How to Install Door Seal WP99003337 in a Whirlpool Dishwasher

Quick answer: Open the door, peel the old seal out of the channel around the tub opening, clean the channel, then press the new seal in starting at the top center and working down both sides without stretching. Close the door and leave it shut for several hours so the seal seats before running a cycle.

Door seal WP99003337 is the soft rubber gasket that closes the gap between the front edge of the dishwasher tub and the inside of the door on many Whirlpool-built Maytag and Jenn-Air dishwashers. It runs up one side of the tub opening, across the top and down the other side, and it is the reason a running dishwasher does not spray your kitchen floor. When it hardens, splits or pulls out of its channel, you get water along the sides of the door or under the front edge after every wash.

This is one of the easiest dishwasher repairs there is. No tools are strictly required, no panels come off and the dishwasher stays in place. The part supersedes 9911, WP99002659, WP99003041, WP99003148, WP99003149 and DC47-00019A, and fits models such as MDB8951BWS41, MDB7755AWS and JDB1255AWS41. The one rule that matters is the manufacturer's own: once the new seal is in, shut the door and leave it closed for several hours so the rubber takes its final shape. A repair video exists for this seal as well.

See part details and every compatible model: WP99003337

⚠️ Safety First
  • Switch off the dishwasher at the control before you start so nobody starts a cycle with the door gasket half installed.
  • Wear gloves; the tub flange edge behind the seal channel is thin metal and can cut.
  • Do not use a metal screwdriver to press the seal in. It can gouge the channel or tear the rubber.
  • Keep the door propped fully open while you work so it cannot swing shut on your hands.

Tools and Parts You Need

  • Plastic trim tool or wooden craft stick to seat the seal
  • Sponge and mild dish detergent
  • Clean towel
  • Bowl of warm water to relax the new seal
  • Flashlight

Step-by-Step Installation

  1. Soak the new seal Uncoil the new seal and lay it in warm water for a few minutes. This relaxes shipping kinks so it feeds into the channel smoothly and lies flat.
  2. Open the door and find the channel Open the door all the way and look at the front lip of the tub. The seal sits in a narrow channel that runs up the left side, across the top and down the right side of the tub opening.
  3. Remove the old seal Grab one lower end of the old seal and pull it steadily out of the channel, working up the side, across the top and down the other side. It may come out in pieces if it has hardened.
  4. Clean the channel Wash the channel with a soapy sponge to remove film and grit, then dry it. Even a sliver of old rubber left inside will keep the new seal from seating.
  5. Start at the top center Fold the new seal to find its midpoint. Press the stem of the seal into the channel at the top center with the soft bulb facing outward toward the door.
  6. Work down both sides Press the seal into the channel a few inches at a time, alternating left and right, using your thumb or a plastic tool. Feed it loosely and never pull it tight; stretching leaves the ends short.
  7. Seat the ends Push the seal in all the way to the bottom corners on each side. The two ends should be even and should meet the bottom of the tub opening near where the lower door gasket sits.
  8. Close the door and wait Shut the door firmly and leave it closed for several hours, ideally overnight. Then run a short cycle and check the floor and the side edges of the door for drips.

Fit Checks Before You Call the Job Done

  • Fits Whirlpool-built dishwashers including Maytag MDB8951BWS41 and MDB7851AWB0, Whirlpool MDB8851AWS10 and MDB8751BWS, and Jenn-Air JDB1255AWS41; confirm your model number on the tub frame tag.
  • The stem of the new seal should slide into the channel with firm thumb pressure, not fall in loosely or refuse to enter.
  • The bulb of the seal should face the door, not the inside of the tub.
  • After installation the door should close with slight extra resistance and still latch without slamming.
  • Both ends should reach the bottom corners; the seal should not stop short or hang below the tub opening.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Stretching the seal Pulling the rubber taut as you press it in makes the ends come up short at the bottom, which is exactly where most leaks appear. Feed it slack.

Starting at one end If you begin at a bottom corner and go around, the final end almost never lands where it should. Always begin at the top center.

Skipping the soak A cold, coiled seal fights you every inch and tends to twist in the channel. A few minutes in warm water makes it cooperative.

Installing it backward The stem goes into the channel and the soft bulb faces the door. Reversed, the door will not close properly and the seal will leak.

Running a cycle right away The manufacturer says to leave the door shut for several hours first. Skipping the wait can leave a fresh seal unseated and leaking on its first run.

Troubleshooting After Installation

Water leaks at a lower corner One end is short or not pressed to the corner. Pull that side out from the top down and refeed it without tension until the end reaches the bottom.

Seal pops out of the channel The channel was dirty or the stem is only partly in. Remove that section, clean the channel and press the stem in fully with a plastic tool.

Door is hard to close or will not latch New rubber is stiff or the seal is twisted. Check that the bulb faces the door everywhere, then leave the door closed overnight.

Leak from the bottom center of the door This seal does not cover the bottom edge. Inspect the lower door gasket on the door itself for damage.

Care Tips After the Repair

  • Wipe the seal and the channel monthly to remove food residue that stiffens rubber.
  • Check the bottom corners now and then to be sure the ends are still pressed in.
  • Close the door with a firm push rather than a slam to avoid rolling the seal out of its channel.
  • Replace the seal when it feels hard or shows cracks rather than waiting for a leak.

Compatible Models (Sample)

This part is listed for 331 Whirlpool models in our fitment data. Always confirm your exact model number on the appliance's rating plate.

Replaces or is replaced by: 9911, DC47-00019A, WP99002659, WP99003041, WP99003148, WP99003149

Repair Difficulty and Time

Difficulty: Easy. Typical time: 20 to 40 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need any tools for this repair?

Not really. Your thumbs do most of the work. A plastic trim tool helps at the corners and a sponge cleans the channel.

Why leave the door closed for several hours?

New rubber arrives coiled. Closing the door presses it flat against the door face so it takes its working shape and seals evenly the first time you run it.

Does this seal also cover the bottom of the door?

No. It seals the top and both sides of the tub opening. The bottom edge is handled by a separate gasket on the door.

Does WP99003337 fit my older Maytag dishwasher?

It replaces several earlier numbers including 9911, WP99002659 and WP99003148. Match your model number to the compatibility list to be sure.

Final Checklist

  • New seal soaked in warm water
  • Old seal removed completely
  • Channel washed and dried
  • New seal started at top center, bulb facing the door
  • Both sides pressed in without stretching
  • Ends even at the bottom corners
  • Door closed for several hours
  • Test cycle run with no drips

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