Dishwasher not getting water

[neustkg]

Kenmore Dishwasher Model 665.16022403 (Ser FT1101577) does not seem to be working well.  Last night I turned it on, filled soap dispenser (use the Cascade Complete from Costco) and turned on using Pot scrubber mode.  I noticed there didn’t seem to be a lot of water swishing around inside.  This morning I opened the dishwasher and there was still a bit of soap in the dispenser.  Most of it seemed to be gone, but there was a fair amount (blue) trickling down the door.  I had placed a plate in the spot that kind of covers the dispenser, but the door had opened.  I moved the plate to a different spot and turned the dishwasher back on, but I did not hear the dishwasher fill with water like it does in the beginning.  I opened the door and sprayed a bunch of water on the door to try to rinse most of the soap down to the bottom and tried the Smart Wash mode.  Still did not seem to be water going into the dishwasher, just the amount I sprayed inside.

 

Does this seem to be a blockage or something like a check valve failure?

[abaesemann]

I do not know where you live, but is there a chance your water line is frozen under dishwasher. remove kick plate and try again in while letting water line unthaw.

[Hiroshi]

Water valve solenoids fail too sometimes... do you have a meter? Good thinking though, Abaeseman, that happened to my cousins machine- in Crown Point, IN, I ended up ripping off her siding and installing better insulation and wall board- it would freeze anytime the temps got to 0 degrees or lower.

[abaesemann]

6 minutes ago, Hiroshi said:

better insulation and wall board- it would freeze anytime the temps got to 0 degrees or lower

I am way up here in northern VT, I see it quite often, homes are very old here and poorly insulated, even some of the new homes have the problems-trying to cut corners on the insulation, you just cannot see it.

[neustkg]

Hiroshi,

The dishwasher is along an inside wall, so no chance of freezing.  

What do I need to check with a multimeter?  Also, am I checking resistance or voltage?

[abaesemann]

Need to make sure there is 120v at fill valve when the dishwasher is supposed to be filling, also make sure the overflow float is not stuck in the up position, maybe a utensil stuck under it. If there is 120v there then you have a bad or plugged valve. if no 120v then a bad timer/control.

Edited February 7, 2017 by abaesemann
add

[abaesemann]

Part number: WPW10158389

 

[neustkg]

OK, I checked the dishwasher when I first turn it on.  I did not hear or see any water going into the dishwasher.  I then checked the float to see if I heard a click when I lifted it.  Definitely clicked.  I tried checking for 120v, but not sure if I was doing it right.  I saw voltage, but more like 0.5v or so.  I removed the valve all the way and checked the resistance and there is definitely not an open loop (OL) as I did see a resistance reading.  The dishwasher is actually 11 years old.  If the valve is bad, should I see OL if it is bad?  Or could there be a resistance reading on a bad valve?  I recently replaced a bad water inlet valve on a Bosch front loading washer and it was about 8 years old or so.

Where would the Timer/control be on this dishwasher, and how expensive is it?

[abaesemann]

Part number: WPW10084141

[neustkg]

So high confidence that it's the control board, not the flow valve?

[Hiroshi]

From your description, it is looking like the control- if the valve coil was bad it would be an open  O.L (no reaction from the meter), if it was shorted, you would get a "beep" and the meter would drop down to 0.00...

Aba has you on the right track.  

[neustkg]

Since I saw the online price on the control board varies from about $140 to $200, so since the dishwasher is 11 years old and I am not 100% sure that is the problem (inlet valve could be going bad to the tune of about $50), I decided to look at new dishwashers.  Bought a Bosch Ascenta at Lowes for a total of  $550 with tax and free delivery.

One last question now for the new Bosch:  With my Kenmore, I have been using distilled white wine vinegar instead of Finish Rinse Aid.  Is this OK to use in dishwashers?  Especially my new Bosch?  If it is OK, I'd like to continue using it as it seems to work and is very cheap.  I won't use it if anyone here says no.  

[neustkg]

I should add that the old Kenmore was white plastic inside and this new Bosch will be stainless inside.

[johntech]

It will help for spotting but not as good as rinse aid at making water rinse off and go down the drain. Newer dishwashers like Bosch require rinse aid for drying. Rinse aid is cheap.