Whirlpool DU850SWPB3 leak at start of cycles

[Vandill]

Model Number

DU850SWPB3

Brand

Whirlpool

Age

More than 10 years

Hi, I'm having an issue I'm hoping I can get help with. My whirlpool DU850SWPB3 dishwasher started to leak from the front right corner recently. It only happens at the very start of a cycle and then stops for the rest of the cycle. Each time a new cycle starts it happens again and then stops.

Door gasket looked fine but I went ahead and replaced it anyway and the issue has persisted. Deflector looks fine, I swapped the left side with the right side to see if that was an issue and the left still held up without issue when using the right side's deflector.

Took the front panel off to capture a video of the leak that I'll attach. I've taken off the inner panel as well to see if there are differences in the shape of the plastic, thought something might be warped but everything looks symmetrical on the inner panel and the tub corner is in just as good a shape on the right as the left. I removed the float to see if maybe it was diverting water from the spray arm since it's the only difference on the right side of the dishwasher but nope.

If I stuff a paper towel in the bottom right corner before closing the door it blocks the leak but that's not a great solution.

Any advice on this one? I thought maybe the spray arm because I've seen that recommended other places but it's only happening at the very start of the cycle and only one the one side. I'd imagine it would leak the entire time if was the spray arm.

The center cone is installed and I just double checked and it’s locked into place firmly.

I've tried a lot of things. Anyone have any suggestions on what I'm missing here?

https://imgur.com/a/K1zWCdV

 

[Jake]

Take a video of the other tub corner when its washing, we need to see that too.

 

[Vandill]

No problem, sorry about the delay.

I went ahead and added a video of the left side at the start of the cycle in that same imgur link above. There's no visible water coming through on the left side while the right side is getting that rush of water.

 

[Jake]

Thanks, yes I see that left side if fine.

Check your lower spray arm for any cracks or separation in it.

Here's the lower spray arm for your model:
Lower Spray Arm WPW10164258

 

[Vandill]

Thank you, I'll check it out and post the results.

Out of curiosity, is there a reason a spraying arm would only be throwing water at one side and only at the start of cycles? In my head it spins and shoots in all directions and would cause leaks of both sides and continuously.

 

[Jake]

A crack or broken seem in it can cause that just on 1 side.

 

[Vandill]

Took a look at it and I'm not seeing anything. Actually appears to be in very good condition as far as I can tell. Ran my fingers around the underside of the black rubber seal and that seemed to be in good shape as well.

https://imgur.com/a/znkMvmu

 

[Jake]

Yes, the lower spray arm looks good in your photos of it.

Did you remove the door defector grille and check for a clog in it?

Its #12 here: Parts for Whirlpool DU850SWPB3: Inner Door Parts

If so, and its clear and clean, I really don't know what else would be causing this problem, sorry.

 

[Vandill]

Yeah, unfortunately I checked on that when I took apart the door to do some troubleshooting early on.

Such a frustrating issue to just appear one day and make an otherwise perfectly good dishwasher a chore to use.

Appreciate the time you put into this though! If I somehow find a solution I'll come back and post about it.

 

[Jake]

Glad to help as much as I could.

Yes, if you find the solution please sure it with us, I'm very curious myself to what's causing this.

 

[Vandill]

Okay, I can't believe I didn't try opening and shutting the door real quickly to see if I could get a peak and what was happening before it stopped.

This thing is just shooting a stream directly into that corner at the start of cycles. Is it supposed to have a nozzle or something attached to it? I looked at the manual but I can't tell.

 

[Jake]

No nozzle that I could find either.

Here's your parts diagram: Parts for Whirlpool DU850SWPB3: Tub Assembly Parts
#37 is the fill hose that attaches to it, check for a obstruction in there causing it to stream directly into that corner at the start of cycles.