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(This is a Kitchenaid KUDI01TJWH0 installed in July 2001.)
Is this typical for American repairers? Or did I just get robbed?
Our dishwasher had been noisier than usual and suddenly died in the rinse cycle without draining. Totally dead: no lights, no response to switches. I called the repairman and told him that I'd like him to check the dishwasher and tell me if it was worth repairing. (And yes, I was willing to pay for the diagnosis.) The repairman shows up with a buddy. They spend some time looking at the machine and decide its the fuse. After some time searching for the fuse in their truck, they charge me $50 to drive two miles away to pick up a fuse. The total bill comes to $88. The lights come on, the water starts running.
And I say, "But you've just replaced the fuse–you haven't found what caused it?"
He just looks at me and says, "Looks like it's got plenty of life left."
I write him a check.
Sure enough, the next day with a full load of dishes, on its very first run, the fuse blows again in the rinse cycle, and the washer's dead again. I call the repairman, and he says, "Oh that shouldn't have happened–I'll have to check with KitchenAid."
Do I have him back? Do I throw more good money after bad? I would have gladly paid $50 to be told, "The motor's shot, replace it." And, of course, more to have it running again. But to pay nearly $90 and be right back where I started? Who is being unreasonable here? Would it have been smarter not to pay until the washer completed a cycle?
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Does he offer any warranty on his work? It's bad enough he didn't measure amperage at the motor after replacing the fuse, he could have at least waited long enough for one cycle to finish. Things happen. A good tech would throw in the $88 towards the actual repair. Question is, do you want this "repairman" back in your house?
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Yes, you do have to call him back just because he must guarantee his job. At this time he has to return to replace this thermal fuse with no charge to you. He has to proceed with more diagnosis and he can charge reasonably more money if he will find more defects.
Why the fuse got blown?
This is not a regular inline fuse, this is a thermal fuse to protect control board from overheating.
There are two different fuses (different temperature limit) used in dishwashers: one for tubs made of plastic and another one for tubs made of stainless steel. So he could use a wrong one with lower temperature limit.
Both of these fuses have to be replaced together with two wires. They are included in the package.
Possible your dishwasher overheating (it heats up water by itself).
Possible the temperature insulation inside the door gone bad.
Gene.
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Rank: Advanced Member
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another possibility is on or both micros on the door latch making poor contact. i have made a practice to replace these micros, (reduces call backs). look for burnt spade terminals. is so replace the micros. and aside note many manufacturers will use micros for 1/4 amp insted of 1/2 amp (cutting corners?) i would rather see over enginered as opposed to under enginered.good luch and keep us posted
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Rank: Advanced Member
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Your d/w is probabley O.K. Replace the thermal fuse with pt # AP3178588 available from this site. You'll relocate the fuse and harness to prevent further failures.Good Luck..wrench:)
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Rank: Member
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Hi folks! And many thanks for all your input. I was away on business for a week, but got back with the repairman. Gene, the senior expert, is absolutely right. This was not a fuse to protect against a short circuit, so testing for shorts would not have helped. This fuse is triggered by heat and sits near the electronics to protect them from overheating.
Nor would merely replacing the thermal fuse (again) have helped. Because it would simply have overheated again and wasted another perfectly good fuse. What was needed was to replace both the thermal fuse and the thermostat. The repairman came back and did both at no additional charge.
I guess it was a lesson learned for both of us. He might have saved us both some heartburn by testing the resistance of the thermostat before replacing the thermal fuse. After all, the washer DID get too hot, and there had to be a reason, even if there wasn't an electrical short. I learned that there was never a dangerous short circuit. He HAD tested for that. But not all fuses protect against shorts. This thermal fuse is purely for overheating.
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Rank: Member
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Well folks, sorry to say that latest report lasted all of three runs. Dead again. Full of water. And this time didn't even reach the rinse cycle because the detergent cup is still full. The lesson learned?
DON'T BUY KITCHENAID!
If a repairman can't spot the problem, on the second time out, even after consulting with the manufacturer, this is just too complicated a machine. The pre-electronic Kitchen-Aid we replaced had lasted more than 20 years with minor repairs. This one needed a new impeller within 5 years. Now, this undiagnosable fuse problem at 7 years. I'd love to hear from anybody on what brands actually hold up today–not one's like this that are riding down their reputations from our parent's day. I expect this expensive boat anchor will be headed for the recycler soon.
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