Ok, my dishwasher is not working.....

“Yesterday, we noticed that there was a little water left in the bottom of the dishwasher after we used it. At first, I assumed that a container had flipped and caught water during the wash cycle and somehow dumped it out after the drain cycle.

Then, today, I ran a rinse cycle as a "test".

About 2 inches of water in the bottom. I cleaned the "float" and ran another "test". It only took about a second of water intake before it began the rinse cycle (apparently using the water already in the unit).

I highly suspect it aint gonna drain. Where the hell do I start in repairing it?

Cheaper to just buy a new one?”

“Well hell, on this test cycle, I hear the water coming out into the sink drain (where the dishwasher empties).

So, at least some water is coming out when I hear the drain pump kick in.”

“unhook the drain at the bottom of the washer and inspect, sounds like you have something clogging you up.”

“Ok, as soon as I get through with the "try to drive a square peg through a round hole cycle" (uhm, I sort of decided to try it in a full blown wash), I will check that.

It is now in drain cycle and I hear the pump kicked in but no water running out. Sounds like you have it pegged, mudhole.”

“there is a pump motor with an impeller. I would go online and see if i could find a schematic/troubleshooting guide using the modle # and make.”

“Hey chili! My dishwasher isn't working right either--leaving puddles on my new kithchen floor and apparently leaking under my new tile. I googled "how to fix a dishwasher" and found a number of useful sites with pictures etc. Sounds like dishwashers are pretty simple. Worth a google.”

“maybe the pump is worn out since they make em with plastic parts that do shred.....if you can get the pump out, look for shreds of plastic...”

“Thanks sunnydayz.

Bear, get your ass down here and fix this mother#&%!$er.”

“I am right unless the impeller is striped.”

“Good thing NurseGoodbody makes a great backup dishwasher, way to think ahead in getting her!”

“Yeah, she washes my clothes and mops the floor too.

Damn, I am a lucky guy.”

“I get water backed up in mine because the drain goes to the disposal under the kitchen sink. And of course I have a gender specific disposal because women can't run it. At least my wife can't. So I run the disposal some and clear it out and all is fine again.”

“When our dishwasher in FL. would leave water in it, I ran through some citric acid based DW cleaner, double-strength. That took care of the drainage issues for me.”

“I can't believe this thread got all the way down to Dub before a sexist comment was made. And Chili, you of all people. This is disappointing.

As soon as I read the title of the thread, I was thinking "well, it sounds like she just needs a good slappin."”

“sounds like the old joke

what do you tell a woman with 2 black eyes?

nuthin, you done told her twice already
last edited: 3/26/08 6:57:50 PM”

“Yo, Chilmeister. Before you go trying to pull the motor, you might find out if the dishwasher you have is, indeed, worth fixing. There is a big difference between the cheapies and the dependable ones. A quick call to your local appliance repair person should do the trick. They will let you know whether it's worth the time and effort or not.
Also, the clog could be closer to the outlet at the garbage disposal, as mentioned above, which would make this repair relatively easy. Disconnect the hose where it attaches to the g.d. and see what kind of build-up you have in there.
Or, being a lawyer, maybe you could threaten it into working again.
Good luck.”

“boo hiss.....     LOL”

“I have fixed a few dishwashers in my life. They are not too complicated. My boss's wife had one that was doing the same as yours. I discovered the drain line was clogged up with dog food. She was putting her dog's food bowls in with dry food still in them. I had to take the pump out to clean it.”

“Given the above, I suspect that there may be something in the pump or strainer. It looks like I can pull out the strainer from the bottom of the unit by removing a few screws.


Seeing as how it is through with the last "test" I guess I should open it and see what the problem is now.”

“Well hell, a half inch of water in the bottom.

I will take it apart from the inside tomorrow.”

“Chili, I thought both your hands were broken!”

“scrub scrub”

“ductape, you can always count on me to speak the truth!”

“chili, shouldn't that dishwasher be on the front porch with the washer and dryer??? maybe that's the problem....”

“Man there are so many good replies. I think a DIY thing is out of the question Chili, women have smaller feet to ALLOW them to stand closer to the sink....GT NGB in there and GO to work. (LOL)”

“Just wait until this evening.....a 12 pack of Busch beer, a hammer, a screwdriver and some duct tape and I will fix the damn thing southern style.”

“LOL, the first thing that popped into my mind was "is NGB taking a nap?"”

“Just wait until this evening.....a 12 pack of Busch beer, a hammer, a screwdriver and some duct tape and I will fix the damn thing southern style.”
chili

Oh lord have mercy!”

“...and then when that doesn't work he'll put in on the front lawn”

“nah, salvage the parts to fix the truck..lmao”

“We need some lawn chairs and cool drinks, so we can watch Chili try to fix this thing from a safe distance!

NGB, are you going to video this for our edification?”

“It should be quite a show...Hordourves at 5...”

“I gave up on our old one when it was doing the same thing as I'd been replacing parts one by one since we moved in here and didn't want to throw good money after bad.

When I pulled it out to install the new one I discovered a clog in the drain hose. I didn't bother to reconnect it to test if that was the problem but I'd check there before tossing yours.

A good place to buy parts and get advise is http://www.repairclinic.com/ .”

“If you do replace it, I can recommend the Fisher & Paykel double dish drawer.

My wife loves hers.

They aren't cheap but a happy wife is priceless.

”

“Dangit Chili, if you didn't live in that Godforsaken land know as Tenn I would come over and fix it for a couple of beers.....

I don't think it's the pump because the same pump makes the water spray your dishes during the wash cycle.
They usually have a dump valve, which is a simple solonoid. If you hear a CLICK when is should be dumping, the valve is working. They almost always have a strainer screen which can be cleaned easily. If you have a meter(voltage tester) you can check to see if the valve is getting voltage.
Also, they often have a water sensor, which tells it how much water is in the sump and they can become encrusted with hard water deposits and not work properly, a little emery cloth will clean it off easily. If you want to call me tonight, when you're standing next to it, I'm real good at walking people through things.

my E-mail is bcmize@uark.edu
Brad”

“Dish. Drawer. Dish...drawer. Dishdrawer. Dishdrawer!

A grand isn't too bad for a quality kitchen appliance that will last years.”

“I fixed it!


-chili


”

“DOH!”

“Hahahaha. Excellent thread.

Chili, if it can't be fixed with a hammer, throw it out.”

“dishwasher doesn't work???


offer more money and better fringe benefits”

“I have the same kind of dishwasher that nonconformist has.”

“Are we talking about a two legged dishwasher or a four legged one?”

“He has 2 parts out and hasn't said Mother #&%!$er yet! He has only said damnit twice. And it only took him 15 minutes to find his tools...

I am staying out of the way!!

ut oh! he just pulled out the pipe wrench!!”

“I love it - play by play announcing”

“Oh god, now he needs a new tool...”

“now he has the cork out of the wine bottle and is muttering #&%!$ it!”

“wanna bet Chili is just sitting at the computer drinking beer and Frickin' wit us?”

“I will bet he gets pissed off and breaks something, thus a vist to the local appliance store this evening.”

“He is now drinking wine from the bottle saying something about a mandatory union break....


I don't think the dishwasher is going to get fixed today.”