[Hank1105]

Our Kenmore ultra wash dishwasher doesn't drain completely and doesn't get the top rack clean. I know the top rack spray arm does not turn either. The last time, the tab of detergent did even drop from the dispenser, almost as if the force of water isn't present to make it drop. The washer fills up completely and sounds like it is running normal but in the end doesn't get all the dishes clean (after I forced the detergent tab to drop). I've even noticed on the bottom rack some dishes still have food stuck on them. My husband seems to think it could be a water pump. Any suggestions?

[denman]

Your Model Number is incomplete should have at least 3 more characters

Sounds like you have a dirty filter

[reynoldsmatt]

Ours had the same symptoms. A technician diagnosed it as needing a new sump and new pump ($420 installed—as much as we paid for the original!).

Trying to save a buck, we decided to look at it ourselves—it turned out to be clogged near the chopper so the pump wasn’t getting enough water.

We tested with the door open by making it think it was latched when it wasn’t. The top rack arm and the dispenser at the very top were not flowing/spinning.

Take out the top rack by removing the plastic tabs (dishwasher_4.jpg)

Take out the lower spin arm by unscrewing the plastic piece that holds it in place (the arm comes off, the plastic piece will not). (dishwasher_5.jpg, dishwasher_9.jpg)

With the lower arm out, you can unscrew the water line that takes water to the upper arm and the top spinner. It might be worth checking that these lines are clear. You then rotate the water line to unlock it from the bottom (dishwasher_6.jpg, dishwasher_7.jpg, dishwasher_8.jpg)

Next remove the four screws holding the screen in place (indicated above) and lift out the whole screen (dishwasher_11.jpg). Pry the top off and clean out any junk (dishwasher_12.jpg and dishwasher_13.jpg).

Next clean out the area by the chopper and remove the chopper cover (one screw indicated by arrow--dishwasher_14.jpg). I had to pull it out with pliers (dishwasher_15.jpg).

We had a lot of junk in ours—a lot of seeds, plastic bits, etc. that didn’t get chopped and clogged up the area around the metal screen (dishwasher_17.jpg and dishwasher_18.jpg).

We tried our test again and water sprayed all over the kitchen!! We were never happier to clean up a mess!
Good luck!

I dropped some pictures since I can only upload 5 . . .

[Hank1105]

Dear Reynoldsmatt:

Thank you for the info! This is very helpful and I will pass it onto to my husband. I'll let you know how it goes and hopefully this will solve our problem! Thanks again!

[krsabs]

I have a similar dishwasher (66517382300) and similar problem, except there was little to nothing clogging my chopper screen, and I get a hum when I try to run the washer, plus the arms do not move.

I did find a corner of a thick plastic bag at the bottom of chopper cover.

The blade of the chopper will not freely turn - I had to force it to get it to turn approximately 2/3rd's of the way. Should this shaft turn freely? If yes, then what likely is the matter?

[Hank1105]

I just wanted to Thank you because you were exactly right! My husband did what you had explained to do, and we found our screen very clogged. We cleaned it off and now it is working perfectly! You saved us the cost of buying a new dishwasher because that was the point we were at! Thanks again!