PSA Dishwasher not cleaning

[JDuke]

The house we moved into about 8 years ago has a very quiet kitchenaid dishwasher, don’t recall the model number, but we were quite impressed some years ago at how well it cleaned.

Over the last couple years we have become decidedly less impressed.

Tried some cleaning of the jets etc as some paper bits had come off jars and clogged some of those.  This yielded very little improvement.

so I spent some time searching and found that a common problem on these was the failure of a Turbidity sensor, I didn’t know what one was, or what it did, but for $25 it was worth a shot.

Pretty easy to change it out, did need to pull the dishwasher out and tip it back, pull the plug from old sensor 1/4 turn and pop it out, reverse for installation and the dishwasher is back to fairly impressive cleaning.

Apparently this machine Varys the length of the cycle based on the particulate level in the water and the Turbidity sensor is what tells it this information.

Hopefully this will help somebody keep from replacing a dishwasher due the lack of knowledge about a sensor.

Duke

[Dumb_Polack]

The house we moved into about 8 years ago has a very quiet kitchenaid dishwasher, don’t recall the model number, but we were quite impressed some years ago at how well it cleaned.

Over the last couple years we have become decidedly less impressed.

Tried some cleaning of the jets etc as some paper bits had come off jars and clogged some of those.  This yielded very little improvement.

so I spent some time searching and found that a common problem on these was the failure of a Turbidity sensor, I didn’t know what one was, or what it did, but for $25 it was worth a shot.

Pretty easy to change it out, did need to pull the dishwasher out and tip it back, pull the plug from old sensor 1/4 turn and pop it out, reverse for installation and the dishwasher is back to fairly impressive cleaning.

Apparently this machine Varys the length of the cycle based on the particulate level in the water and the Turbidity sensor is what tells it this information.

Hopefully this will help somebody keep from replacing a dishwasher due the lack of knowledge about a sensor.

Duke

Dukie?   Thanks for the tip!   I'll file it away in the old melon for future use.


Thanks again!!!

[jteneyck]

You should check the screen in front of the pump impeller for buildup/blinding.  That was the source of the problem with our KitchenAide dishwasher.  I've had to clean it twice now in about 10 years, and replace the pump impeller once when something got past the filter and damaged it.  Unfortunately, the screen and pump are down under the lower wash arm; a real pain to get to.  I think the newer ones have a more user-friendly design; I sure hope so.  

John

[srv52761]

If my dishwasher doesn't work right I just keep my mouth shut, or she's liable to punch me.

[JDuke]

If my dishwasher doesn't work right I just keep my mouth shut, or she's liable to punch me.

Your dishwasher is equipped with a turGitidy sensor, it’s spelled very similar but is a quite different thing, generally when the turGitidy sensor is triggered in most models the response is a Headache.




Duke

[MstrCarpenter]

This is long winded, but I think you'll enjoy it.
Our 20yr. old Bosch decided to give us a little challenge a few weeks ago. So in keeping with what I always do, I pulled it out to find out why it wasn't pumping. After a few videos to learn some tricks on getting to the pump, I pulled it out. When I opened the housing, the impeller was in two pieces. Great! Let's order one. Right after I ordered it I was having a little buyers remorse; $95 for a 3" piece of plastic? I looked at how the original failed where a few dozen little pins were plastic welded, or melted, as they passed thru the face of the impeller. I plugged in the soldering iron and welded it back together with some of a cheese lid as filler. (similar plastic and green color too!) Then cancelled the order. Put it back together the next weekend, found a small leak during "bench test"; go to store for 2 small worm clamps. "Test" good so re-install. That was a challenge in itself, but I didn't have to go to the store. I checked it before I left to work out of State on Monday and there was a small drip in the basement, so of course I put a mop bucket under it. Knowing I would would be gone for a week I put the bucket in a 30 gal. barrel.

Making plans for the weekend with my wife the following Thursday afternoon, I asked how much water there was. 
"The mop bucket is about half full" 
"It will be fine then. I'll fix it Sunday." 
When we returned Sunday afternoon the barrel had overflowed. Wet carpet, along with wet furniture because apparently when a small drip drops 5' into a 30 gal. puddle, it splashes. It was mostly dry and the leak fixed before midnight.

Early this week my wife said it wasn't cleaning good. Last night we bought a $1250 Bosch dishwasher. Happy 43rd. Anniversary!
We also looked at $5000 refrigerators, but that's another story.

[JosephP]

....

Apparently this machine Varys the length of the cycle based on the particulate level in the water and the Turbidity sensor is what tells it this information.

.......

Duke

Do you use automatic cycles?  I use "normal" cycle that is a per-determined time.

[Snipe Hunter]

This exact thing happened to us a few years ago with a Whirlpool washer... which is who makes the Kitchenaid washers.

I cleaned and checked everything and nothing worked. Found something online about it and swapped out the Turbidity sensor. That lasted about a year and had to do it again. Remodeled the kitchen and put in a different washer. I was stumped and frustrated trying to figure it out. Apparently there is a way to hot wire it and bypass the sensor.

[JDuke]

I use the tough or normal cycle

At $23 for the Turbidity sensor if I have to replace it every year I’ll do that rather than buy a new dishwasher.
Of course that opinion could be swayed by spousal input.
But she’s usually much happier with me replacing parts rather than spending money on new stuff.