[astro3ron]

I have an older Kenmore dishwasher circa 1992. At the start of the wash cycle, the pump should start to pump out any left over water from before. But now I just hear a humming sound and then a click, like a relay shut something off. No circuit breakers have popped at the service panel. I can advance the timer knob to where it will allow hot water to come in, but the motor/pump won't kick in at the start of the cycle. Motor problem?? internal circuit overload?? Something hung up in the pump keeping the motor/pump from going?? Time for a new washer?? But the old ones seem to last much longer than the new ones...
Thanks

[PS Staff - Sheila]

There may be something jamming the pump so the motor can't turn.

The click you are hearing is likely the overload protector in the motor.

From the inside of the dishwasher take the pump apart just far enough that you can turn the impeller by hand.

If everything is free it is either the motor relay or the motor.

You are right the old ones do seem to last longer than the new ones.

Here is a list of part for your dishwasher model 587.1550590.

[astro3ron]

The other night I decided to take things apart before the repair guy got here. As I worked my way down to the upper impellor, I found some "candy" wrapper remnants in the area of the impellor. I tried to turn the impellor, but it wouldn't budge. Using a socket wrench, I was able to turn it with a little effort and it loosened up whatever was in there and now works. The relay clicking was the tipoff that the motor was overloading and I suspected that something was stuck. It had been a while since I had taken something apart that I wasn't familiar with, so I was a little reluctant to try this, but figured, what the hey. I've fixed things before.
Thanks for your confirmation of what I found.

[astro3ron]

Weeeeelll. The problems is back. I went through a full wash/rinse/dry cycle after I freed up the impellor. Then I started a new wash cycle four days later(today). The pump started pumping the water out for a new wash cycle, but not much water seemed to come out. Water filled in as it should, motor kicked in and started washing. There seemed to be an odd sound. I turned off the washer and tried to start it again and the motor wont turn, not washing. It just buzzes and then shuts off like it did before. I took things apart again and the upper impellor turns freely, but it seems that something else is stuck. Do I keep dismantling till I get to the pump, or is something finally gone out?