How to Repair a Noisy Frigidaire Dishwasher

Your dishwasher makes an assortment of noises, such as, the sound of water rushing through the inlet valve and the hum of the motors running. However, when those noises are replaced by an odd whining or grinding sound your Frigidaire dishwasher model FGCD2444SA is telling you a component is no longer functioning properly. While there are a number of potential malfunctions that cause a dishwasher to make loud and unusual noises, the two most common issues are listed below with a step-by-step repair guide to help you repair the problem.

Before starting any of the repairs listed below, unplug your dishwasher and turn off the water running to the appliance. During the repair you’ll encounter sharp objects, which is why work gloves and safety goggles should be worn as you replace the malfunctioning parts.

Circulation Pump

The circulation pump in your dishwasher pushes water through your appliance’s spray arms. A malfunctioning pump can cause your dishwasher to exhibit a variety of symptoms; one being an unpleasant whining noise. If you believe the circulation pump is the reason your dishwasher is emitting abnormal sounds, the part will need to be replaced.

How to Replace the Circulation Pump in Your Frigidaire Dishwasher

Before you can access the circulation pump, you’ll need to remove the dishwasher from underneath your kitchen cabinet. To do so, open the dishwasher door, and pull out the bottom dish rack. Then, unthread the screws at the top of your dishwasher that secure the appliance to the counter. Open the cabinet door that leads to your sink, and disconnect the dishwasher drain line and fill line. Some water may spill out of both lines, so have a towel nearby to wipe up any puddles. Now head back to your dishwasher, and pull the appliance forward. Once your dishwasher is free of the kitchen cabinet, slowly tilt it backwards and lay it on its rear panel.
With the dishwasher laying on its back, you can now remove the circulation pump from the bottom of the appliance. Start by unthreading the two screws that secure the retaining bracket to the pump. Then, pull the bracket off the part. Next, disconnect the wire harness that runs to the top of the circulation pump. Now that the bracket and wire harness are detached, you can pull the circulation pump off the dishwasher.
The new circulation pump comes with two O-rings. The larger ring fits into the top groove near the bottom of the pump, and the small ring fits into the lower groove. After you’ve attached both O-rings, head over to your dishwasher, and clean out any gunk that has accumulated in the circulation pump housing. Once the area is gunk free, push the pump into the housing and reattach the mounting bracket to hold the component in place. Then, reconnect the wire harness to the top of the circulation pump.
Now that the new circulation pump is installed, you can put the dishwasher back under your kitchen cabinet. First, carefully stand the appliance up. Then, slide the dishwasher back a few feet, so it is closer to the opening underneath your counter. Next, push the drain line and the fill line through the holes in the cabinet’s side wall. Once the lines are through the opening, push the dishwasher halfway under the counter, and then go underneath your sink to reattach the fill line and the pump line. After both lines are secure, finish sliding your dishwasher under your counter. Finally, reinsert the bottom dish rack and secure the dishwasher to your cabinet with the two screws you removed earlier.
Plug-in your appliance, and turn the water running to it back on. To ensure the noise has stopped, run a wash cycle while your dishwasher remains empty.

Drain Pump

As the name implies, the drain pump in your dishwasher pushes water out of your appliance and through a drain hose. If the part begins to malfunction, it can start making unusual sounds as it moves waste water out of your dishwasher. To stop the noise, you’ll need to replace the faulty drain pump.

How to Replace a Drain Pump in a Frigidaire Dishwasher

To remove your dishwasher from underneath your kitchen cabinet, follow step number one, which is provided in the above repair guide. However, instead of laying the appliance on its back, this time lay it on its side panel to easily access the drain pump on the bottom of the dishwasher.
Once you’ve gained access to the drain pump, disconnect the two wires running to the pump terminals. Then, with a towel placed directly under the pump, unthread the screws securing the component to the dishwasher. With the screws removed, pull the drain pump out of the pump housing.
Before installing the new drain pump, clean out any debris you find in the pump housing. After the area is spotless, insert the motor end of the drain pump into the pump housing. Then, secure the component by rethreading the screws you removed. Once you’re sure the drain pump is properly installed, reconnect the two wires to the pump terminals.
With the new part in place, lift your dishwasher back up and slide it closer to your counter, Then, run the fill line and drain line back under your sink. Next, push your dishwasher a little further under your cabinet, so you can reconnect the drain line and fill line to the air gap and hot water valve. After both lines are firmly connected, you can slide the dishwasher all the way under your counter top.
To finish off your repair, plug-in your appliance and turn the water back on.

Other Potential Malfunctions

A defective water inlet valve can lead to your dishwasher making an unpleasant buzzing or vibrating noise as it fills with water. Unfortunately, the cause of this issue is simply old age, which leads to the diaphragm in the inlet valve to become misshapen.
The wash impeller is part of the circulation pump. It helps push water through the dishwasher spray arms. Oftentimes, the blades on the impeller can warp, which leads to them scraping against other components in the circulation pump. Luckily, in most dishwashers, you can replace the wash impeller without needing to replace the entire circulation pump.

If your dishwasher is unusually loud, and you’re not sure what’s causing the noise, please contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our highly trained appliance repair technicians.

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