Maytag MAH8700AWW will not dispense fabric softener

Try pouring boiling water down the dispenser, it may just be full of dried softener.

THAT PART WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED

There should be pins located somewhere on the dispenser or a grey thing located inside the dispenser, push it down and that will release the dispenser from the washer. Afterwards you can put in in the dishwasher, this should clean out any clogging residue.

Hello - There are several things that could cause the fabric softener to not dispense into the washer. Are you sure the liquid in the dispenser after the wash is fabric softener? If it is fabric softener, the solenoid that lets the water into the dispenser is not working. This solenoid is located on the back of the dispenser. It only gets voltage during the dispense time and fills the fabric softener dispenser with water. The fabric softener dispenser fills while the washer is filling for the rinse cycle.

When the washer begins to fill for the rinse cycle, the fabric softener solenoid is energized and water flows into the fabric softener dispenser cup. When the cup is full the water siphons out and softener and water flow into the tub.

If the liquid in the fabric softener dispenser is pure softener you may need a technician to diagnose and repair the problem. The voltage will have to be tested to the softener solenoid and a volt meter is required.

If the liquid in the fabric softener dispenser is water you probably need to clean the dispenser cup. **** will build up in the siphon tube and stop the liquid from going into the washer tub. The incoming water will dilute the softener and overflow the dispenser cup and run into the tub. The instructions for cleaning the dispenser should be located on page 43 of the use and care guide that came with the washer.

If you don't have the use and care guide these instructions will help. Open the dispenser until it stops. In the left rear corner of the dispenser, there is a release that is labeled push. Press down on the push area and you can slide the dispenser drawer out.

Remove the insert from the bleach and fabric softener compartments. Clean the bottom of the insert and the bleach and fabric softener compartments. Reinstall the insert and put the drawer back inside the washer.

To test the siphon action slowly pour water into the fabric softener compartment. When the water level goes above the maximum line stop pouring. The water should all drain out.

Hope this information proves to be helpful however if it is ineffective please contact a professional to move forward accurately.

Hi from retired Englishman in SW France,
Methinks you need a manual again;-0)
You will need to type into your search engine/web browser '(make) washer manual' and you should be presented with a number of sources from which you can either download for free or have to pay a nominal amount. During the process you will be asked for the actual model number!
You could also try the manufacturer's web site direct.
Good luck,
John C.

For the FAV6800A or FAV9800A:

If you have no water flow to the Softener dispenser or Bleach dispenser see if you can turn the dispenser valves on Service Mode and verify water flow to the reservoirs.
Enter Service Mode (page 14 of the Service manual) by Pressing Enviro Plus and Spin Only keys (simultaneously) for three seconds or until the console beeps.

Now go to page 16 to Service Manual and enter Board Output Test by pressing the Delicates key. This will lock the lid. Now press the Wrinkle Control Key Pad on the console. The Control Board will send 120VAC to the Fabric Softener dispenser water valve. Did you hear the solenoid hum? If so we will now need to turn on the Cold Water Inlet Valve and see if water flows to the dispenser.

Now press the Spin Only key this will turn on the Cold Water inlet valve after 5 seconds press the Off key. The washer will unlock. Check to see if water did flow to the fabric dispenser reservoir. If you heard the Fabric dispenser valve hum then most likely 120VAC was applied to the solenoid. If water did not flow then the Fabric dispenser valve is stuck closed if you heard it hum.

The Bleach/Fabric dispenser water valve is an assembly and is not repairable you have to replace.

Final technical troubleshooting as a technical owner of the machine would be to take my DVM and verify 120VAC from the Control Board to the Fabric dispenser solenoid.
See page 36 lower left hand corner is the Bleach/Softener dispenser valve.
Here is the Service Manual for reference. Sears Parts Direct for reference.

The Part Number for the Dispenser Valve is 25001043 you can order from this site or search the internet for best price try appliancezone.com…

You can remove the Fabric Softner to clean see page 33 of the Service Manual…Rich

I'll see if I can help. Can you just clarify if by won't drain. Does it look like no water flow is flushing the the Bleach and Fabric Softener dispensers?

The Fabric Softener dispenser could be clogged but I suspect the dispenser’s valves are not opening to flush the dispenser’s. If the Fabric Softener dispenser is clogged you can flush with White Vinegar solution and clean exit port with a pipe cleaner. I do not suspect a clog with the Bleach dispenser.

You could go into Service Mode and turn on the water valves for the dispensers to check if water is sent to the dispensers.

If you have no water flow to the Softener dispenser here is the non technical troubleshooting I would take. Go into Service Mode (page 14 of the Service manual) by Pressing Enviro Plus and Spin Only keys (simultaneously) for three seconds or until the console beeps.

Now go to page 16 to Service Manual and enter Board Output Test by pressing the Delicates key. This will lock the lid. Now press the Wrinkle Control Key Pad on the console. The Control Board will send 120VAC to the bleach dispenser water valve. Did you hear the Solenoid hum? If so and you have no water flow diverted to the Softener dispenser the solenoid valve may be stuck closed. If you did not hear the solenoid valve hum the solenoid field coil may be open. Do the same process for the Bleach dispenser water valve with Bulky Items Key Pad.

Final technical troubleshooting as a technical owner of the machine would be to take my DVM and verify 120VAC from the Control Board to the Bleach/Fabric Softener dispenser valves.

See page 36 lower left hand corner is the Bleach/Softener dispenser valve.

Here is the Service Manual for reference. Sears Parts Direct for reference.

The Part Number for the Dispenser Valve is 25001043 you can order from this site or search the internet for best price.

Good luck…….Rich

Not sure if you've ever resolved this issue, but I'm dealing with it myself. I have come across this service manual that gives a very detailed illustration of the systems, how it works and how to test it.
Focus on pages 15 thru 25. Hope this helps you.
http://www.servicematters.com/maytag_library/docs/16026126.pdf

The fabric softener dispenser is notorious for clogging. Liquid fabric softener is essentially a liquid form of wax. After a period of time it begins to gunk up the inside of the fabric softener dispenser. If you remove the dispenser drawer and look into the cavity, there should be a series of holes in the upper part of the compartment where water sprays into all the dispenser trays. These holes get gunked up and clogged and water will not dispense properly. As a result, the washer goes through a complete cycle, but the dispenser stays full. If this is the case, you can take some cotton swabs and/or toothpicks and clean these holes real good. It may be a bit meticulous, but it should take care of the problem. Post back and let me know if this helps.

Fabric softener is mostly a liquid wax. It is common for dispensers to have problems if the you use liquid fabric softener a lot. The softener becomes a sticky solid and can gunk up everything over time. I believe the type of dispenser on your washer simply flushes water into the reservoir at a prescribed time and then dispenses into the wash tub. If this reservoir becomes clogged somewhere it may actually be filling up and overflowing into another reservoir in the dispenser and getting dispensed that way. I would try cleaning the dispenser thoroughly, first. Since it IS dispensing (but at the wring time) I don't think you have a control problem. Try cleaning and let me know if this helps. PS Sorry to ignore your request for online assistance. I was already in the middle of typing a solution for you. I hope this was the help you needed.