I have the same model Kitchen Aid Dishwasher (KUD1230BWHO) and the same problem with the soap dish not opening properly during the washing cycle. Mine has actually not worked properly for the last year or so. I decided to look around today to see what part might be needed to fix it and the best I could come up with is the "Bi-Metal" switch part# 9741678.

My dishwasher is quite old and the Bi-metal switch cost about $20 - $30. Given the age of my dishwasher I think I will not fix it and just do what I have been doing as a work around. Which is to just put the dishwasher detergent in the one cup that the lid doesn't cover. And for the cup that the lid does cover I moved the lid slightly so that the lid isn't covering the non used cup completely but leaves a gap so that water can flush the non used cup during the washing cycles.

Might not help you but if you care to go further into actually fixing yours, you at least have a possible culprit to look at in the Bi-metal switch.

BTW, when searching the part #9741678, both Whirlpool and Kitchen aid came up in the results. I do not know if the Whirlpool Bi-metal switch is interchangeable with the Kitchen aid switch or not.


Good luck.