Smeg dwi409 C dishwasher, starts the cycle as normal but doesn't clean. Soap doesn't dissolve, heat but

Is the dishwasher heating ? , check heating element / pcb

If you open the door immediately after the dishes are washed, and before the "dry" cycle, is the water hot enough to have "steam" coming out of the machine?
You should be able to feel the heat.
If not, perhaps the water is not getting hot enough to dissolve the dishwashing powder.
Could you try using a liquid soap once and see what happens?
Be blessed.

your using to much soap . pour vinegar about a half cup into the bottom of the washer before you start, do this about 3 washes then should be okay,

Hello

Water Inlet Valve

A dishwasher's water inlet valve is its most common part to fail. When your dishes are not being fully cleaned, quite often a faulty water inlet valve is to blame. Test your dishwasher's water inlet valve, and if it is no longer functioning as it should, you will have to replace it.

Upper or Lower Spray Arm


Your dishwasher has a lower spray arm. It may also have an upper spray arm at the top of the dishwasher. These spray arms are designed to shoot high pressure, high temperature water at your dishes. It is possible that the holes of the spray arms, where the water comes out, are blocked with debris, affecting wash quality. You should inspect your dishwasher's spray arms regularly. Clean out the spray arms as need be.

Heating Element

Water temperature is a key element in achieving clean dishes. A dishwasher's heating element is not designed to heat the water that enters it. Rather, the heating element is designed to maintain the heat of the water that enters the dishwasher. Its a good idea to run the hot water in your sink for a couple of minutes before you run the dishwasher. Just to make sure the water is nice and hot before it enters the dishwasher. If the water is unable to stay hot, it can adversely affect your dishwasher's cleaning ability.


Filter/Drain Grate

There is a filter in your dishwasher. Its function is to keep large particles of food and foreign objects away from the pump. Many of the newly-manufactured dishwashers have self-cleaning filters, and routine cleaning isn't a concern. However, some other dishw ashers need to have the filter removed and cleaned regularly. If the filter or grate is clogged or blocked with debris, it may interfere with the normal functioning of your dishwasher. Consult your owner's manual for specific directions for removing your dishwasher's filter and cleaning it.

Detergent or Detergent Cup

It could just be that you aren't using enough soap to completely wash your dishes. Your dishwasher may be designed to dispense soap at two different times during the wash cycle. If you don't fill all of the detergent cups, then the diswasher will lose a cleaning cycle. Also, if you use a gel-type detergent, try switching to a powered kind. Powders tend to dissolve better in hot water. And don't buy in bulk. Detergents are most effective in the first two weeks. After that, they decrease in potency.

Alternatively, your dishwasher's detergent cup could be defective in some way. It is possible that it is gunked up full of built up detergent, and a thorough cleaning may be enough to get it working again. If that doesn't do the trick, you probably need to replace the entire detergent cup assembly. If your cup isn't even opening, please see our section My dishwasher detergent cup won't open.

Hello,
Try emptying the dishwasher and putting a few tablespoons of vegatable oil in the bottom. Run the cycle without soap and no dishs. Often dish soap (palmolive) builds up and creates soap suds that won't go away during a normal cycle. The oil binds with the soap residue to get rid of it. It worked for my Kenmore. I know do it every few months. Good Luck!!!
Thanks

Hi, I have an older dishwasher also and recently mywife also complained about it not cleaning right... so me being the man I amtried in vain to clean the things... Bought new spray arms online and installedthem in minutes...now the thing works like new... However I have also foundthat if the heating element goes bad then that also can mess things up bad...So I would buy new spray arms, and also check out the heating element to makesure it is working... Here is a tip that will help you with the onlinebuying...
Dishwasher SprayArms not Spinning

How to Buy ApplianceParts Online

A bad heating element causes many problems in dishwashers...

Dishwasher Problems The HeatingElement not Working

DishwasherMaintenanceDishwasherResidue and Film on Dishes

heatman101

Asker's Testimonial "explanation very clear. will give it a go and see howsimple it was. thanks Ronnie " - ronnieshomes

Hi,

I have an older dishwasher also and recently my wife also complained about it not cleaning right... so me being the man I am tried in vain to clean the things... Bought new spray arms online and installed them in minutes...now the thing works like new... However I have also found that if the heating element goes bad then that also can mess things up bad... So I would buy new spray arms, and also check out the heating element to make sure it is working... Here is a tip that will help you with the online buying...

Dishwasher Spray Arms not Spinning

How to Buy Appliance Parts Online

A bad heating element causes many problems in dishwashers...

Dishwasher Problems The Heating Element not Working

Dishwasher Maintenance

Dishwasher Residue and Film on Dishes

heatman101

Hi, dishwasher detergent stays in the compartment because Bosch has designed a gap at the top of the compartment that feeds water onto the detergent before the cover opens. This has possibly been done to soften up deteregent tablets and help them dissolve.

The result is a solidified mass of wet detergent that doesn't come out of the compartment when it opens, and slowly dissolves onto the dishes leaving them coated with alkaline detergent at the end of the cycle. The residual lump of detergent is in the compartment or on the bottom of the dishwasher (refer photo).

The solution is to remove the compartment cover and look for the small gap at the top of the compartment as in the photos. Clean the surface and fill the gap with epoxy glue. This will keep the detergent dry until the cover opens, allowing the detergent to fall freely out of the compartment.

Hi,
Check your heating element..

Dishwasher Problems The Heating Element not Working
http://www.fixya.com/support/r4589033-dishwasher_problems_heating_element_not

Dishwasher Maintenance
http://www.fixya.com/support/r4319937-dishwasher_maintenance

heatman101

don,t use those packets stay with powder or liquid dishwasher soap. the packets need a lot of heat to dissolve,.