Dishwasher wont clean

[reinhard1]

i've got a Kenmore dishwasher that i've had for some time. just noticing that it wont clean well at all. i bought the product to run through the wash cycle to clean up stuff internaly but it's not better only worse. one thing i noticed was that the bottom spray arm is sort of loose. i unscewed it but when i screwed it back on it's the same way. maby it's supposed to be that way i dont know. any ideas? thanks good luck.

[Dellfin]

I had a similar issue about a year ago with my 13 year old Kenmore. It began cleaning poorly, plus it also began leaking around the lower seal in the door. After finding a parts diagram on sears HSOforum and figuring everything out I realized that the nylon washer that the lower spray arm rotates on had failed (disappeared too...likely went through the grinder) causing the arm to tilt at an awkward angle as it was spinning and spraying. The seal in the door actually has an opening on the bottom that was letting water splash out and onto the hardwood floor. The arm is supposed to wobble a little but not like it did with that washer. Without the washer it had far too much play. Yours may be fine if it only wobbles a little.

Off to the plumbing tool box. I found a nylon compression washer that fit on the base of the lower rinse arm. I had to file it a bit to flatten it down to make it a little thinner and it works great after that. If I remember correctly sears parts HSOforum wanted like $6 for that dumb washer which I retrofitted for about $0.28.

Also, double check to be sure that the water tunnel that rides under the upper rack is not cockeyed and the funnel-looking end is still making the seal with the nipple at the back wall of the washer when the top rack is slid all the way back. Mine was a little sideways after the wife stacked dished too high on the lower rack and then tried to force the top rack in. This caused the clips that hold that tunnel in place to break. I have to zip tie the tunnel back into position once in a while each time they jam the top rack in. With that tunnel off center the machine will still work, but the upper sprayer arm does nothing.

[jmd1]

i have a bosch that i will gladly give anyone who comes and gets it. Worse machine i ever bought. I have to run the dishwasher magic once a month along with a bit of vinegar in between cleanings. it does not have a heating element, environmental friendly, uses steam to dry. where i was brought up, steam is water vapor and water is what i am trying to dry. oh well, next one will be a kenmore or kitchen aid

[reinhard1]

thanks for the tips. when i took the lower spray arm off this morning i did not see a washer at all. that is probable the reason it's so loose. mine must have broke and dissapeard somewhere over time. i'm thinking with the lower arm not set right the upper arm doesn't get the full amount of water either. i'll go get a washer tommorow. i've got one of those cleaning agents in there running right now. good luck.

[IcePro]

Are dishwasher would not clean and had Sears come out since it was Kenmore.

The electronic board was bad and would not send the rely to the heater element to make the water hot enough to activate the detergent.

I do not know how to check but check the water heater in the unit.

[reinhard1]

thanks for the information. i did have a guy come out after replacing the washer which i thought was the problem on the lower arm. well, it turned out it was the water intake valve. the guy showed me how much water i had in the initial cycle. it should have had nearly two gallons [just under]. turned out i was only getting less than a gallon.

he showed me the old intake valve and it was full of iron deposits. i do have a water softner but over time it accumulated and that was the cause of the dishes were not cleaning well. runs great now, not a spot on my glasses.

he pointed out to me that i should run the tap water in my sink till it gets hot and then shut it off and start the washer. this way you get hot water right away. i was also using too much soap. told me not to fill the soap container full just half in pre wash and half in wash itself. i do all the cooking and also the dishes, so this makes me a happy camper. also make sure you use a rinse agent. i didn't at times and now i will. good luck.

[BoxMN]

Glad you got it fixed... I kept wanting to add my suggestion, but it was stoopid... but here it is...

Fire her.