Kenmore Dishwasher - stops cleaning dishes - 2 techs just scratch their heads - any suggestions? water is hot, changed soap, still not even coffee stains inside cups are cleaned, let alone the rest.

If it is a cheaper brand/model of dishwasher, you may have to rinse the dishes, especially if they have been sitting for a while. While there are dishwasher who are powerful enough to clean even crust off the dishes, most need to have the dishes rinsed off even just with cold water right after use....If you do not use alot of dishes per day and let the washer build up dishes after a few days then I would recommend a warm/hot water rinse even with a dish sponge and some soap. While some may think that this defeats the purpose of using a dishwasher, remember that a dishwasher is more sanitary that using a dish rag or sponge that had the opportunity to build up bacteria and other gunk over a period of time ;-)

Hi

The white residue is from the new environmentally safe soap. Check your soap and see if it is phosphate free soap and that will be your issue. Also either you have hard water or you're seeing either calcium or lime deposits. You should use the jet dry for every load. There should never be any suds in a dishwasher. Do not use liquid dish detergent for the dishwasher.Try running a load without dishes, using vinegar, or a bottle of Dishwasher Magic. Another possibility could be you're not getting enough water. The level should be close to the heater(check your tech sheet to be sure). The water temp should be at least 140 deg.F (no matter what the box says) Also, use a good brand of detergent (Cascade) and be sure your wetting Agent dispenser is full. (jet dry)You should not have to pre-wash your dishes..just scrape them well.The detergent actually needs some dirty dishes to work properly..fats, protien, etc. to make up 1 more chemical for the detergent.Another important step is to run the hot water faucet before running your d/w to "purge" the cold water out of the line.

Also check this links for some helpful information:-

http://www.appliance-repair-it.com/dishwasher-leaves-white-film-on-dishes.html

http://askville.amazon.com/dishwasher-washes-dishes-clean-white-residue-problem/AnswerViewer.do?requestId=6117170

http://lgknowledgebase.com/kb/index.php?View=entry&EntryID=6192

Please get back to us if you have further query else please accept this particular suggestion.

Thanks for contacting fixya.com

Hi,
When my wife started complaining about her dishwasher not getting the top rack clean this is what I found and I wrote a tip about it...

Dishwasher Spray Arms not Spinning

http://www.fixya.com/support/r4817172-dishwasher_spray_arms_not_spinning

heatman101

#1 check the upper spinner arm to see if it is clogged with particles if it is, clean the holes outi f they get clogged the arm-sprayer will not clean the upper rack
#2 if it is not clogged got to your local Grc.chain and purchase a bottle of dishwasher cleaner for about 8.00 follow all instructins on bottle make sure water is hot by running hot water tap closest to dishwasher.use it in an empty dishwasher.You will be amazed how clean your dishes will come out after the first wash

This issue can be caused by:

* Water is not hot enough.
* Be sure you are using dishwasher soap recommended by the manufacturer. Also, if the dishwasher soap is old, it will not clean the dishes properly. Try with a new one.
* The pump (no the drain pump) of the dishwasher is broken, so there is not enough water pressure from the nozzles.

After checking all above the dishwasher doesn't clean properly, it may have a part broken and you may need to request repairs for the dishwasher.

Either your dishwasher is not getting the water hot enough to dissolve the powder, or you need to switch brands. Try a liquid/gel type of dishwasher detergent.
Try stopping the washer a few minutes after you start a wash cycle. Open the door -- if there is a lot of steam coming out at you, it's not the water temperature. If there is no steam, your dishwasher is not getting hot water and/or the heating coil is not working.

Possible problems:

1. Too much soap! For soft water use no more than 1 1/2 tablespoons.
Give dishes a good scrape and put them in. If you MUST prerinse dishes (and you shouldn't) drop down to about 1 TSP soap. Modern DW's use less water and soap is more concentrated.

2. Water not hot enough. Test water temp at kitchen faucet with thermometer. It should read at least 120 deg.

3. Our service guys recommend not using lipuid soap, only powder. I listen to them.

4. Broken control to soap door. If it is still closed after a cycle, ask for help from a service company.

The inlet filter is probably clogged. Try letting it fill up. Open the door to stop it right after it starts to wash Pour a gallon or two of hot water in and see it it works better Stop and do this everytime it goes to fill up. If the door opens , soap is used and dishes are clean ,clean the filter in the fill valve and possibly replace it. or the whole valve. (around $25) The soap door may be a seperate problem. I don't remember if Kenmore uses a spring or a small heat element to open the soap dispenser. Try cleaning it really well, shut the dispenser, open the door and turn the timer very , very slowly and watch to see if the dispenser opens. (WIth the door open the dishwasher will not run, but leave it plugged in.) It should open sometime during the cycle.

timer is ordering draining. or solenoid is on and it drains non stop.

that sounds crazy but hears some suggestions you must have real hard water for that tab- not to dissolve hear is a crazy question is the water coming in to the d/w hot enough or even hot at all i had cases where i found that the d/w was hooked up to cold water