I’ve had and known about a slow leak only during drain cycles on my GE Profile dishwasher for several years. As far as I can tell, the leak appears to me to be coming from one of the little screws/bolts/whatever affixing the solenoid to the plastic housing of the pump.
My “solution” was a nicely designed “leech field”, a very shallow plastic tray (not tall enough to pool up into the electonics/wiring) with limestones in it, which for the most part worked just fine except when I ran the dishwasher more than once per day… [embarassed, but I delayed fixing it properly for 4 years this way… lol]
I suppose Ive delayed fixing it properly long enough… (Translation: The solenoid and flip-switch thingie is caked with limestone from the years of slow leaking, and I had to again “fix” with WD-40 to make it work a few weeks longer) [Embarrassed even more, but hey, WD-40 fixes Everything!].
The question is, I’ve seen a few places that sell just the solenoid. Having not completely pulled it all apart for a closer look, is my theory possible, that it’s leaking from where the solenoid assembly is affixed to the pump housing? I have a pretty clear look, and the water seeps out by the solenoid bracket screws, it’s definitely not coming from higher up the pump.
Your leak is probably from the pump housing where the shaft onters in. You will need to install a new “o” ring into the housing AP2038837 is the part # you will need. You will need to dig out the old one first.
Thanks for the expert tip! Wish I’d have seen it sooner
What wound up happening in my case was that I already ordered a replacement pump & motor on Friday before I asked this question, and it already shipped.
I will now spend the rest of the day deciding, do I return the motor and get just the O ring and a bottle of CLR, see how the solenoid looks after a cleaning? Do I get the O ring and a new solenoid? Or do I just keep the new pump & Motor? lol… (FWIW… the dishwasher is 9 years old.. not sure how long solenoids and/or pumps normally last… I’m betting the motor itself is virtually indestructible)
Thanks again! I’ve saved tons of money over the years learning from the forums and instructions posted here… replaced Washing machine Dogs 3 times, replaced my own washing machine drive couplings twice, and replaced my parents and my sister in-law’s drive couplings too.
If you never install the motor, they will take it back. If you bought it on this site, just tell them you got the solution on this repair site, in any event they will take it back, just pay for shipping.
Do pumps go bad often? I’m debating just keeping the new one, based on the old one being almost 10 years old… or do they normally last a long long time, unless you’re unlucky?
These pumps last a long long time, just oil the bushings with non-degergent, 10 weight oil, should last.