FIXED Hotpoint Dishwasher Model HDA3600H35WW drains while washing

[jazzwineman]

Model Number

HDA3600H35WW

Brand

Hotpoint

Age

6-10 years

I have this dishwasher that has worked fine for a about 6 years and still does when it holds water. All of a sudden, water drains out while during the wash cycle. There are no leaks under the machine and everything works fine except that is drains until very little water is left in the tub to wash. Even if I manually add water- it still drains out -so what gives? The drain hose is set at the proper height as it has been since the beginning of the installation.


I assume something is in a stuck position, although it does not constantly fill during the wash cycle. Would an electrical reset work? The drain solenoid seems to be doing that it is supposed to do visually.

Is there not a float in the machine that tells it to drain or not drain and when it is filled? Could something have gotten lodged in that and where is it and how do you clean it- if that is the problem?

Any other thoughts and suggestions are appreciated.

Tom In Dallas/Plano

 

[Dan O.]

Even if I manually add water- it still drains out

It drains out only when running right? Not while just sitting?

Would an electrical reset work?

Very unlikely.

Is there not a float in the machine that tells it to drain or not drain and when it is filled?

It has a float that will stop power to the water fill valve if a fill gets too high. It doesn't usually do anything else.

water drains out while during the wash cycle.

There is a 'flapper' inside the pump housing that is activated by a solenoid that switches it from the wash function to drain. That solenoid may be defective, it may no longer be connected to the flapper to actuate it, the spring that holds the flapper in place may be broken or fallen off or there might be a internal problem with the pump flapper (ie. jammed, deformed, etc. ).

These links are pertinent to your message. They were supplied by this message author. Many include repair videos. Please view them.

LINK > Solenoid and Bracket Assembly WD21X10268

LINK > Spring Kit WD3X721

LINK > Pump Housing WD19X10020
or
LINK > Pump and Motor Assembly WD26X10051


Someone needs to confirm proper functioning of the drain system.


Dan O.

 

[jazzwineman]

There is a 'flapper' inside the pump housing that is activated by a solenoid that switches it from the wash function to drain. That solenoid may be defective, it may no longer be connected to the flapper to actuate it, the spring that holds the flapper in place may be broken or fallen off or there might be a internal problem with the pump flapper (ie. jammed, deformed, etc. ).

Thanks. The solenoid and bracket have already been replaced due to a faulty timer some 6 months ago. They are attached as I watched them operate this morning and operating fine. The faulty timer caused a heat problem and deformed the flapper or the plastic piece attached to the spring. I would not buy the pump and motor ($300 plus) and the rest as the cost of getting a new dishwasher is almost cheaper than a repair of that nature.
The area of the float that is in the tub was quite dirty with grease and junk. I cleaned that out and reset the system with it being without electricity for 30 minutes and it is operating fine now. We will see if it holds.

How would someone confirm the proper functioning of the drain system?

Thanks

Tom

 

[Dan O.]

We will see if it holds.

I don't know how that would affect a continual draining complaint.

How would someone confirm the proper functioning of the drain system?

The only way I know is to take it out and visually examine it. It might be possible to manually force the drain flapper open or closed to see if draining stops. Then you just need to figure out what is causing the valve to remain open during wash.

I would not buy the pump and motor ($300 plus) and the rest as the cost of getting a new dishwasher is almost cheaper than a repair of that nature.

If the pump is the cause, it is also available separately.

Whether you repair or replace it will be up to you. Many of the cheapo D/W models don't last very long these days and you also have to deal with aggravation or cost the installation.


Dan O.

 

[jazzwineman]

So far I have run it thru 3 full cycles and no issue. The inside of where the drain flapper is by the left hand side of the door- had both elements caked with grease inside. The actual little flapper stick seemed to be working fine. The cleaning and reset electrically seems to have worked at this point. Cannot imagine how a pump and motor that is operating fine would cause this problem which has now gone away. Having to drain and remove the unit and replace a major piece under major cost relative to the unit- i am more than 3/4 of the way to install a new complete dishwasher.
Thanks

Tom

 

[Dan O.]

The inside of where the drain flapper is by the left hand side of the door

The drain flapper is inside the pump body. I'm not certain what component you're referring to there.

Cannot imagine how a pump and motor that is operating fine would cause this problem which has now gone away

It would not be the pump or motor that would be the cause it would be the drain valve inside the pump body which is not serviceable separably from the pump. It is a sealed component. If the drain valve was defective, the pump would need to be replaced... with or without the motor.

Glad to hear it's working. Hopefully it continues for a few years yet.

Thanks for the followup.


Dan O.

 

[jazzwineman]

Sorry, I do not work in the appliance business, so terminologies seem to elude me. I am sure if you were in my industry the same thing would exist.

I am speaking about grease being caked inside the float and the float dome that woudl not allow for smooth operation or any operation and the 3 holes on top of the dome were covered by grease on the inside. The float stem is what I was referring to and it seemed to move freely. I have no intention, no matter how much you insist, of taking this machine apart and spending some $350 and 6 hours to waste my time to try and throw parts at it.

My machine is now working and by whatever method that is all that counts. I was following the suggestions of a tech support person as one of the online parts places. His 2 suggestions from whatever book he reads from has fixed the issue for now. If it flairs up again, then a new dishwasher.


Have a good day and thank you for your time and suggestions. While I know the float would not cause the water to drain out while running, it was perhaps the electrical reset that freed up your flapper so that it worked properly. All I know is that it works properly now and until it doesn't, then I am not going to do anything else.

TBB

 

[Dan O.]

‘Resetting’ happens on electrically controlled appliances. Yours is not.

The float controls filling. If it just wasn’t filling as opposed to “draining”, the float could have been the problem all along. There needs to be water to hold that flapper in place.

Glad it’s working whatever the cause.

Dan O.

 

[jazzwineman]

No the float is not the problem. It had a problem , but if I can fill the machine with water and stand by the sink and hear water draining and then open the door and see I have next to no water- then it is not a filling problem. I look at action and results. The 2 things I did have stopped the draining. I have now run 7 fill cycles and the issue has not returned. So instead of trying to establish yourself as the mastermind of the universe on dishwashers, why not tell me with what did I do that I no longer have the draining problem? Could something have been stuck in the pump assembly matix or is your suggestion that I go and spend $1500 on a dishwasher that is now seeming to work the way it is supposed to.


So instead of this silly debate you have undertaken with a desire to tell me that everything I have done or know is wrong- which is what you have done all along- use some creative part of your mind and skill set and tell me the possible reasons (s) why I had a specific problem that now has gone away and simultaneous with only 2 actions that I performed. Other eople might benefit instead of wasting money and a day of time to fix something that does not seem to be the problem.

TBB

 

[Dan O.]

Could something have been stuck in the pump assembly

Yes, as I stated in my first reply:

or there might be a internal problem with the pump flapper (ie. jammed, deformed, etc. ).

or is your suggestion that I go and spend $1500 on a dishwasher

I never told you to spend anything. I directed you to the parts that could be responsible for your stated symptom and repair videos to help with inspection or replacement if necessary. (None of which, nor altogether, would be close to $1500.) It is up to whomever is doing the service to determine the cause. I can only direct users to likely possibilities requiring further investigation. I'm glad cycling the power solved your issue.


Dan O.

 

[bigbuck]

As a onlooker @Dan O. Is trying to help you fix a appliance over the internet and given you great information about what maybe wrong.Yet you seem to attack him for the free information. It took time for him to write and put all that information together. People!