Hello, Pretty generic question. Dishwasher is not heating/drying. Have plenty of dry agent and hot water is set to 135. Didn't have a tester, so replaced in this order; heating element, hi-limit thermostat, and thermistor one at a time. None of them solved the problem, but after I installed thermistor, about an hour after the cycle ended, I smelled something burning and there was a sizzling noise and smell from the electrical box on the dishwasher. I cut the power. So here's my question, all of these parts have two seemingly identical terminals that each connect to two leads; does it matter which lead is connected to which terminal? (Of course using the same two leads that were connected to the same old part). If so, how do you tell which lead to which terminal? It's the only thing I can think of other than my control board being bad. Thinking time for a new dishwasher, but wanted to ask this first. Thanks - Mike

Thanks for your reply. I didn't think polarity mattered in those parts as it is just completing the circuit, but I just wanted a pro to verify that for me, as I had run out of other ideas. The polarity of the house current to the machine is OK, as it has operated correctly these past 12 years. I will look at the wire nut connections, but I do think it's a goner. Mike