Problem with Maytag dishwasher model pdb2430awx. First indication of problem was I noticed that the dishwasher had ran all night long, I started it before bed and it was still going when I woke up. But it happened just that one time. More recently I've noticed that the dishes aren't getting as clean as they should. The last time I used it the dishes on the bottom were getting wet but the glasses on top were still dirty as if no water got to them and they were extremely hot, as if I had it on heat dry setting. I am trying to troubleshoot the problem. I started the washer today, waited for the wash cycle to begin then opened the door to see if water was coming in or not, because it sounded like it was. When I looked inside, the first thing I noticed was just a bubble of water trying to come out of the lower spray arm but the bottom of the tub was bone dry. I've checked, spray arm is clear and impeller area looks clear also. Reading online it says it could be the float switch or water inlet valve. I'm still in the process of testing these two parts but I think it may be something else. If these parts test ok then what else could cause no water to come in? Could it be in the control board or could the timer cause this as well? I'm thinking maybe a timer issue since it ran all night that one time about a month ago. Any ideas?

I replaced the water inlet valve. Water comes in and fills tub as it should but now a new problem.

In any mode, rinse only, heavy wash, normal wash, etc. doesn't matter. The water fills, then drains, but the cycle continues as if everything was working normally. Everything sounds as it should durning a nornal cycle but its not actually washing because the water drained out after filling. I don't think that its a motor problem because all sounds are normal, with the exception of hearing the water slosh around.

I figured I would see if.... I opened the door during the wash part of the cycle, and manually added water to the tub, up to the heating element, would that get the washing started. Unfortunately, it did not. I filled the tub with water and closed the door and as soon as the door latched, the water drained out again, but kept going to complete the cycle. I did the manual filling a couple of times, but each time, no matter what or where in the cycle, the water always drained as soon as I closed the door. As I said before, everything else continues and completes as if there was water in it....element heats up, soap dish opens when it should, all sounds during the entire cycle sound normal.

I'm thinking it might be the drain solenoid lifter? I checked the solenoid itself and it appears intact (nothing has fallen off of it, as others claimed) and I can manaully push the arm down, which I assume controls the internal plunger or something. I don't know if I should be able to do that though.

Before I start pulling the lower arm off and the other stuff to access the lifter, I wanted to see it you all thought that could be the cause of this problem.

Again, its a Maytag PDB2430AWX dishwasher, which is about 12 years old.

Thanks for you help,