2 replies to this topic

[fcrawley]

I am working on a KUDW03CTBL0 Kitchenaid dishwasher, approximately 5-6 years old that has never had a problem. Started to leave some food on dishes so I removed the inner water ducts, lower spray arm, pump assembly cover and found a straw sticking out of the chopper cover (along with a lot of crud) so I removed and cleaned the chopper and all the other parts, wiped off the optical sensor, cleaned behind the water duct and reassembled it. I don't know if there is something wrong with the lower spray arm as it only spins freely when lifted 1/2 inch or so off the lower duct so that the lower spray arm hub contacts the inside of the lower duct where the seal goes between them. Ran fine but the last three loads are leaving some residue on stuff in the top. Wanted to find out if there is anything special about this optical sensor that could be causing it not to fill correctly or if maybe I've messed up the duct going up by re-assembling the lower arm. I did not recall it sitting that low when I took it apart, but it does now and won't stay up...thoughts? Is something amiss with my hub or does the lower arm only rise under water pressure? Anyone have a service manual for this series of dishwasher?

[Samurai Appliance Repair Man]

Are you certain that the wash pump is circulating water? Can usually tell by sound. If in doubt, place a glass right side up in the upper rack and run for one minute. Should be over half full. If not, then probably dealing with a bad check valve:

http://www.repaircli.../8268375/939846

Tear it down again and clean out all the Gookus in the pump assembly and replace the check valve. Let us know how it goes.

[fcrawley]

I'll go through it again, but I checked the valve with my pinky last time...opened and closed correctly...well seemed to at least. Let me crack a cold one and get to it.