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Tappan 18 in. MDR251RE Built-in Dishwasher

I have a dishwasher that does not clean the dishes... (by 17 users)


By Bouncy - usenet poster


I have a dishwasher that does not clean the dishes properly. It leaves stuff that looks almost like sand on the top of all the dishes on the top rack. I have tried everything I can think of. can someone help me figure this one out?
I have the same problem.
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16 Other Users Have The Same Problem

Comment by Guest, posted on Sep 01, 2008

i put my dishwasher on as normal, but when the cycle has finished the plates and cups don't look like they have been cleaned very well. It's very frustrating as i have tried everything, including salt and dishwasher cleaners. I don't know what else to do without calling out a repair person?

Comment by momster48, posted on Aug 29, 2008

I have a problem the dishwasher doesn't seem to be getting water. I open the dishwasher and the soap dispenser has just dumped soap but it is still on the bottom of the dishwasher.

Comment by Guest, posted on Aug 13, 2008

same thing dishes on top have food residue stuck that flakes off

Comment by ef27182, posted on Jul 26, 2008

We had the same problem and found the solution. Our son had partially closed the valve. With a lower water pressure, the top part was not spinning and not cleaning!

Comment by Guest, posted on Jun 06, 2008

I have similar problem, the detergent deposit could not resolved properly and totally, leaving dished uncleaned completely.....

Best Solution

posted on Apr 18, 2007
FixYa! (100)

groggles

Rank:Apprentice Apprentice
Rating: 94%, 21 votes
I had this sand residue just on the top shelf and found that the upper spray arm was not rotating around. (I opened the door a few times when it was washing to find the spray arm in exactly the same position). I had a quick look at the spray arm holes but did not notice any obstructions... However on closer inspection, I discovered a small hole pointing sideways at each end of the spray arm. The spray from these holes propel the spray arm to rotate. Both were blocked by a small ball of hair like substance. I had to use a needle to remove this and this solved my problem.
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Solution #2

posted on Sep 29, 2007
FixYa! (100)

Guest

Rank:Apprentice Apprentice
Rating: 0%, 0 votes
I had the same problem and found a different solution. The problem was not enough water to get the arm to spin. To test this just add a pan of water to the wash cycle and see if the arm spins. If it does then the problem may be with the water intake line. There is a screen at the connection where the intake line enters the dishwasher. So turn the supply valve off and disconnect the intake line and remove particles that may be traped in the screen. The cause of the particles is from the hot water tank that tend to accumulate a bit of corrosion on the bottom of tank. To remedy this just open the valve at the bottom of the hot water tank and drain it in a pan until the water is clear.
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Solution #3

posted on Feb 26, 2007
Thanks for Trying (70)

Guest

Rank:Apprentice Apprentice
Rating: 0%, 0 votes
I had the same problem with a low end Kenmore that came with our new home. After several trips the service technicians(2) still couldn't figure out what was causing the problem. They said they would replace it. Because of the problems with that model, we decided to upgrade to a higher end model. Once it was replaced, we didn't have problems with the new dishwasher. They checked the filter, our upper arm was moving, tried using vinegar to clear out residue, nothing worked. So if it is still under the warranty, I'd ask them to replace it if they can't fix the problem. They replaced ours 5 months after we moved in. The problem seemed to keep getting worse.
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Solution #4

posted on May 23, 2008
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Guest

Rank:Apprentice Apprentice
Rating: 0%, 0 votes
buy a water softener
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Solution #5

posted on Aug 08, 2005
Thanks for Trying (70)

Bomber

Rank:Apprentice Apprentice
Rating: 0%, 0 votes
The sand like substance may very well be undissolved abrasive material from your dishwasher soap. Most people don't realize dishwasher soap needs to be fresh. Buy a package that you can use in a month. As it ages, it looses effectiveness. Also consider switching to another brand.
Another possibility is the way you are loading the dishwasher. If dishes interfer with the wash arms spinning freely or you overload the dishwasher, you will get poor wash results and poor rinsing and thus grit left behind on the dishes.
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Solution #6

posted on Mar 05, 2007
Thanks for Trying (70)

Guest

Rank:Apprentice Apprentice
Rating: 0%, 0 votes
There isn't a solution for this problem. I'm convenced it is a lemon and that it needs to be replaced by the mfg company with a different model.
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Solution #7

posted on Nov 05, 2007
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lki55

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help
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Solution #8

posted on Oct 31, 2007
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robmsp

Rank:Guru Guru
Rating: 89%, 74 votes
dishwasher is not rinsing correctly.
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Solution #9

posted on Aug 26, 2007
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Guest

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Also a short cycle will not break down the detergent...liquid detergent is better....but you still need to run a "long" cycle
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Solution #10

posted on Apr 14, 2007
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Guest

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use only one tablespoon of dishwashing powder, most people think more is better, but it's actually too much.
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Solution #11

posted on Mar 06, 2007
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Guest

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Ive found that the problem is not enough water in being pumped to the center spray arm. With my dish washer in particular, you can see the water trickle upward to the upper nozzle...but it does not have enough pressure to properly function. I tapped the delivery tube that feeds this nozzle and the water pressure jumped imediately. So the problem lies either with the pump or maybe the impeller....for some reason the full flow of water is not making it to the upper spray arm.
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Solution #12

posted on Feb 22, 2007
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Guest

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fill the salt container up to 2 bags
make sure it finishes the cycle
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Solution #13

posted on Feb 16, 2007
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Guest

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I have the same problem with my dishwasher. I have tryed everything as to loading, water temp, changed soap and still have the problem of having residue on the dishes. I can not see the stuff left on the dishes, but I can feel it when I take them out. Please help me, this was installed May 4, 2006. The repair man has looked at it & he doesn't know why this is happening.
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Solution #14

posted on Feb 15, 2007
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Guest

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Better look at your upper arm. I have same problem. Saw that my upper arm does not spin. Frigidaire. Now I must find why arm does not move.
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Solution #15

posted on Feb 15, 2007
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Guest

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Better look at your upper arm. I have same problem. Saw that my upper arm does not spin. Frigidaire. Now I must find why arm does not move.
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Solution #16

posted on Feb 09, 2007
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Guest

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I had this problem and it was a faulty seal on the upper washing arm. Problem solved with a new one purchased for £8.95.
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Solution #17

posted on Jan 24, 2007
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fourofme

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I had the same problem upon further investigation,
we found a build up of junk and mold behind the filter screen and under the cover at the bottom of the dishwasher where we also found standing water that was not draining. Yuck! my conclusion is that it is grime and muck.
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Solution #18

posted on Jan 21, 2007
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Guest

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what about a clog in the water supply line from the pump on the bottom to the upper spray arm under the top rack
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Solution #19

posted on Dec 11, 2006
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Paula2404

Rank:Apprentice Apprentice
Rating: 83%, 46 votes
paula... indicated that his solution for
24 in. BFD60SS... Problem
is valid for all Dishwashers
I was advised by an engineer that there is not enough salt in the dishwasher & that is what causes the sand like residue on dishes. sometimes even when you use an all in 1 dishwasher tablet this may still not contain enough salt for the hardness of the water in your area. Using salt regular helps keep the dishwasher clean.
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16 Other Users Have The Same Problem - Continued

Comment by Guest, posted on Jun 02, 2008

I have a one year old dishwasher and a hair like material clogg the food grinder screen no matter how well you clean the dishes prior to putting them in the dishwasher. Service tech believes we do not clean the dishes before putting them in the dishwasher but we do, we really really clean them good. It has to be something in the dishwasher? Anyone have any ideas?

Comment by Guest_sf, posted on May 20, 2008

I have a new Frigidaire dishwasher. The dishes are left with white residue after the wash and I have re-wash it with hand to clean up that baked-in powder stuff. The water is not hard here, so I believe it is to do with the dishwasher itself. We used switched form Kirkland brand powder to Cascade, but that hasn't helped much. Sometimes the detergent in the dispenser is not fully empty after the wash too, even with a very little detergent that we use. Tried the Hi-temp wash cycles too most of the time, but still same problem.
Please help!

Comment by Guest, posted on May 15, 2008

what connects the upper spray arm of my dishwasher to water

Comment by Guest, posted on Apr 21, 2008

Leaves dishwasher detergent residue in soap & rinse dispenser. When opened, dishwasher does not appear to have taken on enough water. Attempting to turn off & then on of the water shutoff connected before the pressure valve (?) produced an abundance of water leakage around the shutoff stem. I thought there might be a clogging of the water tube to the dishwasher. Low water level appears throughout cycles.

Comment by Guest, posted on Apr 18, 2008

sandy/dirty glasses

Comment by jgoldstein, posted on Apr 05, 2008

Same problem, the dises on the top rack are left with a gritty substance even after they have gone through the wash cycle.

Comment by Tom Sipp, posted on Apr 04, 2008

We changed soap, used the jet dry, make sure the water is hot, dishes are still not getting clean?

Comment by Guest, posted on Mar 17, 2008

sprayer arm does not work but water comes out

Comment by Guest, posted on Mar 11, 2008

The dishes and glasses on the top rack don't get clean. They also have a gritty substance on them when they are done. It's a year old. Help!!

Comment by BlueMamma, posted on Mar 08, 2008

We have been having the same problem with the same dishwasher. My clean water glasses will go in clean and come out filled with grit. My dishwashing detergent - Cascade powder - is not old and we run our dishwasher at least daily. VERY frustrating - and the washer is less than 3 years old. We live in a high end, developed area of NOVA and the water is not hard.

Comment by Guest, posted on Feb 11, 2008

Brand new amana does not clean dishes. Small specks of residue are left on all dishes. Stainless pots are not cleaned.

I have not done anything yet.
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