to repair or replace- dishwasher troubles.

[mopinko]

so, my bosch dishwasher, which is about 10 years old, is not draining. sometimes it drains and sometimes it doesn't, but lately more doesn't. i have checked to make sure that the drain is not clogged, that the pump is working, no clues.
so, i am reading up, and it could be 2 things. the float is stuck, which i am going to investigate shortly here, or the control module is fried. the float is a small thing, and if i can get a part locally, i can have it up and running today or tomorrow. if it is the controller, that is an almost $200 part. i think i could do this, but i am not the best at electrical stuff, and don't feel all that comfortable. when you start needing a meter, i start getting confused. but i have replaced many things that i do not completely understood, and it worked out fine.

on top of this, there are some other parts that are getting pretty warn. the door seal is pretty much just black goo. not a big thing- $20 or so. (which is pretty much of a rip- it is about $1 worth of rubber, but i digress.)
i hate to pull the plug on the thing. i hate to replace something that gobbles as much resources as a stainless steel dishwasher. but i also hate that drip, drip, drip of this part and that part, and finally breaking down and calling a repair person. especially a dishwasher. it is so hard to live without in a house with 7 people.

so, what would you do?

[Stinky The Clown]

1. I'd put in 25% of the value of a replacement.

That's all very arbitrary. Assuming a new one is $1000 or more (in all stainless, it is that much or more), that is a reasonable $250.

[mopinko]

2. mission accomplished

working fine with a new float. $80 total, including a new seal. wasn't all that hard. hoping for another 10 years out of the thing.

[mopinko]

3. argh. mission NOT accomplished

the thing ran fine for a week after the first fix, then reverted to its old problem. figured that meant it really was the brain. bought a new brain, still doing the same thing.
i think there is one more possible fix on this, but that means more time fishin' around the intertubes for info.
i should have just replaced it. this is the last of the brainless dw. the new ones tell you what is wrong. that is a feature worth paying for.
blech