Kitchenaid Soil Sensor Problem?

[jstar]

We have a Kitchenaid dishwasher model KUDS25SHWH1 that fills fine, but as soon as it starts to wash it stops and drains. I initially thought the control board was bad, but replacing it did not fix the problem. I checked the float and it seems to be operating properly. I disconected one of the wires to the soil sensor pressure switch and tried running the diswasher and it ran fine.

I took the pressure switch out and checked it and it seems to be ok. The switch is normally open, but when I blow in it it closes. I next disconnected the the hose that runs from the pump to the soil sensor pressure switch and ran the dishwasher. Water started flowing out of the hose as the dishwasher filled, so it is not clogged.

When I reconnected the soil sensor pressure switch and trying running the dishwasher the problem came back. Obviously pressure from the pump is causing the switch to close which is causing the dishwasher to drain.

Any ideas on what is going on?

[Jake]

Hi,

It seems to me that i had this problem on a service call a few years ago, I remember replacing the pressure switch and it worked.

MaybeDan, Jeff,Mac, or John canremember if replacing the pressure switch fixed it.

You did say you disconnected the wire to it, and it ran fine, that could be another indication that the pressure switch is the problem.

Jake

[jstar]

Yes, when I removed one of the wires to the pressure switch it ran fine. I was wondering if something is causing higher than normal pressure. Maybe something is clogging the pump?

[Dan O.]

Jake wrote:I remember replacing the pressure switch and it worked. MaybeDan, Jeff,Mac, or John canremember if replacing the pressure switch fixed it.
Sorry but I don't recall ever coming across one being needed but it sounds like a reasonable assumption. If the sensor is not able to detect the proper pressure...

JMO

Dan O.
Appliance411.com (http://www.appliance411.com/?ref411=KitchenAid+Dishwasher)
The Appliance Information Site
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[Jake]

jstar wrote: Yes, when I removed one of the wires to the pressure switch it ran fine. I was wondering if something is causing higher than normal pressure. Maybe something is clogging the pump?


Could be, but then it wouldn't drain right, but you say its draining ok?

You could always open the top of the pump to check for blockage.

If you need help to take it apart, jeff has alot of pictures and parts breakdown on his site:

Link>http://www.applianceaid.com/dishwash.html (http://www.applianceaid.com/dishwash.html)

Jake

[jstar]

I took the pump apart this morning. The only thing I found was that the screen covering the seperator was dirty. I cleaned the screen with a toothbrush, put everything back together, hooked up the pressure sensor and it seems to be working.

[Jake]

Great to hear you got it going!:cool:

Thanks for the update.

Jake

[jstar]

Ran fine once then reverted to its old tricks. I am going to pick up a new pressure sensor on Tuesday and see if that fixes it. In the meantime we are running it with the pressure sensor disconnected. Hopefully running it with the senor disconnected will not hurt anything.

[Dan O.]

jstar wrote: Hopefully running it with the senor disconnected will not hurt anything.
I don't believe so, it should just do a 'light soil' wash and rinse instead of heavy duty ones (if were required), reducing wash and rinse time. Lower end dishwasher models don't have that sensor at all and thus never get the "heavy soil" or "medium soil" washes.


Ran fine once then reverted to its old tricks. I am going to pick up a new pressure sensor on Tuesday and see if that fixes it.
Sorry to hear the cleaning didn't fix the problem, let us know if replacing the part does. The one used on your model (see the following link) looks pretty fancy compared to some other designs I've seen. (I don't believe the description at the link is correct though).

LINK > Pressure Switch for Soil Sensor (http://www.appliance411.com/data.php?rcpn=3380871)

You might want to call ahead to make sure the parts house has one. I don't know how popular a part they are to be 'in stock'.

Dan O.
Appliance411.com (http://www.appliance411.com/?ref411=KitchenAid+Dishwasher)
The Appliance Information Site
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[jstar]

Ok, I finally got the new pressure sensor (it had to be ordered). I put in the new sensor and the dishwasher runs through the full cycle now, but when it is finished it still has soap in the soap dispenser. The dispenser door opens during operation, but for some reason not all the soap is washed out. I opened the door during operation and it is full of water but it does not appear as though the sprayer is running. When I put a cup upright on the top rack it does not fill with water, on the lower rack it gets some water but not much. Does this mean my pump is bad?

[Jake]

Glad to hear now its running through!:cool:

I would check the spray arms for clogs, also open the top part of the pump to check the filter assembly and upper pump assembly for clogs.

Jake

[jstar]

I took it a part again and everything seems fine to me. The impeller spins freely and no clogs. There is no pressure, water seems to be coming out of the lower and middle spray arms but not enough to cause them to spin. No water is coming out of the upper sprayer. It drains fine. I am wondering if there is something going on with a check valve. The little balls are all moving freely.

[Jake]

No, on your model the check valve just controls the drain part.

I would say you may have an internal pump issue, which may be causing it.

You could take the whole pump apart , but its very time consuming, and a new pump/motor assembly would cost alot, sorry i couldn't bring you better news.

Jake

[jstar]

It is very discouraging that this dishwasher lasted only last 5 years when our last dishwasher lasted almost 20 years.

You guys work with these things all the time, if you were to buy a new dishwasher what brand would you buy for your own use?

[Jake]

Good question!

Let me start off with usage:

I am single and i only use my Sears Kenmore dishwasher, made by Whirlpool, once a week, mine was bought newin 1997 and have not had any problems with it so far.

Most couples and families use theirs at least 3 times a week if not 3 times a day:)

The old saying is true, the more you use it the faster it wears out.

The older Maytags seemed to never quit, even with 3 times a day usage. I have seen some of those go 15 to 20 years.

But as another saying: They don't make em like they used too.:)

Thats very true, im sorry to say.

Now to your question:

Lets put it this way, the brand i have repaired the least, in my 18 years of Appliance Repair, is still the Maytag Dishwasher.

Jake

[Dan O.]

jstar wrote: There is no pressure, water seems to be coming out of the lower and middle spray arms but not enough to cause them to spin. No water is coming out of the upper sprayer.
Maybe a leak somewhere in the wash system (like maybe at a spray arm or where the center arm attaches to the rear of the cabinet or the pump housing cover not screwed on tight) which results in reduced water pressure to the wash system?

Have you devised a way to actually watch it in action? I've heard of techs mounting a plastic sheet in front of the opening and bypassing door switch to actually watch what's going on to see if they can spot problem areas.

Dan O.
Appliance411.com (http://www.appliance411.com/?ref411=KitchenAid+Dishwasher)
The Appliance Information Site
=D~~~~~~

[ranbates]

When I am running a "normal" cycle I get a loud noise when the time drops to 61. I don't have anything that tells me what cycle the dishwasher is at so I don't know what stage it's at to determine where to look. Is there something that tells me what stage this washer might be at?
:eek:

[Jake]

Its hard to tell, try other cycles to see if you can pinpoint it, also please post the model#, Thanks.

Jake