any dishwasher mechanics out there?

[CurlyDave]

I have had two dishwashers where the internal plumbing became clogged with pieces of broken glass. Someone breaks a drinking glass & doesn't quite get all the pieces out.

Might be worth checking this before buying a new one, otherwise a new one will make your wife happier.

Although I have to admit that phenomenon is not exclusive to women. When we built our new house, the framers powered their tools from a generator. The contractor explained that I could rent one at a local yard, or he had one he would rent me for half price.

I foolishly decided to buy a new Craftsman one for $800, which was less than a month of rental, and I would have it at the end of the project, even though it would have 500 hours on it and be pretty well used.

I changed the oil every week, and maintained it pretty well, but about 2 weeks from getting real power installed one of the framers decided he wanted a Honda generator, like he had used on all his other jobs. Even though the Craftsman worked just fine, he moaned so much, and found ways to make the Craftsman stall, that I had to rent the Honda for the last two weeks.

If times had been slow like now, I would have found someone else to finish off, but this was at the height of the building boom...

 

[CATMAN]

If you buy a new one, the home improvement shows on TV mentioned that the cheaper one have less insulation and a few less features. The insulation was the most important factor in the unit's noise level. You just may want to spend a little more for that "lack of noise".

 

[mikim]

they want a lot of $$ for that extra insulation - you can by the insulation seperate and wrap it yourself...... check for scratch & dents ... I bought a $750 DW for $400 at Sears repair center, then replaced the front cover for $100 and it was all better..... stainless interior and the little bit of extra insulation....and more controls than we'll ever use - but since I plan on selling the house in a year - felt it was worth it for a selling point.

 

[alchemysa]

Could be a few causes but most likely, and cheapest, easiest to fix, is a solenoid thats sticking.

Also check that theres no clogged mesh screens in the flexible hose fittings.

Our dishwasher is also currently broke again (door hinges), so I cant remember the noises to listen for. I think noise 1 is the pump trying to push any leftover water out into the drain. Noise 2 is the solenoid opening and water rushing in to fill the bottom of the washer. Noise 3 is the pump starting the wash cycle. So noise 2 is the one you have to listen for. If you dont hear that water rushing sound then its probably a solenoid or some other blockage.

Dishwashers are the worlds worst designed appliances.

 

[Soundguy]

Came home and started my chores.. for the heck of it I turned ont he dishwasher and it worked fine.. like nothing had happened. Maybee it was a bad contact in the switch? I turned it on and off about 5 times and even tricke dthe doot again just to watch it.. seams to have 'healed' itself...

left me with time for other chores... lik cleaning the house and mowign the lawn.... oh joy..

soundguy

Yes 99% are a standard size. There is a special shorter model (fits under 32" cabinets) that is used for handicapped installations.

Remove the front bottom panel. Usually a couple of screws. The water line and electrical connections are at the front after you remove panel. Suggest that you turn both off first or it gets much more exciting!

Good luck on finding any dishwasher under $200.

 

[alchemysa]

Came home and started my chores.. for the heck of it I turned ont he dishwasher and it worked fine.. like nothing had happened. M

soundguy

Yep. Solenoids like to tease you like that. Small electric motors in pumps and fans can get touchy too. A bit of fluff and lint dries the grease so they won't rotate when its cold, like in the morning. Later in the day when they are warmer the grease softens and they will start up.

 

[orezok]

Came home and started my chores.. for the heck of it I turned ont he dishwasher and it worked fine.. like nothing had happened. Maybee it was a bad contact in the switch? I turned it on and off about 5 times and even tricke dthe doot again just to watch it.. seams to have 'healed' itself...

left me with time for other chores... lik cleaning the house and mowign the lawn.... oh joy..

soundguy

Nothing like threatening an appliance with replacement to get it working again!

 

[jwstewar]

We had a GE dishwasher in our old house and then the house trailer that the insurance company rented while we rebuilt. Both of them sounded just like you are describing. The motor would stick on them. Turn the power off (at least the first time ), take the lower front cover (below the door) off, find the fans on the motor, and give it a whirl. Worked for us several times. It would continue to work until it would decide not to again. I just did it about a week before the house burnt (fire didn't start there). Now we have a Bosch, so who knows what it will be like.

 

[Soundguy]

If it starts re-occuring.. I'll investigate further.. if it turns out to be an isolated incedent.. I think I'll chalk it up to the sticky switch contact or something.. of course.. threatoning to replace it probably DID help.. ( funny one orezok )

soundguy

 

[kenmac]

I've never had any luck with GE appliances. Will never own another GE. Once , I owned a GE washing machine. It walked all over the house. One day when it started walking , I opened the front door & let it walk out. It never returned. If you buy another dishwasher. Spend a little more $ & get one where you don't have to hand wash the dishes B-4 you wash them in the dish washer