My Whirlpool dishwasher (described above) has just started to act up. I first noticed that after running the dishwasher, the dishes did not appear to have been cleaned.
Upon further investigation, I am seeing the dishwasher fills with water, then the pump starts VERY BRIEFLY before stopping and draining the water. These steps are then repeated. Water is not being pumped to either the lower or upper spin arms.
I disconnected the upper spin arms - still has the problem. I disconnected the lower spin arm, too - still has the problem. When I remove the plastic impeller piece, however, the dishwasher appears to run normally (however I am not cleaning my dishes).
From some online research, it appears that it may be related to the Soil Sensor? Is there any way that I can ‘reset’ or ‘adjust’ the sensor? Perhaps it is the small tube to the sensor being clogged? (can someone tell me where I can find that tube)
Any help would be appreciated! I’d like any suggestions where I can address this myself, if possible, before calling in the professionals.
I am doing a bit of guessing here but from the manual it looks like the pressure switch closes if there is a soil problem.
I would remove the wires from the pressure switch and give it a try.
If it now runs OK then you know that you are in the right area.
Be sure to remove power/unplug the unit when doing this and make sure the wires cannot short to anything else.
If it runs OK then check across the pressure switch with a meter.
From the way I read the manual it should be open (infinite ohms).
So if it is 0 ohms it needs replacing (the contacts are welded together)
Thanks Denman - sorry for the long response time…finally had some free time to work on the dishwasher. Indeed I’ve discovered that disconnecting the pressure switch has allowed the wash cycle to run ‘normal’.
I’ll look to either clean out that little hose or replace the pressure switch…
However now I’m experiencing a new problem. When the dishwasher is running, it seems that I’m no longer getting a good seal between the pump and the lower wash arm. (Some water will come out of the holes, but not at enough pressure to spin the rinse arm.) Also, there is not enough pressure being generated to pump water up to the upper rinse arm.
On the ‘Lower Dishrack Parts’ diagram, it just doesn’t seem like I’m getting a tight enough seal with parts #10-13. Any ideas?
Alright, with regards to the pressure switch, I took a meter to it, and the contacts seem to be open.
Unfortunately, during my ‘repair’ work, I ‘disassembled’ the filter, which I later realized is not supposed to come apart. So I now have an order in for a new filter assembly (AP3044335).
Once received, I’ll have to see if the new assembly will solve my water pressure issue (not enough flow to spin the rinse arms), and also reconnect the pressure switch to make sure the ‘wash’ cycle will run as intended…