[81artmonk]

Well, When I start my washer, it works fine. I've by-passed the swithch in order to see inside during, and the arms are turning and spraying water fine. After about 10-15 minutes the washer quiets down, and the bottom arm stops turning and the water pressure coming out of it is minimal. The top sprayers aren't doing anything at all at this point.

Of course my dishes aren't getting cleaned. I don't understand why it starts off ok and than later pretty much stops. It appears that the water pressure drops and isn't sending enough force out to clean the dishes.

Any thoughts?? Would this be something worth paying a repairman and than fix-chaorges or buying a cheapy new one that could last around 5 years??

[denman]

Try this.
Start a wash, when it slows down, stop it and restart a new wash cycle. Does it run correctly
Start a wash, when it slows down open the door a crack to stop the cycle, leave the dishwasher for an hour, shut the door. Does the wash now operate correctly

This should help diagnose if the problem due to a component overheating

[81artmonk]

I should clearify a bit. when I say slows down, I mean the water pressure coming out of the spray arms is next to nothing. The bottom is just a trickle and the top has nothing at all.

I will however give your suggestions a try and let you know what comes of it. thanks

[81artmonk]

I have a question or two before I describe the new issue. First, should the unit have a full basin of water as it fills up before it starts the wash?? How much water and how fast should be coming out of the fill spout on the side??

I did what you asked in your last suggestion and that didn't work. So I observed it again and noticed that the fill basin isn't full and when it starts, the lack of pressure coming out of the spray arms seems to be due to a lack of enough water. It seems as if, it's sucking hard and not getting enough water to do it's job.

Any thoughts on what would be causing it to not get enough water to do it's job?? thus my questions above.

[denman]

Usually to just under the heater element but this can vary
Start the washer let it fill, open the door and add hot water minimum a couple quarts. It may say in your manual what the level should be.
If it now runs OK you have found your problem

The usual culprit is the water fill valve behind the kick plate
There is a filter screen in the valve on the input side which is probably partially blocked
The screen can be cleaned by taking the valve apart. Sometimes it is just a couple large chunks of debris and you can shake them out.
Can also just replace the valve

Here is the parts list for your unit
Kenmore Parts for Models 66516822000
Valve is PS394220 on this site $47.00 approx includes shipping

[Intense72]

What kind of water do you have and if it is hard do you have a water softener?

[81artmonk]

Originally Posted by Intense72

What kind of water do you have and if it is hard do you have a water softener?

Not too sure, but from my limited knowledge, I would say that it is somewhere in the middle between hard and soft. I'll tell you this, I have to clean out my hot water side filter/screen on my Washing machine about once a month otherwise it gets too clogged to run. If that helps. No water softner. Too expensive.

[denman]

If you have to clean your washing machine input then it is a good bet the same thing has happened to your dishwasher

I would get a bucket and drain some water out of your water tank.
Over time scale and minerals collect in the bottom of the tank
Drain it it you get nice clean water
I do mine twice a year

Unfortunately this will not solve your current dishwasher problem
The water valve will still have to be cleaned or replaced

[81artmonk]

Does the valve go bad and not work altogether or can it only work partially.

I get a slight trickle of water out of it. If it is clogged, how often do I need to clean it out?? And won't that be a pain??

DO I need to unplug the unit before removing the valve and cleaning it??

[denman]

I would remove power from the unit, better safe than sorry.

Yes valves do go bad but normally they do not work at all.
Inside the valve on input side is a filter screen that you will have to clean.
Sometimes you have to take the valve apart to clean it properly

How often depends on how dirty the water is.
I would just do it when I notice a problem
Do not run without a screen
Yes it is a pain, but if a piece of crud gets in the valve and stops it from closing you will have a flood which will be a much larger pain.