Frigidaire Dishwasher FFCD2413US2A leaves soap in bottom

[BlueSky114]

Model Number

FFCD2413US2A

Brand

Frigidaire

Age

1-5 years

I'm not doing very well troubleshooting this dishwasher. This dishwasher was probably new in 2019. It was installed by the builder. It didn't have any issues until about six months ago and now it leaves a partially dissolved soap pod in the bottom. Other than that it seems to be working correctly. I've got the temperature set to 125 F on the hot water heater (Rinnai tankless). I've tried several dishwashing detergents (pods) and the same thing happens with them all.

Today I took off the front cover and found a very helpful document, the "Service Data Sheet". It talks about the water/service test. This is a low end dishwasher and there is no lcd panel. I turned off the power to the unit and held the OPTIONS AND START/CANCEL pads and then powered it back up and I'm pretty sure it's running the test, but it's confusing because it says to push the START/CANCEL pad to advance the dishwasher to the next step, but it appears it is running the tests on it's own.

I found a helpful YouTube video on the "water/service test", but it was for a different model and doesn't seem to apply to my dishwasher.
That video talks about a "relay" test, but there is no mention of a "relay test" on the SERVICE DATA SHEET I have.
I am hoping someone might point me in the right direction on how to proceed?

Thanks.

 

[Jake]

Today I took off the front cover and found a very helpful document, the "Service Data Sheet". It talks about the water/service test. This is a low end dishwasher and there is no lcd panel. I turned off the power to the unit and held the OPTIONS AND START/CANCEL pads and then powered it back up and I'm pretty sure it's running the test, but it's confusing because it says to push the START/CANCEL pad to advance the dishwasher to the next step, but it appears it is running the tests on it's own.

Yes, let is run all the way through till it ends. I don't have the tech. data sheet for this model to see what your seeing in it.

After the tub fills with water open the door and see how high your water level is up to. Sounds like its not filling with enough hot water or the wash(circulation) motor is not running properly.

Do you hear water splashing in the tub while the wash motor is running?

 

[Dan O.]

now it leaves a partially dissolved soap pod in the bottom.

That can be caused by not enough water entering the machine. Try opening the door right after it stops filling as Jake suggested and look at the height of the water in the tub. It should usually be pretty close to the horizontal part of the heating element. Leave it off for 5-10 minutes and then check the water level again. It might be draining prematurely via a siphon affect.

It might also be caused by it not washing. Can you hear the wash pump running when it should be washing? If not it might be jammed up, not being powered or defective.

I don't have the tech. data sheet for this model to see what your seeing in it.

There's a copy of the tech sheet linked from this previous message dealing with a similar occurrence. Too bad the OP never followed up.

Frigidaire LFID2426TF3A fills and drains but does not wash

I just purchased a home with a Frigidaire LFID2426TF3A dishwasher. My first issue was a clogged drain hose which I have replaced. I tested after replacing the drain hose by running a rinse only cycle and all was well. I opened the door to verify the arms were spinning and spraying and they were...

www.applianceblog.com

it appears it is running the tests on it's own.

The chart shows how long each function will run. Watch/listen while watching a timer to see what is supposed to be happening at the times listed.


Dan O.

 

[BlueSky114]

Thank you for your replys.
The tech sheet linked above is the same as mine.
I did some testing this morning before I had to leave for awhile.
I am going to continue running the WST. Not feeling confident about running the WST and observing the results.
I have attached a photo of my front panel - it is very basic.
I think the WST works like this: if you let it run it will step through all 8 steps automatically or you can push the START button to step to the next test manually.
I will get back and post my findings.

 

[BlueSky114]

I've ran the WST quite a few times now.
I'm confident the water level is good. It's filling for the correct amount of time and the level comes up to the bottom of the heating element bracket as Dan O. mentioned.
On a couple of the tests the wash pump did not start.
This also makes sense because there have been times I have started the dishwasher and my wife said she did not hear it run.
Any idea what might cause it to run intermittently?
There is something that doesn't make sense to me about the water level.
The water level is not high enough so the detergent pod drops into water, which I thought it should so it could dissolve.
Does that mean the pod dissolves during the wash cycle when the water is being sprayed around the inside?

 

[Dan O.]

Any idea what might cause it to run intermittently?

A bad motor, a bad control or an intermittent connection in the wiring might be possibilities. Checking if there is power to the motor when it should be running, but isn't, might help to narrow the possibilities.

Does that mean the pod dissolves during the wash cycle when the water is being sprayed around the inside?

I don't know about pods but that is how power detergents get dissolved.

Dan O.

 

[Jake]

Thanks Dan for help BlueSky.

Yes, I was thinking the same thing, could be a bad wash(circulation) motor. You can verify that with a multimeter, just remove the electrical connector from the wash motor and put your meter leads in that connector and see if you get 120 volts after it fills and should be washing. Its the blue and white wires that connect to your wash motor.

Here's the circulation wash motor for your model, if needed:

Frigidaire 5304519906 Motor & Pump Assy (AP6840161) - AppliancePartsPros.com

Motor & pump assy 5304519906 / AP6840161 made by Frigidaire

click.linksynergy.com

 

[BlueSky114]

Thanks to you both, Jake and Dan O. for your help on this.
I've learned enough to know what to look and listen for so I have a better idea what's going on during the wash cycle.
I will continue to work on it and try to pin down the problem.
Intermittent problems are the worst aren't they?
Thanks again.

 

[Dan O.]

Intermittent problems are the worst aren't they?

Yes. We have sometimes connected a buzzer or test light to a circuit during testing so we can tell if the circuit is energized when a component is supposed to be active or not. I don't know if that's possible in your case.

Let us know how you make out.

 

[BlueSky114]

Yes. We have sometimes connected a buzzer or test light to a circuit during testing so we can tell if the circuit is energized when a component is supposed to be active or not. I don't know if that's possible in your case.

Let us know how you make out.

Not making any progress on determining the problem. Am curious about how / where you connected a buzzer or test light for your testing. I'm not really wanting to take the dishwasher out and turn it upside down to get to the connections on the pump.
Thanks.

 

[Dan O.]

how / where you connected a buzzer or test light for your testing.

It depends on the circumstance. I do not know of a set procedure for your machine. It would depend on necessity in the particular case and the ingenuity of the technician performing the service.

The machine shouldn't need to be turned upside down but might have to be removed from its enclosure to access the area.

 

[BlueSky114]

The final outcome.
I observed that the circulation motor would get voltage but wasn't running. A tap on the motor and it would start. Removed motor, plugged it in and it ran, although high vibration I thought. I disassembled it and nothing stood out as defective.
Made the decision to purchase a new dishwasher rather than spending almost $200 on a new motor. Bought a Bosch on sale at Lowe's during their Memorial Day Sale. The Bosch was delivered today, I installed it.
Case Closed.
I was surprised that the Frigidaire motor had a circuit board in it. That presents another area of possible failure and I guess that is where the problem could have been with the motor, because I saw nothing mechanically wrong with the motor, but typically tapping something and it starts to work is a mechanical issue. Oh well.
Thanks Dan O. and Jake for your help.

 

[Jake]

Thanks for the update!

We are glad to help.

 

[Dan O.]

I was surprised that the Frigidaire motor had a circuit board in it.

I haven't investigated any newer motors myself but I did come across this article a while ago:

What's in an evaporator motor?

https://newscrewdriver.com/2022/07/07/evaporator-fan-motor-adl-5846amea/ I thought the above article was interesting about some of the new-fangled evaporator fan motors. vs Do they really need to be so complicated? Wasn't a simple shaded pole motor good enough... and more reliable...

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