Happy New Year everyone...or at least it it would be if I could get my dishwasher working again, lol!

This all started because the handle was broken, so took off the front panel to see what parts I would need to fix it, and ordered the parts. Parts arrived, replaced them, no big deal, all good, right? Unfortunately, no.

I don't recall if it was the first time (I don't think it was) that the dishwasher was run following replacing the handle, but it stopped mid cycle, leaving water in the tub, and no power to the control panel. I checked the circuit breaker and it was not tripped.

I checked the continuity to the thermal fuse, and there wasn't any, so that seems to be the next logical 'broken' part. (I did disconnect the wires to this part when I was exploring what I would need to replace the handle.) I read that the blown thermal fuse could be indicative of a problem with the heating element or the thermostat. I checked the continuity of the heating element, and that appears fine, not sure how to check the thermostat. The element is not broken, however while most of the element is smooth, there is some roughness, scaly whiteness on one side (see photo), so I'm not sure if that could be part of the problem, but, there is continuity.

One other thing I noticed when I was disconnecting the unit, was that one of the wire nuts (on the common/white) was practically melted (see photo)! I have no idea how long it could have been like this, or if it has anything to do with why part(s) were blown.

I was standing right near the unit when it stopped working, didn't see/hear/smell anything unusual.

Thoughts on whether I can get by with just a thermal fuse, or do I run the risk of blowing the new one if there is something else that is the root of the problem?

Thanks for any/all help and suggestions.

Rod

Here are your parts
Parts for Whirlpool KUDM01TJBS0 Dishwasher - AppliancePartsPros.com

If you click on a parts description or picture a new page will open with more info on that part.

See the attachment for the tech sheet.

Yes if your unit is a stainless tub then the correct replacement for a bad heating element is the rectangular element and a new control board.

The wire nut melting is probably a problem that was there from day one.
What can happen is that if the connection was not perfect then as electricity passes through it, the current sees this as a resistance. Heat is produced and this further degrades the connection causing more heat and so on and so on till the connection fails. Be sure to cut the wires back till you get to nice clean copper before replacing the wire nut.

If the heating element measures OK for resistance and the ceramic coating is OK then the element is OK. The scaling you see is probably just soap/water calcium residue.

The high limit thermostat should measure 0 ohms at room temperature.
Note that it is just a safety device.

I would also check that the thermistor resistance is OK, see the tech sheet.

If all OK I would just replace the fuse. Be sure that you use the new harness that comes with it.

I cannot guarantee that this will fix the unit or not blow again unless you find something actually wrong with the unit.