[Tamela]

Replaced the Sequence switch when my Triton III stopped working which fixed THAT problem but now then the dishwasher wouldn't drain completely. I found the Service sheet underneath the dishwasher and put it through the Test Cycle Set Up. Before putting it through the test I disconnected the drain from the sink to allow it to drain into a bucket...then I put it through it's test.

I followed the Test Cycle Matrix and noted that on Steps 6 and 7 when the main pump is suppose to be ON and evacuate the water...No water drained. However in the last step the Auxiliary Pump DID evacuate the water completely. So here's my question...

Can the Main pump be out and the Auxiliary pump work? And does it sound like I need to replace the Main Pump ?

[Pamela_R]

Sweet Sis...couldn't help but laugh after reading your question. Take a moment and reread what you wrote...you will see that you actually answered your question! YES! It sounds like the main pump!

Love you! Pam

[Tamela]

Yeah, yeah, yeah! We might be twins but we are not both electricians! Glad you found my post and could help out!

[denman]

The main pump is the wash pump and since you did not say that there was a problem with wash I would say the pump is OK.

I am a bit confused as to whether it pumps out some water or no water at all.

If the problem is it pumps out some water but leaves quite a bit in the unit I would check the piston and nut (Item 564 in Section 1). It is at the back of the tub behind the screen filter. It unscrews.
If it does not seal properly then water is redirected back into the tub instead of out the drain.

[Tamela]

Thanks DENMAN for relying. When I take it through the Test Cycle in which I did twice, the same results happened. When the test begins, a little water is ejected then the dw fills with water, sounds like it's washing, does Nothing when the main pump is suppose to drain, no water is evacuated, then sounds like it's filling again for the rinse, sounds like it's rinsing then the auxiliary pump evacuates the water. The first time not all the water was evacuated by the auxiliary pump, a lot was still left behind but the second time it did pump out all the water.

I did check the piston and nut. I took it out and looked at it...it looks "OK" to me...the rubber stopper isn't degraded. I checked to make sure there was no debris and then put it back in. I did this before I took it through the Test Cycle. And when the water is evacuated by the auxiliary pump, no debris came out and the water flow felt forceful so it doesn't seem to have blockage in the drain tube.

I really don't know what to do next. I read the dw repair section on this site and I don't have an ohmmeter ? and it's a little scary for me to think about putting my hands in a motor that has power. I do have a Voltector but I'm not sure if it's the same thing.

Any ideas??

[Tamela]

DENMAN, I think it might be the drain solenoid? I can't move the lever. I haven't checked it with an ohm (?) meter but what do you think?

[denman]

It is a possibility.

One thing to note is how it works. The control sends voltage to it for a couple seconds. It pulls down and then the water pressure holds it in the drain position till the unit is empty and then the springs pull it up to the wash position.
If the control powers it for too long it can overheat and melt internal plastic and then it will not work.
I would remove it and check it.

[Tamela]

Thank you DENMAN...

I think it might have melted because when I put the sequence switch on, I didn't position it correctly. When I turn the dw on, I could smell something burning, like plastic. I turn the dw off, opened it back up and put the switch back on correctly. I never smelled any plastic smell so I thought I fixed it but more than likely I burned up the solenoid.