Kenmore Dishwasher: not washing

Professional Repair Guide

What is this symptom?

Is your Kenmore dishwasher not washing effectively? If your dishes come out dirty or the unit fails to spray water during a cycle, it could be due to common issues like clogged spray arms, a dirty filter, or a faulty pump. Understanding these problems can help you troubleshoot and restore your dishwasher's performance.

Urgency: Medium

Important Tips for Kenmore Models

  • Pump and motor assembly issues are reported as the most common specific cause for 'not washing' on Kenmore models.

Possible Causes

Faulty pump and motor assembly

How to Identify: Dishwasher fills but water is not circulated with pressure; lack of spray and cleaning action.

Part: Pump and motor assembly

Clogged spray arms

How to Identify: Low water pressure hitting dishes; debris visible in spray arm holes; dishes cleaner on top than bottom or vice versa.

Part: Spray arms

Dirty or clogged filter/sump area

How to Identify: Visible food debris in filter, slow or poor wash results despite cycle completion.

Part: Filter and sump area

Faulty water inlet valve

How to Identify: Insufficient water entering the dishwasher or inconsistent fill levels before wash action.

Part: Water inlet valve

Defective electronic control board

How to Identify: Dishwasher shows error codes or erratic behavior including not initiating wash cycles.

Part: Electronic control board

DIY Solutions

Clean spray arms

Moderate 15-30 minutes
Tools Needed: Screwdriver, Warm water, Toothpick or small brush
  1. Turn off power to the dishwasher.
  2. Remove lower (and upper if needed) racks to access spray arms.
  3. Unscrew or unclip spray arms, rinse under warm water, and clear debris from spray holes with brush/toothpick.
  4. Reinstall spray arms and racks, then run a short cycle to test.
⚠️ Safety First: Ensure power is off before accessing internal components.

Clean filter and sump area

Easy 10-20 minutes
Tools Needed: Warm water, Soft brush, Towel
  1. Remove bottom dish rack.
  2. Locate and remove dishwasher filter according to manual.
  3. Rinse filter under warm water and scrub away debris.
  4. Check sump area for debris and wipe clean.
  5. Reinstall filter and run a short cycle.

Professional Repairs

Replace pump and motor assembly

Estimated Cost: $100 - $300

Replace water inlet valve

Estimated Cost: $50 - $150

Replace electronic control board

Estimated Cost: $150 - $400

When to Call a Professional

Dishwasher fails to circulate water after DIY cleaning
Unusual noises or leaks accompany lack of washing
Error codes displayed or electrical issues present

Preventive Maintenance

  • Regularly clean filters and spray arms: Clogs that reduce wash performance
    Frequency: Monthly
  • Run dishwasher with cleaning cycle: Accumulation of food debris in internal components
    Frequency: Monthly

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Kenmore Dishwasher not washing?
The main causes include a faulty pump, clogged spray arms, or a dirty filter.
How do I fix Kenmore Dishwasher not washing myself?
Clean the spray arms and filter. Turn off power, remove racks, and rinse thoroughly.
How much does it cost to fix not washing?
Professional repairs range from $50 for a valve replacement to $400 for an electronic control board.
When should I call a technician for not washing?
If DIY solutions don't resolve the issue or if the problem is complex, consider calling a technician.

References & Sources

Community Analytical Insights

Analysis based on real user discussions from appliance repair communities

Can I Fix This Myself?

67%
DIY Success Rate Difficulty: DIY

Common Issues Reported by Users

  • Wash motor issues (locked or malfunctioning) (2 mentions)
  • Pump motor failure (1 mentions)

User Suggested Solutions

  1. Change the pump motor as a complete sump assembly.

    Success rate: 33.0%

  2. Check for locked wash motor or missing o-ring.

    Success rate: 33.0%

  3. Reset the dishwasher by pressing buttons in a specific sequence.

    Success rate: 33.0%
Analysis based on 3 community discussions
View Sources

Data compiled from real discussions on r/appliancerepair and r/Appliances:

  1. Kenmore 665 dishwasher flashing washing light
  2. Kenmore 66513803N710 Not Washing
  3. Kenmore dishwasher help

Community Discussions

not washing dishes

Change the pump motor as a complete sump assembly.

DIY View on Reddit →

sticky white residue on dishes, upper sprayer arm not working, no sound of water spraying

Possible issues include the wash motor being locked or the o-ring missing; new parts ordered.

DIY View on Reddit →

Dishwasher will not wash dishes. Red washing light just flashes.

Press buttons in a specific sequence to reset the dishwasher.

DIY View on Reddit →

Source: Reddit r/appliancerepair

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