[Virtual1]

My dishwasher has been running well but in the last few months started leaving lots of spots on glassware, plates, and silverware. I live in Iowa where we get water from lime aquafers so the water is REALLY hard. I figured it needed a cleaning and tried to take it apart. I noticed in the bottom bowl many of the 1cm square holes in the grill were covered with what looked like paper, maybe a jar got washed with a label on it or something. I can't easily clean the grill behind the top cover, I can feel stuff back there but can't see what I'm doing, and there's crud I can see inside the bowl through the grill.

I need to take the cover off the bowl area to clean the back holes in the grill. I've removed the lower arm (8 T15 screws) but I don't see how to remove the cover itself. I've taken a wide and tight picture to show what I've got to work with. After having taken the closeup picture I see more screws under a disc, and there's a large nut on the top of the disc.

I don't want to remove any more parts than necessary for fear of breaking something, making it difficult to reassemble, or causing a leak. I'm definitely a DIY but I'm out of my comfort zone and get more cautious when dealing with plumbing or automotive. (give me a laptop and I can have it in 200 bits in a few minutes no problem)

I was able to get the inside of the door off and remove that and clean the bottom vents and removed a bunch of caked on detergent below the hatch but there's probably a big mess in the bowl below, around and inside the grill.

I'm new to the forums, the tollfree number here suggested I ask you about this. (was hunting for a service manual, not finding it) I've attached lower res pictures of where I'm at, and there's a direct link to the folder below that includes high resolution (big) pics if you need a closer look at something.

wide shot:


closer:


front of grill


back of grill, surprised when I saw all that back there!

That's a lucky blind shot with the camera. I knew it was bad but not THAT bad. I removed that junk from the front grille easily.

all images:
Index of /virtual1/temp/misc/kenmore

Appreciate the help, thanks!

[denman]

Below is a link. Download KD-5 and KD-11 manuals.
I believe both of theses are free downloads but you may have to join the site to get them.
http://appliancejunk.com/forums/index.php?action=downloads;cat=18;sortby=date;orde rby=desc;start=20

[Virtual1]

Originally Posted by denman

Below is a link. Download KD-5 and KD-11 manuals.

Thank you for the links, I was able to get registered and download those manuals. It looks like it's directing me to take the dishwasher apart from the underside to get that out. It's a "rollout" portable dishwasher that has been built into the counter, with the water and electrical lines hardwired in, which will make getting it out to turn on its back difficult.

Do you know if it's possible to remove the "power clean filter assembly" without physically removing the dishwasher from the counter?

[denman]

I thought on this unit you could remove the bolt in the center of the black hub (your second picture) and that would let you get further into the pump.

[Virtual1]

Originally Posted by denman

I thought on this unit you could remove the bolt in the center of the black hub (your second picture) and that would let you get further into the pump.

That'd be great if that works. I just didn't want to cause more problems in the process of trying to solve them. Right now it WORKS, but if I muck something up to where it has to be pulled out of the cabinet to be fixed, then I have bigger problems.

[denman]

Also have you tried adding a couple quarts of vinegar and letting it sit overnight. This should dissolve a lot of the calcium deposits.

[Virtual1]

(thought I replied earlier this afternoon but I don't see it now) I was going to just try some vinegar on the jets until I saw how grungy it was down below. After removing the paper bits from the front I realized I really needed to open the bowl cap and clean all around and inside it. And when I took the back pictures for the post here I REALLY realized I needed full access.

I'm going to try a webcam-assisted clean of the rear grill tomorrow night and if that doesn't go well I'll get more adventurous and try the big black nut on the top and see what that frees up.

Thanks again for the help with this!