5 replies to this topic

[Southern]

My Kitchenaid dishwasher model # KUDP01FLSS6 recently stopped working. Prior to this when the dishwasher was in the drying cycle I detected a burning smell. In the past a burning smell was the result of a plastic measureing spoon or tupperware lid falling down and touching the heating element causing it to melt. This time I didn't see any plastic on the heating element.

When the dishwasher stopped working I took apart the door to access the electronics module. I discovered that there was a hole burned thru the circuit board where the tan wire (Line) connection P8 occurs. I thought that the heater element assembly was drawing too much current, however the heating element measured within spec (13.7 ohms) and I tested the thermostat which opened when heated up and closed when cooled down.

Since the tan wire comes from the door switch and there was no sign of the switch taking in too much current, I suspected that the spade connector to P8 was bad causing arching that resulted in a hole in the circuit board.

After replacing the circuit board and splicing in a new spade connector for the P8 connection, my dishwasher is back in business.

Are there any notices/recalls for my Kitchenaid dishwasher?

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Edited by Southern, 21 November 2012 - 10:27 PM.

[Cactus Bob]

Been there done that

most of the time , i just replace the connector and build up the solder on the pin connector to the board .

But DANG , you done burned a hole right through the board , you win !
Also , no, sorry i do not know of any recalls on this dishwasher that address this issue .

[Scottthewolf]

This is one of those hidden control units. My guess is that water got into the control panel and shorted out the electronic control. They had issues with that. I'm guessing somebody bypassed the thermal cutout in the electronic control or this wouldn't have happened.

Edited by Scottthewolf, 21 November 2012 - 11:52 PM.

[Chat_in_FL]

I'm guessing somebody bypassed the thermal cutout in the electronic control or this wouldn't have happened.

Nope, the $200 board is designed to blow in time to save the $20 thermal fuse. As Cactus Bob said, seen it before...

[Southern]

The thermo fuse was not tampered with and is located upstream of the door switch which did not show signs of heat. It doesn't appear to be caused by overcurrent since the Line trace did not lift nor were the relays damaged.

My guess is that the P8 connection became loose and started arching causing it to "weld" a hole in the circuit board, it even started to melt the plastic case behind it. The male spade connector coming out of the circuit board looks to be of adaquate quality, however if I was Kitchenaid I would look at the supplier of the female spade connector. The thickness of the metal and plating doesn't appear to be suitable for the application compared to the connector I used for the replacement.

[kdog]

That unit has that big wrap around blanket (sound insul) that extends around under the machine - have seen many of these burn up the wiring etc, probably due to all the heat the blanket directs into the door/console area.
Mfr won't call it a fire hazard unless it actually starts a few fires