How to Troubleshoot & Replace Ge AP4355961 / WD13X10045 Handle Actuator

After a struggle, I finally got the door opened. Since the dishwasher was stainless steel, I had to remove all of screws around the door. The handle actuator was broken. I installed the parts listed and the door would open. However, before you keep the door latch all the way depressed and the door would open. But with the new parts, you have to release the handle a bit before the door will open. I am not sure why 

Yanked the dishwasher door open and ordered the required part from appliancepartspros.com. 

I watched the repair video on APP.com and checked the components of the door latch. There are 4 total parts and not knowing which of the 4 I needed, I ordered all of them. Turns out the actuator and the spring were the parts I needed. 

The video provided by Appliance Parts Pros is excellent! I followed its steps. The one problem I had was getting the ribbon to disconnect. The plastic pieces that hold it together are fragile and broke. So, instead of disconnecting the ribbon I placed a kitchen stool in front of the dishwasher door and laid the top portion on it. Then I was able to remove the handle and change out the actuator. The handle was fine and did not need replacing; a tab on the actuator had broken. (In my opinion the actuator should be metal instead of plastic. The dishwasher is less than 2 years in service). // While I had the door apart I also replaced the Interlock Door Switch. The last load we had run resulted in plates with baked on food residue. It seemed that the problem we had matched the description that points to failure of the switch. However, we later observed that the soap dispenser was caked shut and had not opened. 

Looked on YouTube. Repaired. Works great! 

Removed control panel, replaced the handle, actuator, spring and bracket. Hardest part was figuring out how the parts reassembled, since they were broken off and the spring was missing. Overall a fairly easy repair, that I had been putting off for 4 years. 

Bought and replaced part and spring. 

I replaced it with the parts I ordered from appliancepartspros.com. 

Appliance parts sent the parts I looked up on a diagram within a few days. I followed their instructional videos and made the repair myself. Worked out well. -af 

Installed new actuator. Video on your website was very helpful