at the bottom front edge where the door meets the tub – you’ll see the kickplate (toe panel), a thin metal or plastic panel spanning the width of the unit, typically 3-4 inches tall.
      5. Grasp the kickplate at both bottom corners and pull firmly toward you – it’s held by spring clips and will release with 5-10 pounds of force.
      6. Set the kickplate aside and look into the exposed cavity beneath the dishwasher tub.
      7. Direct a flashlight into the lower left corner area, approximately 8-10 inches back from the front edge – you’ll see a black or gray electrical junction box (roughly 3×4 inches) with a metal conduit or wire bundle entering it.
      8. Trace the wire path to confirm this is your power source – it will be the only connection with thick gauge wires (typically 12 or 14 AWG).
      9. Use your smartphone timer or watch and wait exactly 30 seconds while the unit remains unpowered.
      10. After 30 seconds have elapsed, return to the electrical panel and flip the dishwasher breaker back to the ON position – you’ll feel the same distinct click.
      11. The control panel has now been reset and the internal control board’s capacitors have fully discharged, clearing any error codes or lock-up conditions.

      🛠️ Step 2: Test membrane switches on touchpad

      1. Set your multimeter to continuity mode (the symbol looks like a series of curved lines or a speaker icon) or ohms mode set to 200Ω range.
      2. Locate the ribbon cable connector on the back of the touchpad control board—it’s a white rectangular connector approximately 2 inches wide, positioned at the center of the circuit board.
      3. Identify the pin numbering on the ribbon cable connector; pin 1 is marked on the left side with a small “1” or triangle symbol.
      4. Touch the multimeter’s black probe to pin 1 (common ground) and hold it there throughout testing.
      5. Press the “Start/Resume” button on the touchpad face while simultaneously touching the red probe to pin 4—the multimeter should beep or show 0-5 ohms resistance, then return to infinite resistance when you release the button.
      6. Test the “Cancel/Drain” button by pressing it while touching the red probe to pin 6—you should hear a beep or see 0-5 ohms, indicating circuit closure.
      7. Move to the “Heated Dry” button, press it, and touch the red probe to pin 8—look for the same beep or low resistance reading.
      8. Test each remaining button in sequence: “Control Lock” (pin 10), “Delay Start” (pin 12), and “Sani Rinse” (pin 14), pressing each button while probing its corresponding pin.
      9. Check for stuck switches by probing each pin (4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14) without pressing any buttons—the multimeter should show infinite resistance or “OL” (open line) for all positions.
      10. If any button fails to show continuity when pressed or shows continuity when not pressed, the membrane switch array has failed and requires replacement (part number W11330623).

      ⚙️ Step 3: Inspect control panel connections

      1. Locate the main control board housing—a white plastic box measuring approximately 8 inches wide by 4 inches tall, positioned at the top center of the door frame, directly behind where the control panel buttons are mounted.
      2. Identify the wire harness connector on the right side of the control board—this is a white rectangular plug approximately 1.5 inches long with 12 individual wire terminals visible through the connector body.
      3. Press the locking tab on top of the white connector using your thumb while pulling the connector straight away from the control board socket with steady pressure until it releases (requires approximately 3-5 pounds of force).
      4. Examine all 12 wire terminals inside the connector for corrosion, which appears as green, white, or brown crusty deposits on the metal pins.
      5. Look for any wires that have pulled back from their crimped terminals—the copper wire should extend fully into the metal terminal sleeve with no gaps visible.
      6. Check the control board socket for burn marks, which appear as black or brown discoloration around individual pin holes, indicating overheating.
      7. Locate the ribbon cable connector on the left side of the control board—a flat, tan-colored cable approximately 0.5 inches wide connecting the user interface board to the main control board.
      8. Lift the black locking bar on the ribbon cable socket by pivoting it upward 90 degrees using your fingernail or a flat-head screwdriver (3/16-inch blade).
      9. Slide the ribbon cable out horizontally to inspect the copper contact strips—these should be shiny gold or copper colored, not dull gray or green.
      10. Verify the ribbon cable has no creases, tears, or worn spots in the flexible plastic material.
      11. Reinsert the ribbon cable fully into its socket until the copper contacts are no longer visible (insertion depth is approximately 0.25 inches).
      12. Press the black locking bar down flat to secure the ribbon cable—you’ll feel it snap into the locked position.

      🔩 Step 4: Check for water damage on control panel

      1. Position yourself directly in front of the open dishwasher door with the control panel at eye level.
      2. Examine the touchpad membrane surface for discoloration, focusing on areas around button edges where water typically seeps – look for yellowing, brown staining, or white mineral deposits.
      3. Press each touchpad button individually from left to right, applying firm pressure with your index finger (approximately 2-3 pounds of force) – functional buttons will feel springy and responsive, while water-damaged buttons feel mushy or fail to bounce back.
      4. Locate the seam where the touchpad membrane meets the control panel housing, running horizontally across the entire width – run your finger along this seam checking for moisture, sticky residue, or warping of the plastic membrane.
      5. Look at the circuit board through the transparent areas of the control panel (if visible) or shine a flashlight at an angle against the touchpad to illuminate behind it – water damage appears as green corrosion, white crusty deposits, or dark burn marks on circuit traces.
      6. Check the wire harness connector on the right side of the control board (a white rectangular connector with 12-16 thin wires) – look for green or white corrosion on metal pins inside the connector housing.
      7. Inspect the ribbon cable connection point where the touchpad membrane connects to the circuit board (typically a flat beige or white cable 2 inches wide) – water damage shows as discoloration on the copper contact strips or green oxidation.
      8. Smell the control panel area – a strong burnt electrical odor or musty smell indicates water has penetrated and damaged electronic components.
      9. Document which specific buttons are non-responsive and note any visible corrosion locations – this determines whether you need touchpad replacement (part W11106071), control board replacement (part W11126494), or both.

      📋 Step 5: Replace control panel if reset doesn’t resolve

      1. Open the dishwasher door fully to access the control panel area.
      2. Remove the 6 Torx T20 screws along the top edge of the inner door panel, spaced approximately 3 inches apart from left to right.
      3. Remove the 2 Torx T20 screws located on each side of the inner door panel, positioned 4 inches down from the top corners.
      4. Lift the inner door panel up approximately 2 inches, then pull it toward you to disengage the bottom clips – there are 4 clips along the bottom edge.
      5. Set the inner panel aside to expose the control panel assembly mounted on the outer door.
      6. Locate the white 12-pin ribbon cable connector attached to the right side of the control panel, approximately 2 inches from the right edge.
      7. Press the small gray release tab on the connector and pull the ribbon cable straight out.
      8. Locate the gray 6-pin wire harness connector on the left side of the control panel, 3 inches from the left edge.
      9. Squeeze the locking tabs on both sides of the connector simultaneously and pull straight away from the control panel.
      10. Remove the 4 Phillips-head #2 screws securing the control panel to the door (one in each corner, approximately 1 inch from the edges).
      11. Lift the control panel assembly straight up and away from the door.
      12. Position the new control panel (part number W11116085) aligned with the 4 mounting holes on the door.
      13. Install the 4 Phillips-head #2 screws in each corner and tighten until snug (approximately 8-10 inch-pounds).
      14. Connect the gray 6-pin wire harness until you hear a click indicating full seating.
      15. Insert the white 12-pin ribbon cable into its connector until it stops – push firmly with your thumb.
      16. Reposition the inner door panel, engaging the bottom clips first, then lower into place.
      17. Reinstall all 8 Torx T20 screws.
      18. Close the door and press any button – the display should illuminate immediately, confirming successful installation.

      đź›’ Recommended Products

      Here are the recommended products for this repair: