I fixed our Kitchenaid Dishwasher

[Turbineguy]

Ask me anything.

[Kali]

1. what was wrong with it?

[Turbineguy]

2. Weeeeeell....

It's about 10 years old. As soon as we got it... problems. Two service calls and they put in a bigger fuse. I replaced the fuse a few mor times. Rarely if there is a problem, is it solved by a bigger fuse, but nobody complained until my wife mentioned that the machine took over 2-1/2 hours to do the dishes and it seemed a long time. Indeed, the book says 78 minutes.

So there's the decision: spend at least $300 for a service call and get a 10 year old dishwasher or buy a new one. Or?

Downloaded a service sheet and guessed that the problem was in the hold that occurs when the water is heating. Opened up control area. Fuse smelled bad. Bought a new one. No difference. Checked the thermister. OK. Check heater resistance. Low but within range. Opened up control area. Board badly burned under relay (I can usually fix this if it's not too bad, but not this time). Tested heater again and found one side grounded. Went to the parts store again to buy new heater and control board. Heater is no longer made. OK. Now it's buy new dishwasher time. $600.

Went on the internet. Found heater and it comes with new control board. Parts arrive a short week later. Control board slightly different. Replace heater and test. OK. Replace control. Start. Machine goes to wash but does not drain. Recheck and turn one connector on control board. Everything works now.

Cost: $115, which was a lot less than a service call.

Tools required: Resistance meter, screwdrivers, pliers, patience.

[Duer 157099]

3. Cost $115. Price of knowing how competent you are: priceless

I have also fixed many appliances just by using Google and eBay. As long as there is no soldering involved, I can usually fix stuff. No background, just what I find via Google.

It's the best feeling in the world. More people should try it.

[Roon]

5. The first time I ever had that feeling I was 16-years-old

My starter quit on my van. I could tap start it and it would work for a few starts and then it would quit again. Finally it quit for good.

For the FIRST time in my life I got a phonebook and called an autoparts store, told them the make and model of my van..and they said,"Come on down!"

I took the BUS to the autoparts store with the core and got me a new starter..rebuilt..

I crawled under my van and replaced the starter and it WORKED!!!! I was out causing trouble again in no time flat!

NO experiance, I was just a kid, but I had logic.

[Kali]

4. don't it feel good?

I had to kind of rebuild the door to mine a couple years ago. Gasket from the detergent despenser was gone and it was leaking to the inside of the door - even ate away at the front panel. Thought it was the door gasket itself (EXPENSIVE!) so had been avoiding doing anything then got to reading and figured out what it really was. A few bucks for the gasket and it was good to go. Spent too much for a new panel but it looks so much better without the rusty hole in the lower right, I had to do it.

Just fixed my oven that had been dying for a couple years and dead for 3 months! That one felt REALLY good.

[Duer 157099]

6. Me too on the oven. That was a great one!

Mine was the heating element or whatever it was called. Got it on ebay for about $20, found all the specs etc online and that was it. It took months of procrastinating though before I finally actually did it. Electric things scare the beejebus out of me so I have to think about them for a long time, lol.

[Kali]

7. oh man

electricity just baffles me. totally in the realm of magic - I don't get it, I have major mental blocks about it, and it scared me too. Hooking things together doesn't bother me but as soon as ohms and volts and resistance starts being part of the procedure I am out of there.

Was it that stupid pilot light "improvement" called an igniter bar? arrgg. First time I priced them they were $90 and so were the two or three other possible things that could have been wrong. Hate to gamble $90 on a $400 appliance. Finally found it for around $20 a couple weeks ago - and that was it. ahhh baked food again!

[Duer 157099]

8. Yes! Igniter bar thingy, that's what it was

The upside was cleaning parts of the oven that I didn't even know existed, lol

[Kali]

9. heh - my perspective was cleaning the outside - the part I knew existed

but that was encrusted with old grease. UGH


oh and btw? AMMONIA. yesssss

[applegrove]

10. How do you fix the door when it just flops open and no longer has springs?

[Turbineguy]

11. Springs.

The door springs are accessible by pulling the machine out from under the counter. Remove the plinth panels to see how the water line is connected. You have to remove the screws under the counter-top, bend the tabs down slightly. Be careful pulling the DW out as there may be cooper tubing to the water line. Also, you don't want to accidentally disconnect the drain.

My experience is that the back of the machine is supported on wheels (with several height positions possible), the front legs have height adjustments.

The springs run along the sides at the bottom of the machine (similar to a garage door except placed low).

Before working on the machine shut off the breaker and shut off the water (hot water line under sink).

After wards, monitor for leaks under the machine. Only then, replace the plinth panel.