Thread: Another Whirlpool Dishwasher won't drain

Sounds like you may have something stuck in the pump/motor impeller.

Here is a link that will help if you want to take the top part of the pump off.
http://www.applianceaid.com/drain_wash.html

If you don't see any stuff stuck in the upper impeller, then you may have a bad motor. A new pump/motor assembly is pretty costly, you can check your owners guide, some brands give you a 5 yr. part only warranty on that pump/motor module assembly. You may be just right at the end of that 5 yrs.


Jake

I had the same problem on my ten year old Whirlpool Gold Model GU940SCGQ2: (An inch of standing water at the end of the drain cycle) Here is what I discovered that fixed my problem: At the output of the drain pump there is a small part called a "Check Valve" (PN 3369482 on my machine). I am certain that ALL dishwashers have a similar check valve. The flexible drain hose connects to the check valve with a squeezable hose clamp ring. From there, the hose is usually routed a few feet higher, and then lower, to empty into your garbage dispolsal. You need to disconnect the hose clamp and drain hose from the check valve (drain pump ooutput). When you disconnect the hose clamp, be prepared for a lot of water to drain out. (I used a large shallow pyrex pan to catch the water.) I then blew into the hose going towards the garbage disposal and discovered no blockages. Getting back to the check valve, it has an odd "V" shaped piece protruding slightly from the inside of the plastic cylinder. I was able to remove the "V" shaped piece, and discovered that it also had a round circle-shaped plastic piece attached to it. On the other side of this piece, inside of the check valve cylinder, is a small rubber circular flapper valve, (smaller than a dime) that is attached and doesn't come out. What I found on my unit was a TINY hairball and a short piece of hair or string that was caught inside the check valve, preventing it from fully closing. I then replaced the plastic "V" shaped piece insde the check valve assembly, and reinstalled the drain hose. Here is WHY the check valve is important for this problem: When the pump finishes pumping the water out of the dishwasher and turns off, the water that is still between the dishwasher and the garbage disposal, drains back into the dishwasher through the partially open check valve. Finding and removing this tiny hairball from the check valve ended up saving me the cost of a new dishwasher! I hope that this info helps YOU! - If you are reading this, and have a nutdriver and a pair of pliers, then you CAN do this!