Dishes not clean

• Improper loading or over loading of dishes and glass ware that blocks the spray arm from rotating; check your user's guide for proper loading methods.
• the holes in the spray arm can be plugged from food particles or other debris, like coffee grounds; remove the spray arm and clean out the holes; run water through the arm to verify there is no blockage.
• check to see if the spray arm became disconnected from the feed tube or the feed tube from the water inlet feed hose.; reconnect hose or tighten down on hose clamps
• check for any filter blockages; remove food particles and debris
• the tub itself could be under filling, because of a restricted water inlet valve; pour 1 to 2 quarts of water into the tub of the dishwasher and run it; if the performance improves, replace the water inlet valve with a new one; DO NOT try to repair the old valve- it will fail once it's taken apart and put back together.
• the circulating motor drives a water pump that rotates an impeller, which creates water pressure to go through the washer arms and out the holes. The jetting action of the water pressure exiting the spray arm holes propels the arm to spin...if the water pump impeller is worn, damaged, or impeded by food debris, the cleaning action will be greatly diminished; inspect and clean or replace the impeller if necessary.
• If the aforementioned trouble shoot and repair methods do not correct the problem, then a more in depth diagnostic check will have to be done by a qualified repair technician to check switches that controls the water/drain pump, (if it is a dual action model for example); to verify if the switch or the pump itself has failed.

Check your upper wash arm.... check the holes, especially the ones at the end of the arm. Are they possibly clogged with debris or hard water? This is the usual cause of dishes on the top rack not getting clean. The holes at the end of the wash arm are angled to eject the water at an angle to use the reaction to push the wash arm around. If those holes are clogged, then the arm won't rotate, and only those few dishes or glasses right under the arm will get clean, and the remaining 80% of the dishes on the upper rack won't get clean!

If you need further help, reach me via phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/ronald_e6b9572cebe3ad27

Make sure the center loading is not obstructing the water jet to the top shelf. Top shelf is only for glasses and saucers , use Jet-Dry .Pre rinse and clean bottom pan strainer from dirt debris.

Hi and welcome to FixYa, I am Kelly,

Dirty dishes post cycle most of the time is caused by restricted drains or debris in the lower sump area of the dishwasher under the lower spray arm tower.

You must first check your entire dishwasher drain.
- Start at the sink connection by remove the hose at the sink connection and INSPECT the hole for debris (often this is a clogged garbage disposal port)
- Next connection working back to the dishwasher would be the Air-Gap. Pull the cover off of the Air-Gap then unscrew the top nut. Lift out the plastic U fitting in the top of the Air Gap noting the installed position because it will only fit one way. Clean the Air-Gap. Use a flashlight and look deep into the Air-Gap for debris. Clean it.... clean it... then re-assemble the Air-Gap
- Now inspect the drain hose from the Air-Gap back to the dishwasher connection for any folds or kinks. If you have a really bad kink... I recommend you tape a paint stir stick like a splint on to the outside of the drain hose because once kinked unless you do this the symptom repeats.
- Last pull of the drain hose from the dishwasher connection and inspect the connection hole for obstructions. (Use your finger... you probably can not see directly into the hole.)

If you found debris... while performing the above steps you probably resloved your problem.

If you still have the problem..... then you will have to remove the lower wash arm (NOTE how you took it off... wash arm assembly can really kick and beat you) You must remove the wash arm support to inspect the sump area for debris. Then remove the debris / clean the sump and re-assemble. .

Thanks for choosing FixYa,
Kelly

Hi and welcome to FixYa, I am Kelly

Most of the time when you start having dirty dishes post wash there is either an internal blocked screen under the lower wash arm tower or a problem with the drain. The drain problem shows up mostly inside the Air-Gap cap or at the garbage disposal / sink port connection. Pull the cap / cover off of the Air-Gap and then NOTE the installed position of the inner cap. Unscrew the cap nut and lift the cap off of the Air-Gap assembly. Food particles block the drain inside the cap. You should see a blockage as soon as you lift the cap or the particulate falls away as you lift the cap. Look into the Air-Gap with a flash light and clear any debris. Re-install all Air-Gap parts after cleaning. Make sure to pull the hose off of the garbage disposal port and clean the port.

Add water via cycle fill and then test the drain cycle. The dishwasher should be empty in less than 90 seconds. After 90 seconds interrupt the drain cycle. There should NOT be standing water in the dishwasher sump. If you have standing water in the sump after 90 seconds you will have to remove the lower wash arm and tower to clean the screen or drain holes in the tower. (depending on modeL) Another thing to pay attention to is exactly HOW the lower wash arm is installed on the tower. Some of the 2 part lower wash arms can be a nightmare to re-assemble.
When in doubt take pictures first.... (Lesson learned the hard way too many times when a 30 minute job goes in to the 2nd hour on my time!) Just make sure you do NOT remove any motor pump mounting hardware where it mates to the tub base. Even loosening a motor pump bolt or screw can cause a leak after your done.

While the lower wash arm is removed make sure that you inspect and clean the inside of the wash arm. Often food particles can block the water spray holes in the wash arm.

IF you have a direct / no Air-Gap sink connection then pull off the hose at the sink connection and clear the connection hole of any debris.

One last thing to look for is clogged upper spray arm water holes. Just inspect for signs of blockage. Only remove it if you note food particulate in the holes or under the wash tower base.

I am speaking from many many years of in home appliance repair experience. The steps above should stop the dirty post wash dishes. If you still have the same issues please respond with an EXACT Make and Model Number so I can look at the mechanisms of your dishwasher before responding again.

Thanks for choosing FixYa,
Kelly

plugged spray arm holes, pump intake partially blocked, too little water getting in tub cuz screen in fill valve has debri

Check for any debris that is blocking the holes in the spray arms where the water comes out.Regularly inspect each of the spray arms and clean out the holes as necessary.

Check these things out.

Debris caught in spray arm holes. Remove spray arm and clean out with water and compressed air.


Heating element burned out. Check water temp during wash--should read between 130 to 140 F.


Insufficient water fill in basin. In most models, proper fill level is just up to the heating element. Much less than this will result in poor cleaning.

HI, i recommend inspecting these areas below to combat this issue.


Not enough water
If there is not enough water, the dishes would not get cleaned. This could be caused by a partially closed water shut-off valve (located under the sink), or a faulty dishwasher water valve (located at the bottom of the dishwasher, behind the kick panel, on either side).

Clogged spay arms
There is usually two, sometimes three spray arms in a dishwasher. Make sure there is no debris blocking the holes inside each spray arm.

Water temperature is too low
To get the best results, the water has to be at 120 degrees Fahrenheit when entering the dishwasher.

Not enough soap
If you only fill one part of the soap cup, try adding soap to both parts.

Smoky film on dishes and glasses
This problem occurs due to excessive calcium build up inside the dishwasher. Try cleaning you dishwasher using a dishwasher cleaner.

Not knowing the make and model of your dishwasher makes it hard to be specific. But, depending on its age, your problem may be debris blocking both the holes in the wash arms and the filter that is beneath the lower wash arm.

Inspect the wash arm holes and get them all cleaned out.

Remove the screws that hold what ever filter assembly that lives beneath the lower wash arm. Use a flashlight to inspect the entire sump area, looking for debris. Inspect the impeller down there, making sure it can spin freely and is not damaged

Reassemble and test. Run a short cycle empty and wait for the dishwasher to fill and begin to wash. Open the door and pour in up to 2 cups of white vinegar. When the DW drains, inspect the inside and see if you want to add more vinegar the next cycle _after_ the washer refills and begins to wash or rinse.

Run a load of dirty dishes and check for cleaning improvement. If you still have problems, the wash pump/motor assembly will need to be replaced.

Good Luck!