How to Replace Door Latch 8193830 on a Whirlpool Dishwasher

Is your Whirlpool dishwasher refusing to start or pausing during cycles? The culprit could be a faulty door latch, but don’t worry—it’s an easy fix that you can tackle at home! With our step-by-step guide and handy how-to video just below, you’ll have your dishwasher back to its efficient self in no time.

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If your Whirlpool dishwasher won’t start or keeps stopping mid-cycle, the door might not be latching properly. The door latch, part number 8193830, is what keeps the door securely closed during a wash. When it’s worn out or broken, your dishwasher might think the door is open even when it’s shut. Thankfully, replacing the latch is a straightforward DIY job that can solve the problem quickly. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to remove the old latch and install a new one to get your dishwasher running smoothly again. Let’s get started.

Watch here: How to replace the door latch on a dishwasher

The information in this article may not apply to your specific appliance model. We recommend consulting your manufacturer’s documentation or contact us with any questions.

Safety first

Your safety should always be the top priority when performing any appliance repair.

• Always power off and unplug your appliance or switch off the circuit breaker before you attempt any maintenance or replacement work. This keeps you safe by preventing any risk of electric shock. 
• If the appliance has recently been used, give it plenty of time to cool down before working on it. 
• Take your time while working to prevent accidents and personal injuries. Rushing is the enemy of precision.
• Work in a well-lit area so you can clearly see and access appliance parts.
• Keep your workspace free of clutter and other obstacles. Keep children and pets away from the work area.
• Never work on internal parts with wet hands. Make sure the work area is completely dry.
• Check the user manual to see if there are specific installation or safety instructions related to your appliance or replacement part. 
• Be gentle when handling or removing parts. Excessive force might damage the appliance or cause personal injury.
• Wear insulated work gloves to protect your hands from sharp metal parts and debris.
• When working with wires, avoid touching any exposed wires or terminals. If you need to touch a wire, use a non-conductive tool or wear insulating gloves to prevent electrical shock.
• Consider wearing safety glasses and/or a dust mask when working with chemicals, dust or a large amount of debris to prevent irritation or injury.

Tools and materials needed

• Whirlpool dishwasher door latch part #8193830– Take your model number to AppliancePartsPros.com to locate the correct part number for your unit.
• Torx 15 driver
• Flathead screwdriver 
• 3/16-inch nut driver

Step 1- Remove the outer door panel

1. Open the dishwasher door.
2. Use the Torx 15 driver to remove the screws that hold the outer panel on. Leave the top two screws for the control panel.
3. Once the screws are out, lift up on the inner door while tilting the outer panel forward to release it.
4. Set the panel aside. 

Step 2- Remove the control panel 

1. Open the door, and be cautious of the spring tension without the outer panel in place.
2. Use the Torx 15 driver to remove the two screws holding the control panel in position.
3. Lift the door up and tilt the control panel downwards to detach it from the dishwasher frame.
4. Set the control panel on a folded towel to avoid scratching the plastic during our repair work.

Step 3- Remove the faulty door latch

1. Use the 3/16-inch nut driver to remove the screw holding the switch in place.
2. Lift the switch up and off the alignment pin, taking care to thread the attached wires through the plastic holdings so they don’t get damaged.
3. Using a flathead screwdriver, gently pry up on the plastic locking tabs on either side of the door latch housing to release the assembly.
4. With the tabs loosened, pull firmly to slide the entire door latch mechanism forward and detach it from the dishwasher frame.

Step 4- Install the new door latch 

1. Slide the replacement door latch into position on the inner door frame, pressing firmly to lock the plastic tabs back into place with an audible click.
2. Thread the door switch wires back through their plastic holders and mount the assembly onto the alignment pin.
3. Insert the retaining screw through the bushing on the switch mechanism and tighten it down with the 3/16-inch nut driver until snug.

Step 5- Finish up

1. Carefully position the plastic control console back over the inner door frame, taking care not to pinch any wires.
2. Insert and tighten the two retaining screws with the Torx 15 driver. Take it slow to avoid stripping the plastic.
3. Lift the outer door panel back into position, seating the tabs into the door hinge holes before rotating it closed.
4. Tighten down the perimeter screws with the Torx 15 driver until everything feels snug.

With everything screwed back down tightly, go ahead and restore power to the appliance. Perform a quick test by latching the door closed and starting a wash cycle. If all goes well, that completes the repair!

More information

Thanks for reading! We hope this guide helped you replace the door latch in your Whirlpool dishwasher. 

If you still need some replacement parts, grab your model number and head over to AppliancePartsPros.com. We offer over two million parts and most orders arrive in two business days. If you need some help with finding the right part or placing an order, you can contact our team at 1 (877) 477-7278.

While you’re waiting for your new part to arrive, you can explore our DIY blog and watch thousands of video tutorials on our YouTube channel.

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