I have a DU8000XX6 series Kenmore dishwasher that won't drain the water properly. There is about a half inch of water in the tub and the float is raised (not sitting on tub bottom). When I lift up the float a little more I can hear the float switch make. I would assume that when the water is high enough the float switch makes and energizes a solenoid valve in the drain to drain the water, but shouldn't it stay open until all the water drains? Lifting the float while the dishwasher is off won't do anything to energize the valve, because there is not power when the door is open. I am in the HVAC business so I have some knowledge of valves and electricity, but I am kind of guessing at how they work. What do you recommend I do to fix this problem? FYI - i am running a quick rinse right now hoping it will correct itself. Thanks, Chris

Make sure the water is turned on to the unit first--next, is there water entering the tub? Check the float switch--the round, plastic, "flying saucer" shaped object at the bottom of the tub. Gently lift up on it and carefully listen for a very soft "click" sound. That is the tiny switch underneath working. If something gets trapped under the float switch, the washer won't fill with water. Next, if water is indeed in the tub, did you hear the motor pump running? If it runs and then stops, there might be a problem with the control board--check to see if the drain pump works properly--cancel the cycle and listen for the drain pump turning on and draining out all the water. On almost all dishwashers, at the start of a cycle, the drain pump will turn on briefly to pump out any standing water left in the motor base(you can't see the water but it's there) so it doesn't get sprayed onto your dishes. Then, fresh, hot water enters the tub, when the water level reaches the proper level, the float switch rises, tells the computer enough water is present, then starts the main pump. If the water is not being drained out, try to listen for the drain motor humming. If it is running but not draining, it is probably jammed with food or other debris and must be cleared. If the water is turned on but no water is entering the tub, check the inlet water valve underneath the washer--the water line is connected directly to it. It is electrical and operates on 120v. You will need to carefully disconnect the connector from the valve, activate a cycle, and using a voltage meter, check to see if 120 volts is present. If it is there and no water is entering, most likely the valve is bad. If there is no voltage at the valve, either a wire is broken or the main board is defective.

If water runs back into the drain then your drain hose is not properly afixed to the top of the unit under the cabinet. It must be at the top of the unit so no more than a half of an inch of water falls back into the tub when finished.

Hi

Check float to insure that it is free to move, it sounds like the dishwasher is over filling. That is assumed that you have not changed the type or amount of detergent being used.Also there is a probability that the drain inside the machine could be plugged. Also check the latch and the rubber gasket/seal around the door.
Also it could be the water solenoid is faulty. The valve is staying open. In back of the lower front panel near the front you'll see copper tubing going into a blue or green plastic solenoid with two wires going to it. This is the water solenoid. Inside is a steel slug that moves to open the water feed. Yours is stuck open. So guess it's time for a new valve.

Dishwashers use an inverted cup float to measure the water level in the tub.

The tub has a tube extending up from the bottom that serves as a standpipe. The inverted cup has a rod that goes down through that tube and rests on a cam from the water level micro-switch. As water enters the tub air is trapped inside the inverted cup and the cup floats upwards as the water rises. In turn the rod rises and allows the cam on the micro switch to rise also. When the tub reaches its preset limit the float has raised high enough to allow the micro switch to open, which in turn closes the solenoid water valve turning the water off.
Often the shaft of the float switch or the inside of the standpipe tub gets coated with soap scum or cooking oil and making it gummy. This then sticks the float down so it cannot rise to signal when the tub is full.

Lift the float upwards, it is loose and will lift right out. Clean the inside of the cup, the rod which extends downward and the inside of the standpipe tube. Replace the cup and check the function. The cleaning should resolve your problem. If not the problem is either a defective micro switch or solenoid valve.

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

Thank you for contacting fixya.com

open the dishwasher in the tub on your left bottom you will see a large plastic bubble lift the bubble (float) up and, down vertically, listen for a "click" the float sits above the water fill switch: the float's weight causes a pin on the float to press down on the switch to let water in the float sometimes can get stuck in the up position by debris and, prevent the fill switch from letting in water. When the float is lifted by the water in the tub to a predetermined height the pin comes off the fill switch lever and, turns off the water so that the dishwasher tub does not overflow. check this please.

how much water? there should always be at least an inch to 1&1/2 inches in bottom to keep seal at top of motor wet if seal drys out thern washer will leak around motor.if alott more than what i wrote then check float valve if it is sticking then see if anything is under it l/e a fork or something that may be keeping the float from dropping down to the proper draln level

There is a float located inside the dishwasher that lets the washers control board know if the water is completely drained. It is a 3 to 4 inch diameter disk shaped float. It may have a dome cover over it the you will have to remove.
Make sure there is nothing trapped under the float and holding it up. You should be able to move the float up and down with you fingers.
Next, do you have an "anti-siphon" valve on the drain hose or siphon loop in the hose. Make sure both are functioning properly. Make sure the drain hose is clean and clear. If the hose is plugged or partially plugged it can cause the water to backup in the washer.
Check it out and let me know.
Regards,

I had this problem, our kenmore dw would leak maybe 1 out of 5 runs. found that the overfill float was so full of crud and calcium that it was weighing it down, and alowing too much water in - thus leaking out the top of the shaft of the float.
You must unlatch the float below the dw, very difficult, try a mirror, you also must remove the micro switch attached to the bottom of the float first. This fixed the problem!

The water level sensor is not working right.  Generally, these are floats in the lower right side of the inside tub.  They jam up and will not move due to detergent buildup.  Gently move the float up and down to clear the issue.  If you have a water heat cycle, use it next time to help 'melt' the detergent buildup.
If you don't have a float, you have a sensor located in the bottom of the machine with a tube going up to the tub.  It has a thin hose and two wires coming out of it and is about 3 inches in diameter and about half an inch thick.  It has broken and will need to be replaced.  Test it by shorting the two wires and seeing if the washer fills.  

theres a over flow/check valve in either the left or right corner of the inner tub (looks like a mushroom sotr of,) perhaps this float is getting stuck, or perhaps something has gotten under it i.e. pasta chicken bone.

Pump is shot.