Dishes not getting clean! and the soap dispenser rarely opens as it should

Hi,
There are three common problems that cause the Soap Dispenser or Cup not toopen. I have a tip that will explain these problems in detail....

Dishwasher Repair Problem Detergent Cup does not Open

heatman101

Hi,

There are three common problems that cause the Soap Dispenser or Cup not to open. I have a tip that will explain these problems in detail....

Dishwasher Repair Problem Detergent Cup does not Open

heatman101

Hi,

There are three common problems that cause the Soap Dispenser or Cup not to open. I have a tip that will explain these problems in detail....

Dishwasher Repair Problem Detergent Cup does not Open

heatman101

Hi,

There are three common problems that cause the Soap Dispenser or Cup not to open. I have a tip that will explain these problems in detail....

Dishwasher Repair Problem Detergent Cup does not Open

heatman101

make sure you are getting hot water to D/W might also try different soap

Dilute the soap you use by 1/3 . this won't affect the soaps ability to clean, but it makes it easier on the dispenser.

Well the 2nd part of your question is probably the the reason it doesn't clean. If the soap door doesn't open then the dishes will probably not be cleaned. So.. I would focus on why the door doesn't open first.. is it sticking from old soap residue? If so, clean the dispenser with white vinegar and cycle it a few times without detergent and use the hottest/sanitary setting.. Then make sure you are using an approved dishwashing detergent for yuour wash cycle. Add some detergent to the dispenser and try cycling it without any dishes .. does the door open? If no, then you need to resolve that first.. If it does open, try running a cycle with about 1/2 the normal dish load and see if the door opened and the dishes came out clean.. Routinely, check and clean the drain filter so you aren't redistributing the food sediment from the previous load all over the next load of dishes.. Hope that helps..

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.

If you are you using a liquid soap or packets that will be the main problem.If your unit fills with water circulates the water and drains the water,and also heaters are working then you probally need to change to cascade powder soap.The film on the dishes is soap.The unit has so much build up in it that when it gets to the rinse cycle it is rinsing dishes with soapy water.You need to get 2 medium bowls fill both 2/3 up with white vinager,place one in upper rack and one in lower rack and run unit on longest cycle letting the vinager splash out during wash.do this with no soap and no dishes.Having soft water will allow you to use less soap.

ok, either a spring, trigger prob, on the latch, or a electronic prob. ok so to see if the latch is ok (or not) look closely for soap residue and scum, that may be hindering the latch or spring under. use metho, and warm water to clean this part. secondly go down to a white goods repair place and take your electrical component, button, lights its all one unit, simple unscrew it, i do think you will need a set of torque screws for that tho... anyhow ask the guy to get you a new or second hand one and install it. the timer will run, and the clip will release. good luck!