Maytag Mdb-5 Manual

							Table of Contents
Safety  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Operating Tips  . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Loading  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5
Dishwasher Use . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Cycles, Options 
and Lights  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-10
MDB-5
Use & Care Guide
®
Part No. 6 919201 A www.maytag.com ©2004 Maytag Appliances Sales Co.
What Can & 
Cannot be Washed  . . . . . . . . .10
Care & Cleaning  . . . . . . . . . . 11 
Troubleshooting  . . . . . . . . 12-14
Warranty & Service  . . . . . . . . 15
Guide d’utilisation 
et d’entretien . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Guiá de Uso y Cuidado  . . . . . 32 
						

							1
DANG E R – Immediate hazards which WILLresult in
severe personal injury or death.
DANG E R
WARNING –Hazards or unsafe practices which COULD
result in severe personal injury or death.
WARNING
CAUTION – Hazards or unsafe practices which COULD
result in minor personal injury.
CAUTION
Installer:Please leave this manual with this appliance.
Consumer:Please read and keep this manual for future
reference. Keep sales receipt and/or cancelled check as
proof of purchase.
Model Number ____________________________________
Serial Number _____________________________________
Date of Purchase __________________________________
If you have questions, call:
1-800-688-9900 (USA) and 1-800-688-2002 (CANADA)      
1-800-688-2080 ( U.S. TTY for hearing or speech
impaired) (Mon.-Fri., 8 am-8 pm Eastern Time)
Internet:  http://www.maytag.com
In our continuing effort to improve the quality and perfor-
mance of our appliances, it may be necessary to make
changes to the appliance without revising this guide.
For service information, see page 15.
What You Need to Know About
Safety Instructions
Warning and Important Safety Instructions appearing in this
manual are not meant to cover all possible conditions and
situations that may occur. Common sense, caution and care
must be exercised when installing, maintaining or operating
the dishwasher.
Always contact your dealer, distributor, service agent or
manufacturer about problems or conditions you do not
understand.
Recognize Safety Symbols, Words, Labels
Products with a       label have been listed with
Underwriter’s Laboratories, Inc. – those with a CSA tag have
been listed with Canadian Standards Association.
Nevertheless, as with any other equipment using electricity
and moving parts, there is a potential hazard.
1. Read all instructions before using the dishwasher.
2. Use the dishwasher only for its intended function.
3. Disconnect electrical power to dishwasher before
attempting to service.
4. To avoid electrical shock hazard, the sides and back
must be enclosed and the front panels must be
attached before electrical power is applied to the
dishwasher. Refer to the installation instructions for
proper grounding procedures.
5. Connect to a properly rated, protected and sized
power supply circuit to avoid electrical overload.
6. Children should never be permitted to operate, or play
in, with, or around this dishwasher.
7. To reduce the risk of injury when loading items to be
washed, sharp or pointed items should be located with
the handles up.  Also, load sharp items so they are not
likely to damage the door seal.
8. Do not touch the heating element on the bottom of
the tub during or at the completion of a cycle. It will
be hot.
9. Use only detergents and rinse additives designed for a
residential automatic dishwasher. Never use soap,
laundry detergent, or hand washing detergent in your
dishwasher. Keep these products out of reach of
children.
10. Do not sit, stand on or abuse the door or dish racks of
the dishwasher.
11. Under certain conditions, hydrogen gas may be
produced in a hot water system that has not been
used for two weeks or more. Hydrogen gas is
explosive.If the hot water system has not been used
for such a period, turn on all hot water faucets and let
the water flow from each for several minutes. This will
release any accumulated hydrogen gas.  As the gas is
flammable, do not smoke or use an open flame during
this process.
12. Do not wash plastic items unless marked “dishwasher
safe” or the equivalent. For plastic items not so
marked, check the manufacturer’s recommendations.
13. Do not tamper with controls.
14. To prevent accidental child entrapment and
suffocation risks, always remove the door to the
washing compartment when removing an old
dishwasher from service or discarding it.
15. Use caution when unloading the dishwasher. Dishes
will be hot if unloaded shortly after a cycle has
completed.
16. Certified residential dishwashers are not intended for
licensed food establishments.
Save These Instructions 
for Future Reference
Check with the installer to make sure the appliance
has been properly grounded to avoid possible
electrical shock.  Be sure you read the important
personal safety instructions before you use this
dishwasher.
WARNING
Important Safety Instructions
When using your dishwasher, follow basic
precautions, including the following:
WARNING
Safety 
						

							2
Before You Start
•Don’t prerinse. Simply scrape off any bones or
large food particles.
• If connected to a food waste disposer, make certain
the disposer is empty before starting the
dishwasher.
•Scrape off tomato-based food soils(see page 11).
•Remove certain foodssuch as mustard,
mayonnaise, lemon juice, vinegar, salt or dressings
from stainless steel flatware as soon as possible.
These foods may cause rusting and pitting if allowed
to remain in contact with the surface for an extended
period of time.
Operating the Dishwasher
1. After loading the dishwasher and adding detergent,
select the desired cycle and options by pressing
the pads.  The indicator lights for the selected cycle
and options will illuminate. To cancel an option
press the pad again.
2. To start a cycle, close the door until it latches then
press the START/Cancelpad once. After a pause,
the fill will begin.  The display countdown (select
models) will flash until START/Cancelis pressed.
Note
•IfSTART/Cancelis not pressed within 30
seconds of choosing your cycle, the dishwasher
will turn off.
The dishwasher remembers your last cycle so you
do not have to reset the cycle each time.  To start
the dishwasher using the same cycle and options
selected on the previous wash, just press the
START/Cancelpad.  
3. To cancel a running cycle, press the
START/Cancelpad once.  The dishwasher will
drain, then shut off.  To turn the dishwasher off
without draining, press the START/Cancelpad
twice.  To prevent unplanned cycle or option
changes, these selections are “locked in” after 1
minute.
Note
• If a cycle pad is pressed after the controls have
been “locked in,” the light above the current cycle
will flash three times.
Adding a Forgotten Item
For best cleaning, the forgotten item should be added
early in the cycle.
1. Grasp door handle and unlatch door without
opening completely.  All lights will flash to indicate
that the cycle is suspended.
2. Wait for the water circulation to stop.
3. Open the door and add the item.
4. Close and latch the door.  Lights will stop flashing
when the door is properly shut.  After a slight delay,
the cycle resumes automatically at the point of
interruption.
Notes
• If the door is opened during a running cycle,
there may be up to a 30 second delay before the
dishwasher restarts after closing the door.
• Extended interruption of the wash cycle is not
recommended.
General Recommendations
(Rack features vary by model) 
• Items can be centered behind a single tine or loaded
at an angle to maximize space.
• Avoid blocking or preventing the spray arms from
spinning freely.  Do not allow items to extend beyond
the racks.
• Face soiled surfaces toward the center of the
dishwasher.
For best dishwashing results follow guidelines on
following pages to determine the best arrangement for
your items. 
Cont.
Operating Tips
Loading 
						

							3
10 Place Setting Load
Upper Rack
Glasses, cups, stemware, light-weight plastics, plates,
bowls, pans, long-handled utensils etc. can be loaded
in this rack. Do not load glasses over the tines.
TheStack-Rack(select
models) on the right side
of the upper rack folds
up or down for loading
flexibility. Fold it down to
hold long-handled
knives, spatulas and spoons or short items like cups or
juice glasses. Fold it up for taller items like glasses,
bowls, plates, etc.The edge of the Stack-
Rack (select models) is
designed to hold
stemware in place. Taller
stemware will fit better on
the right side as the
upper rack is deeper on
this side.
TheFolding Tines(select
models) located in the
front right corner provide
convenient loading space
for large, bulky items like
pots and pans or mixing
bowls.
To lower tines, carefully push the tines out of each
holder toward the center of the rack and lay the tines
down.
TheCup Clips(select
models) located in the
center of the upper rack
can be used to hold light-
weight plastic items,
cooking utensils, knives,
etc. in place. Clip the item
between the tine and the clip.
TheVari-Lock
™Snugger
(select models) on the left
secures lightweight items
in place. It can be
adjusted by grasping the
wavy wire and rotating it
left to snug items against
the outer rack or to the
right to rest on top of light items. Do not load items
on top of the wire.
For best results with tall
glasses, rest the bottom of
the glass against the wavy
wire of the Vari-Lock
™
Snugger(select models).
Loading
Upper Rack (Models with
folding and convertible bowl
tines in the lower rack)
Upper Rack (Models without
folding and convertible bowl
tines in the lower rack)
3 bread and
butter plates
are loaded on
the rack under
the Stack-
Rack Shelf
(select
models)
Lower Rack (Models
with folding and
convertible bowl tines)
Lower Rack (Models
without folding and
convertible bowl tines)
3 saucers are
loaded on the
rack under the
Stack-Rack
Shelf
(select
models) 
						

							4
Lower Rack
A variety of items such as
dinner plates, mixing bowls,
pots and pans and baking
dishes can be loaded in this
rack.
Tall items such as bakeware
and large platters can be
placed on the left side.
With the Stack-
Rack(select
models) shelf
raised, thin items
like cookie sheets
or pizza pans
may be placed
along the left
side.  With the shelf down, two levels of glasses and
cups can be loaded.
Positioning theFold-
Away
™Tines(select
models) flat in the back,
left corner provides
convenient loading space
for large, bulky items like
pots and pans or mixing
bowls.
Convertible Tines(select
models) in the back, right
corner can be adjusted to
provide narrow spacing for
loading plates or wide spacing
for loading deep bowls, pots or
pans.  Flip tines up for narrow
spacing or down for wider
spacing.
Utensil Baskets
Removable Standard Utensil Basket (select
models)
For best cleaning results, prevent
items from nesting together by
placing some items in the basket
with handles up and some with
handles down. Load knives,
handles up and spoons and forks
handles down, through the slots in
the hinged covered section(s)
(when closed).
Be sure that thin, finely pointed items do not extend
through the basket.  This could block the lower wash
arm.
Small, lightweight items like baby spoons and plastic
measuring spoons should be placed in the section(s)
with the hinged cover(s).
Split & Fit™Utensil Basket
(select models)
The split silverware basket can
be separated and placed in
several locations in the bottom
rack. Load flatware and utensils
into both sections or just one,
depending on your load.
To split the basket, hold the
basket
firmly along
the sides.
Unlock
baskets as
shown here.
Auxiliary Basket(select models)
Use this supplemental
basket in the upper rack
for loading miscellaneous
items and utensils. This is
also a safe place to load
sharp knives and pointed
items.
Cont.
Loading
Back
Back 
						

							5
Adjustable Rack
(select models)
TheAdjustable Upper Rack (select models)can be
raised or lowered to accommodate taller plates,
platters, pans, etc. optimizing useable space in both
upper and lower racks.  Full size dinner plates can be
loaded in the upper rack if it is in the lower position.
Always adjust the upper rack before loading.
To lower the rack:
1. Pull the rack fully out.
2. Place thumbs on
each  lever on
the adjuster
while holding
rack with hands.
3. Press down on
the levers with
thumbs and
push rack down.
The rack will come to a stop when it is in position.
To raise the rack:
1. Pull the rack fully out.
2. Place hands on both sides and lift up until rack
comes to a stop and latches in place.
Notes
•The dishwasher will not
operate correctly if the
rack wash arm
connection is not aligned
with one of the water
inlet holes on back wall
of the dishwasher.
• The left and right side adjusters on the racks
must both be fully in the upward or downward
position for proper connection.
Removing the Upper Rack
The rack can be removed when tall or oversized items
need to be loaded into the lower rack.  Unload the
rack before removing it from the dishwasher.
To remove rack with push tab rack stops (select
models):
1. Roll the rack 
1⁄3to1⁄2of the way out.
2. To remove each plastic push tab rack stop from the
end of each track, push inward (toward the rack) on
the ridged area of the rack stop. The rack stop will
snap open and can be easily removed by pulling
straight out.  Take
care to support the
track while
removing rack
stops.
3. Roll the rack all
the way out of the
track and remove
from the
dishwasher.
To replace:
• Reverse the above procedure to replace the rack into
the dishwasher.
To remove rack with tab-lock rack stops 
(select models)
1. Roll the rack 1/3 to 1/2 of the way out.
2. Locate the rack stops at the end of each track.  
Squeeze the tab in the middle of the rack stop and 
pull the rack stop straight out. Take care to support 
the rack while removing the rack stops.
3. Roll the rack all the way out of the track and remove
from the 
dishwasher.
To replace:
1. Replace the 
dishwasher rack 
by guiding the 
wheels into the 
tracks.
2. Push each rack stop 
squarely into the end of the  track until 
the catch pops into the small hole on the 
side of the track.
Adjusters
Push Tab
Rack Stop
Loading
Tab Lock
Rack Stop
Tab Lock 
						

							6
Hot Water
For optimal cleaning and drying results, hot water
is necessary. The incoming water temperature
should be 120° F (49° C) to properly activate the
detergent and melt greasy food soils.
To check the incoming water temperature, turn on the
hot water faucet nearest the dishwasher and let it run
into a glass in the sink. Place a candy thermometer in
the glass and check the temperature once it has
stopped rising. 
Detergent
Use a detergent designed specifically for use in an
automatic dishwasher. Be sure it is fresh. Store
granular detergent in a cool, dry place (not under the
sink).
Recommended Amount
Too little detergent results in poor cleaning, hard water
filming/spotting and poor drying.  Too much detergent
can cause permanent etching/cloudiness.
The amount of detergent to use is determined by the
hardness of the water and soil level of the load.  Refer
to the following chart for detergent usage
recommendations.
In extremely hard water conditions (13 grains per
gallon or more*), it is difficult to achieve good
results with any dishwasher.  A mechanical water
softener may be necessary to improve water
quality, detergent effectiveness, and protect the
dishwasher parts from the damage that hard
water can cause.Add recommended amount of detergent to each cup
as shown and close the detergent lid.
Do not use detergent with the Rinse Only cycle.
Leave the detergent lid open when running Rinse
Only.Rinse Aid
Regular use of a rinse aid improves drying,
reduces spotting and filming, and reduces
moisture left on the dishwasher interior.
An automatic rinse aid dispenser is located next to the
detergent cup.  
The window next to the dispenser cap indicates when
the rinse aid reservoir needs to be refilled.  When the
level of rinse aid is below the indicator marks and the
window is nearly clear, it is time to refill the dispenser.
Check the dispenser
monthly.
To add rinse aid to the
dispenser, turn the cap
counterclockwise to open.
Remove the cap and pour
liquid rinse aid into the
opening.  The amount of rinse aid dispensed during the
cycle is adjustable by moving the lever inside the reservoir
area. For most water conditions use the manufacturer
recommended setting of “2”.  Adjust it up to the “MAX”
setting for hard water.  Set the lever anywhere between
these amounts as needed to get the best results.  Replace
the cap and turn it clockwise to close.
*Your local water utility or state university extension service can tell 
you the degree of water hardness in your area.
Dishwasher Use
6 tsp    
6 tsp
7 tsp
6 tsp
6 tsp
7 tsp
8 tspLight Soil
Normal Soil
Heavy Soil
Light Soil
Normal Soil
Heavy Soil
All Levels2 tsp
4 tsp
4 tsp
4 tsp
4 tsp
5 tsp
5 tsp WATER
HARDNESS*SOIL
LEVELPRE-WASH
DETERGENT MAIN WASH
DETERGENT
Soft (0-4 gpg)
Medium (5-9 gpg)
Hard (10-12 gpg) 
						

							7
Cycles
TIME NUMBER OF
CYCLE DESCRIPTION (APPROX. WASHES/RINSES
MINUTES)
Heavy Wash
Normal Wash
Light Wash
Auto Clean
(select models)
Rinse Only
Quick Wash 
(select models)Long cycle for heavy food soils. 131 2 washes/3 rinses
Medium cycle for average food 
soils.  Precision Clean
™Turbidity 97-118 1-2 washes*/1-2 rinses*
sensor is active with this cycle.
Short cycle for light food soils. 82 2 washes/1 rinse
Designed to select the number
of water fills best suited for the 
soil level of each load.  Precision  97-131 1-2 washes*/1-3 rinses*
Clean
™Turbidity sensor is active 
with this cycle.
Rinses dishes being held until  9 1 rinse
there is a full load.
Quick cycle for light food soils.   38 1 wash/1 rinse
Does not include drying time.
Notes
• Depending on water temperature, there may be time added to the cycle to bring water up to temperature.
• Cycle times shown in the numerical display (select models) will increase or decrease, based on each load’s soil
level, water temperature and selected options.
• Only the following certified cycles have been designed to meet NSF requirements (NSF/ANSI 184 Residential
Dishwasher) for sanitization: Auto Clean (select models), Heavy Wash, Normal Wash and Light Wash.
* Number of fills will vary depending on the soil level of each load.
Choose the cycle that best describes your dishload by pressing the corresponding touchpad. (See page 2,
Operating Tips, for how to begin the cycle).
Cycles, Options and Lights 
						

							8
Heated Dry
* Only these cycles have been designated to meet NSF requirements (NSF/ANSI 184 Residential Dishwasher) for sanitization.
Options
OPTION DESCRIPTION USE WITH CYCLES
Start/Cancel
Delay
Control Lock Option
(select models)Starts and stops dishwasher.  See page 2 under Operating Tips:All Cycles
Operating the Dishwasher, for explanation.
Used to automatically start the cycle at a later time.  See page 9 All Cycles
for instructions.
Locks control touchpad to prevent unwanted use.  See page 9 All Cycles
for instructions.
Cycle Options
OPTION DESCRIPTION USE WITH CYCLES
ToughScrub™/
ToughScrub™Plus
(select models)
Sanitize
(select models)
Extra Rinse
(select models)
160° Wash
(select models)Selected when washing loads with hard-to-remove food soils. Heavy Wash
Depending on which cycle is being used, this option adds Normal Wash
heat and/or wash time to the wash cycle. Light Wash
Auto Clean 
(select models)
Sanitizes dishware.  When cycle monitor recognizes that the  Heavy Wash*
proper conditions have been met, SANITIZED light will activate  Normal Wash*
at the end of the cycle.  Sanitization may not be achieved if  Light Wash*
there is an interruption of the cycle, power failure or if the   Auto Clean* 
(select models)
incoming water temperature is below 120° F (49° C).
Adds an additional rinse to cycle.  An extra rinse helps to  All cycles
improve results in hard water situations. (except Rinse Only)
Raises temperature in the final rinse to 160° F.  This option can
be used with any cycle except Quick Wash (select models)
and Rinse Only.
For enhanced drying results select this option.  When Heated
Dryis not selected, towel drying of some items such as plastic
and items with non-stick surfaces may be necessary and more  All cycles
moisture may be noticed adhering to the dishwasher interior.   (except Rinse Only)
In models with plastic interiors, it is normal to notice vapor
escaping from the door vent as the heat dries your dishes.
Vapor will escape even if Heated Dryisnotselected.
In addition to choosing a cycle from page 7, choose as many available options as are neededfor your dishload.
Heavy Wash
Normal Wash
Auto Clean* 
(select models)
CAUTION – In models with plastic interiors, it is normal to notice vapor escaping from the door vent in the upper left corner
of the door as the heat dries your dishes.  The vapor is hot and may cause minor burns.
CAUTION
Cycles, Options and Lights
Cont. 
						

							9
Lights/Display
Delay
TheDelayoption can be used to automatically start
the cycle at a later time to reduce daytime heat
buildup in the home or to take advantage of reduced
energy costs if available in your area.  This option is
also useful for conserving hot water at times of high
household usage (showers, laundry).  
To set up a Delay:
1. Select the appropriate cycle and options for the
load.  Close the door.
2. Press the Delaypad until the desired amount of
delay time is selected.
3. The Delayindicator and the count down display
(select models) will flash until the START/Cancel
pad is pressed.
4. As soon as the START/Cancelpad is pressed, the
flashing will stop and the delay time will begin
counting down.  The Delayindicator will remain lit
until the delay time has counted down.
5. The cycle will automatically start as soon as the
delay time expires.
Note
• If 30 seconds elapse between setting the cycle
and options and pressing the START/Cancel
pad, the dishwasher will turn off.
To cancel a Delay:
When the delay is counting down, press the Delaypad
again. The indicator light will go out and the cycle will
start or resume immediately.
To cancel a Delay and the cycle:
• Press START/Cancelonce to drain and turn off the
dishwasher.
Or
• Press START/Canceltwice to turn dishwasher off
without draining.
Control Lock Option (select models)
The control touchpads can be locked to prevent
unwanted use.  If this feature is activated between 
cycles, the dishwasher cannot be operated until the
controls are unlocked.  If desired, the controls can be
locked after a cycle or delay has started.
Setting the Control Lock:
1. Press the Heated Drypad for three seconds.
2. An indicator light next to the lock graphic will
illuminate when the controls are locked.
To Cancel:
1. Press the Heated Drypad for three seconds.
2. The indicator light will go off.
Notes
• If a cycle or option pad is pressed after the
controls have been locked, the indicator light next
to the lock graphic will flash five times.  On
selected models with a countdown display, the
display will flash an “L” simultaneously with the
lock indicator.
• This option does not lock the door, only the
dishwasher controls.
Cycles, Options and Lights