EP2 Kenmore Elite Dishwasher That Does Not Clean

[soiledmcribs]

Saved my ass times 2. Both times, the culprit was broken glass, sweet corn kernels, grape/apple stems, popcorn, mushroom bits. I think the broken glass prevented the softer bits from getting chopped up. I used a Green Robby screwdriver instead of the Torx15, you just have to be really really careful not to strip your screws. GOOD JOB!

[jdramr4]

Thank you so much for this video you saved me so much on repair cost. The dishwasher run like its brand new.

[ptcpaul]

Great video guys, but alas people will continue to not rinse dishes well enough to alleviate this problem, my old dishwasher was 20 years old before I had to clean the same screen. I now own a Kenmore Elite that has a filter which can be removed easily twice a month to be cleaned.

Also if stemware is cloudy, Jet Dry works great. To bad all the new applianced will never last 20 to 25 years like the old days

[DeathKitten]

This was really helpful, though my dishwasher spray arm was put together a bit differently and I never did get to the chopper and flapper valve, even after removing a cover that looked different (though it had a single, smaller screw as in this example). Yep, broken glass and apple stems everywhere. Thanks!

[BringBackOldRS2]

oops meant to spell: incredible!!

[BringBackOldRS2]

Yes, it worked!!! 5 1/2 years worth of crud, glass, plastic, and food seeds. And I did it myself. Well, hubby got the correct screwdriver. One note: the screw from the chopper blade cover was smaller than the other four screws holding the screen. We couldn't afford a repair and were doing dishes by hand for weeks before I found this. Incredibel improvement in operation! Like new. Thank you!!

[sgkop]

Excellent video. Saved me the cost of a new dishwasher...Thanks a lot.

[TheChenchihchen]

I told my husband we needed to have someone look at the dishwasher, because the top level wasn't cleaning. I went online to see if anyone had posted anything. I found your video and cleaned the basin, just like you showed. I found crud and bones and old popcorn kernels. Guess I better do a better job of rinsing the dishes. Thanks!!!

[BANGBANG1N]

this is handsdown the best instuctional diy video thanks for the info !!! subscribed.

[Beutz]

Excellent video. Saved me money avoiding the service call. I noticed my screen was dirty (minute 8:30) as well. I played with it a little but wasn't 100% sure it popped off. Is this something that is just pryed apart with a screwdriver?

[gahorowitz]

Yes, definitely a great video. My dishwasher looked nothing like the video when I opened it up, filled with crud and green slime. I ran a rinse cycle with the housing off to make sure it cleaned itself up, and it's working like a charm. Thanks!

[EDDIEPIRRERA]

Thanks for the GREAT video! I could not believe just how much 'STUFF' was clogging the basin in my dishwasher. Before I found your video other Youtube vid's suggested that both spray arms were the cause of this problem and needed to be replaced. I'm so glad that I found your video before I ended up needlessly spending money on replacement parts that wouldn't have solved my problem. Thanks again!

[fogsflock]

Thank you! This video was very helpful. We did the job ourselves and it is working great now. We saved the cost of repairperson :)

[midnitemonty]

Great Video BUT.. should mention to take apart the chopper blade and screen. My screen was completely clogged up. Once I cleaned this and put spinner/chopper blade back on, wow the dishwasher is back to life again.. full pressure now and everything spins great.

[inlinernate]

Very good video since it was the exact same model(internally) as mine. A couple pointers though. As an electrician, and finding out from your video that this dishwasher has a food chopper built in, I would recommend that the breaker for the unit be shut off. Bad to injure a finger over a simple repair (although it is unlikely to turn on while the door is open). Thank you guys very much for putting in the time to make these videos.

[PostalRandy]

Great step by step with one exception. The screen that is reinstalled at about 8:30 needs to be taken apart and cleaned. Mine was partially clogged on the inside from what appeared to be a tissue. Thanks!!!

[tmanncan]

Thank you. Our choice was $85.00 for the Sears service guy to come out to quote (not repair), or try your fix. I was amazed at the crud I found in the basin.

Well worth the 20 minutes of cleaning.

I'm now going to subscribe to your Youtube channel. Thanks again.

[hdtvcamera1]

You just saved me $125.  Thanks

[staceygf]

great help thank you

Reid Fogler

[oldsmithse]

Discovered that the chopper assemble was busted - a $40 self repair job. As opposed to the $400 pump replacement the Sears service guy was calling for. Thanks.

[Dn6rxsf]

Excellent video with excellent results. Thank you.

[travis0ydb]

Awesome, fixed it in 20 minutes. I will add that having compressed air helps get the smallest pieces in the bottom. CLOSE YOUR EYES!!!! Before you hit the trigger, all kinds of little things blew out, wiped the inside of the washer down after that to get all those small chards of glass and junk and wahlahh! A brand new machine, thanks guys!!!

[hastyd]

Outstanding. A major retailr wanted to charge me $129 just tocomeout here and look at it. I fixed it in 15 minutes! thank you.

[416dl]

Great video, guys. Thanks a million. Really appreciate your clear step by step demonstration....good lighting, good audio well spoken, sharp focus and no hocus pocus. Cheers.

[lefty0mtl]

Oh also a quick note to add to those doing this procedure, I popped the fine mesh screen off and gave it a good scrub too. Slowly pop it off with just hand pressure, small tabs holding it in place. Very simple.

[lefty0mtl]

I returned to watch the video as a refresher, since the Kitchenaid was showing the same symptoms again! So after another 9 mths I found the following culprits : 1 Bread clip, 6 Lemon/Orange seeds, Random gunk and a hunk of clear plastic!!!

Man I thought after the first cleaning we would take better care of what fell in etc, but I guess it's just going to keep occurring. Thanks again for a great instructional video!!!

[BL0Xvids]

Awesome! Thanks for the head's up about the broken glass - a big shard of glass was blocking our valve, covered with slime so we could've really gotten cut!

[lprcify]

Thank you this instruction was easy and clear has produced great results.

[philiure]

Saved a service call. Wow. How YouTube changed the world. Thanks guys...

[tallandbald13]

Great video! Saved a service call and potentially a new dishwasher. It's running like new. Thanks!

[kathykbv]

This was exactly what I needed. It took a lot longer for us since the chopper cover was impossible to remove. It did NOT just come "up". We pried, we tugged, we tried a screwdriver but what worked was an Allen wrench placed underneath the front of the cover and took a pair of pliers to the Allen wrench and pulled UP on the wrench. There was calcification in the grooves which may have been the reason why it felt like it was cemented on. Cleaned out lots of soap scum but no pieces. Thanks!

[TGSinMD]

Thank you! You saved me a $150 service call.

[jackson842]

Thanks so much...absolutely clear cut step by step..........OK: please, need equally clear directions on replacing upper tie rod on a 2005 Cavalier...HA HA!!!

Thanks again!!!

[glennrod131]

Nice video. Made it real easy to get it apart and cleaned out.

[listenlightlove]

watch your fingers when cleaning out, there can be little pieces of glass from chipped dished etc

[elundquist]

Thank you! Thank you! A great howto that was easy to follow. You guys rock!

[simonebloch]

my eleven year old son and I have just done this repair for the second time. This time it took us less than 1/2 an hour. You guys rock (and so does my son!) Thanks SOOOOOOO much.

[73draggy]

Very useful!!

[trombone7]

THank you, thank you, thank you. Looked at probably 20 videos. THis is the best. I have Whirlpool quiet partner IV. Very close match. In a little over an hour did everything in this video. Found loads of gunk. Only thing is that, replacing the thumbscrew center axle. Seat it lightly, don't press down. This locks down the 'screw' and won't spin or thread into spinner. Dishwasher works again, and I saved at LEAST $150 in trip charge no less labor and/or parts (unnecessaryily). Thx again.

[nousautresalamaison]

Awesome video.  The job was easily done after watching this clip.

I found hairs, noodles, broken glass, ceramic chips and other unidentifiable stuff in there. Note that a lot of mineral deposits also needed to be brushed out.

Thanks!

[irysdale]

Great Video. Worked for my Kitchenaid, I did 1 additional thing that he doesn't do. The part that he removes at 5:05 has a filter on the top. On my dishwasher, this filter had a lot of gunk in it. I used a flatblade screwdriver to lever the filter off (very easy) cleaned it under some running water and popped it back on. With the amount of gunk that was in my filter I'm sure this is a nevessary step.

[AllGoodSeeds]

Thank you guys for an extremely informative and helpful video. My 15 year old was able to follow your instructions and clean out the basins and the filters and put it all back together. It was full of debris and he learned a great lesson on why NOT to put dishes into the washer with food still on them, no matter what the manufacturer says about being a 'pot scrubber' !

[dvdaxis]

VERY HELPFUL! probably would have broken the hub had i not watched this (doing the pliers thing). cleaned out lots of debris-used a shop-vac with mini attachments to get EVERYTHING. disassembled & cleaned all the components. had a lot of build-up - a combination of gel detergent and calcium that i picked, scraped, & scrubbed with vinegar. would recommend to anyone doing this to separate the filter/screen from the accumulator and clean inside there as well. unit cleans much better now. thanks

[722tea]

any information on my freidgeadare dish washer gets stuck on the final rinse of the was cycle ya got to turn it manuly or it willl run forever it has the knob style,cycler everything else works fine any info would be greatly appreciated thanks

[davisfororegon]

Very informative! My dishwasher was almost the same with the exception of the chopper assembly. I could not get it open since there was nothing to grab and rotate right as you did in the video.

I also discovered I should not push the large screw for the spinner into the bottom assembly. It needs to rest on top before rotating the water pipe into place, allowing the screw to float free and high enough. I had nearly panicked and was almost ready to call someone.

Thanks!

[mbernet3]

Awesome video guys!! thanks for the help!

[postrichjr]

Just followed your video on my Kitchen Aid dw. Very easy to do. Found lots of caked soap and food remnants behind the washing arms. There was a piece of flat plastic under the screen significantly slowing the water flow. Also found some stones, seeds, fruit stems under the chopper cover. The chopper screen also had the same caked on residues blocking the screen. Its all cleaned out and doing a rinse now. I have high hopes for its success.

[w9mdo]

Thanks so much - that was perfect! It solved the problem, and unlike many of my other home handyman efforts - I didn't break anything!!!!! Thanks!!!

[mbunchie]

IT WORKED!!!!! You guys ROCK!!!!! My repairman is great, but he charges a minimum $150 for a service call. Your video showed me EXACTLY what to do, and I couldn't believe the crud I dug out of the basin - popsicle sticks, olive pits, you name it. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

[Homee2010]

This saved me from having to call out a repair service. Thanks !!!!!

[marchonjackson]

Thanks so much, i have referred to this video a couple of times, nice and straight foward.

[rljames100]

Thanks so much, I would never have figured out how to get my dishwasher working again without this video. There was glass, olive pips, and various other material blocking the valve and preventing clean water from circulating. Major marital capital was deposited in the bank thanks to this video. Thanks again. Cheers.

[MrRowdytenor]

THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU, Handyguys!!! :-D

There was a NAPKIN totally jamming the basin! there were also several pieces of artichoke leaves, and several large olive pits, along with a good deal of eggshell.

UPDATE! my Kenmore doesn't have the space beside the flapper valve, so no place to get stuff jammed there, BUT the clamps have been replaced by Phillips screws. LOOK! before yanking on the channel with the top arm on it! It MAY have screws, instead of clamps.

[Blondiesbuys]

Hello, I have a Kenmore Ultra Dishwasher, # 665.16533200. The top rack dishes are not getting clean. Also the glasses with indented bottoms, normally full of water at the end of the cycle, are bone dry. During the wash/rinse cycle, it makes this noise that sounds like water is just running out of somewhere instead of spraying. It only lasts a few seconds and it is sporatic. I took apart the upper arm assembly and it all looks ok The top sprayer also seems ok. Please help! Thanks!

[OldTimerGuy58]

My wife's Kenmore Elite dishwasher refused to drain. To make a long story short, the black rubber valve way down in the bottom, next to the grinder wheel was broke! I can only assume the broken piece is still in there. Anyway, since we purchased the extended warranty, we decided to just let them come out and finish the repair. So glad I learned about that rubber valve, or I wouldnt have found the problem. Thanks so much!! We have had to have the circuit board replaced twice, warranted.

[collagehumour]

Excellent vid guys

[coloradospringsme]

Thanks so much!! Mine had grit on the dishes the past three washes. I googled "Grit on dishes". Then I went to YouTube to see if there was a video telling me how to clean the filter on my Elite. I found yours. It was very easy. When I took it apart.. The filth!!!!! I cleaned it up and put it back together. Sounds so much better. I can actually hear the water in there splashing very powerful now. Again, thank you!!!

[MegaHowtoMan]

I figured it out. TO RESET Blinking light. Alternately press normal wash and heat Dry buttons. All lights will illuminate. Then close door.Should run a test load.

[MegaHowtoMan]

GReat video. My cleaning light blinks 7 times and will not respond or clean. Can you recommend how to resest the computer in it or how to find the code definitions?

[jakjsr]

Thanks VERY much. Have K Elite. Sat my netbook down on kitchen floor, took my time and followed your step-by-step. Complete success. Just great, guys. Big checkmark on the honey do list.

[dancebug101]

Thank God for handymen! You guys rock, keep doin what you're doin as there are plenty of us out there that appreciate it!

[rickybl013]

Thanks guys. My Upper Tray on my Kenmore wasn't cleaning well anymore. Followed the GREAT video and found Bone, Plastic, glass blocking the Chopper and recirc Valve. Very infomative and my dishwasher works like new again. Thanks

[stephaniemax1]

Huge help thanks Guys!

[detepper1]

Thanks so much. It worked fine.

[Atom4001]

Thanks a lot for this video, guys. My Kenmore started making a loud buzzing sound when the wash cycle began and I thought it might be related to the valve gate controlled by the solenoid. So I followed your video on how to clean out the collected junk around the chopper and found a sewing needle, grapefruit seeds, pistachio shells, and bits of broken crockery. Removed it all and the dishwasher is working perfectly.

Many thanks,

[westmount811]

Hey Guys. Great video. Saved myself a service call from Sears. Happy wife, Happy Life. (no more washing dishes by hand)

[JacsBay]

I had cleaned out my Sears Elite dishwasher because it started to leak. My husband disassembled it and I cleaned out the bottom. I got chicken bones, popcorn kernels, a rectangular bread bag seal, and lots of yuck. I didn't know I could clean out around the chopper assembly. I am sure there is more yuck in there. Thank you handyguys. My dishwasher is about 10 years old but still looks inside exactly like mine. Now to get to work.

[alan1663]

I have been looking everywhere on the web for information on how to clean our Kitchenaid dishwasher. Your video is exactly like our dishwasher. We had a huge calcium buildup that was making our dishes cloudy and covered with grains that looked like sand. We were under warrenty, a repair man fixed it once. Your video made it so I could do the clean myself. It took about two hours because under the screen there was a thick layer of calcium on all the parts. Thanks so much, Works like new again.

[viveksvaid]

Very clear. Very Helpful. Simple. Thanks!

[MCPetruk]

Worked well until I tried to pull the rubber flapper out - it tore, leaving the round portion in the hole, and nothing to grab it with. Now I need to figure out how to get it out, and where to order a new rubber flapper. Any ideas?

[mtnair55]

My Kenmore Ultra Quiet Dishwasher wasn't cleaning my dishes properly. The pump was working but no water was coming out of the spray arms. I called Sears and was told that they couldn't schedule me for a service call in less than 2 weeks.  After watching this video I repaired the problem in 1 hour using only a multi-bit screwdriver and a pair of needle nose pliers. You saved me a lot of time and money. My dishwasher now works great. Many thanks.

[TorontoCanadaGuy]

I watched your video yesterday. Our family lives in Toronto. You just saved us at least $200 and the aggravation of waiting for a serviceman to show up. The top rack not getting wet was our issue. I ended up finding an olive pit, a plum pit, about 8 pieces of bone, a shrimp shell, a piece of plastic and a toothpick. Cleaning out the area you so eloquently and thoroughly presented in your video did the trick. Thanks a million. Or should I say 200 bucks!?!

[SuperDeria]

Thank you so very much me and my sister fixed our washer. I had my doubts that we could do this but this video was a major help. Thank you it works great now.

[buffyfoo]

u know ur batter off buying agerman dishwasher ei : bosch, blomberg, miele etc. and they have nothing like that kenmore. its has just one part to it which is a filter and then under the filter is the drainage hose. Thats all not all these screws and plastic parts.. just a filter and a hole. Its not a self-cleaning filter but u still have to run a bout 1 empty cycle a month so just take the filter out and place it into the lower basket and put it on quick wash, when its done its all clean!!!!!

[1auk1]

Can't get the spinner arm to go back on when re-assembly is finished. We have the KitchenAid model. Is there a trick to this part?

[shawbelaire]

I've had my chopper break, so check that yours is infact working, the shaft had broken

[mrclean67]

This was sooooo helpful, saved a repair bill for sure. Thanks for posting this!

[dxr2701]

Thanks, for the video, the hidden screw got me the first time. This saved me a call to a appliance repair guy. Very good video and very thourgh. I will check out your videos. Thanks,

[MsPerryperry]

Thanks a mill Paul. You made it look so easy, my 13 year old son was able to fix our dishwasher, it was like watching a horror movie, we all stood around watching in amazement and at times gagging at what he found down there! There were episodes where my daughter had to actually close her eyes it was so disgusting!!! Thanks again, you are a lifesaver! xxx

[LaddyGo]

Thanks from me too... Worked like a charm...

[mecapi1]

Thank you so much. We just finished cleaning a Kitchen Aid Superba. My these machines are poorly designed to easily maintain cleanliness and efficiency. After cleaing each part, we also wiped all parts with a cloth well-moistened with vinegar. Not only clean but also sparkles!

[gardenvespers777]

Thank you so much for this video. You saved me a service fee! :-) I followed it exactly as you showed, particularly that nudge to the right on that one piece. Cleaned it out..but it back and WOW! Cleans like new again!

I have the Whirlpool model. This was SO EASY! No problem at all.

Really I do appreciate you doing this video.

[mecapi1]

REMEMBER - DO NOT START UNTIL THE POWER HEAS BEEN SHUT !!!!!!!

[utuadopanama]

Guys, thank you for making this video! It was really useful for me. There was only one thing...on my chopper assembly cover the screw size was t-15 while the main cover with the 4 screws was t-20. If you do not have the screwdrivers, you can use your 6 point sockets. I found alot of gunk and trash to include a trash bag tie, and olive pits! Once again, thanks. Great video! A++++++

[nitsujri]

anyone know where i can get a replacement rubber valve that he pulls out? mine ripped in 2 and I can't seem to find a replacement online.

[TheKessler05]

Thank you for making this video, I didn't know how to get into the dishwasher. I hope that fixes my dirty dishes problem

[JerryFreilich]

You guys are great and the video was excellent. I like the way you spend just enough time on the hardest parts or those where caution is advised. Would have liked to have you remove the little grinder mechanism and show how it's put back in. Mine was really gunked up and it took quite a bit of fiddling to get it back in there. Thanks!

[2blondi]

OMG!!! Thanks so much!!! Did exactly like you showed and cleaned it out. Very easy & very helpful! again, thank you!!!

[mark40511]

You know what a LOT of the problem is.........it's the dishwashing detergent.....It's all gone phosphate free......The detergent companies have yet to come up with anything that cleans as well as phosphates. The closest thing they have found is enzymes. While enzymes are good, they are NOT as good as phosphates.....Next time you grab a box of Cascade, look at the box, it will say phosphate free......

[oursroux]

Wow! Thanks guy's for saving me a new pump!!!

[gresymnky]

Awesome video! Thanks so much for saving me a repair call. I had this exact problem with my Kenmore Elite dishwasher and it now runs great again.