The "pots and pans" and "normal wash" lights alternate back and forth rapidly. I can't get it to clear and have tried to hold cancel and the power buttons.The dishwasher won't do anything. Any ideas?

SOURCE: "Heater Circuit Malfunction" Kenmore 16033

Lynn, on the newer boards the key dance is heated dry-normal-heated dry-normal. On the older boards it was high temp-air dry-high temp-air dry. Don't know if yours has been changed or not..Catriver...post back.

Hjalmer Lamminen

• 552 Answers
• Posted on Feb 16, 2008

SOURCE: Kenmore Dishwasher #15769

Try this solution first
Push the Hi-temp and then push the Sani-rinse. Go back and forth multiple times on these two buttons. I found that after a handfull of pushes that a "1" came up on the display. I continued to keep rotating the two buttons and then a "2" came up on the display and the dishwater started it's "drain" phase. I then hit cancel to clear and then I selected the cycle I wanted. The washer started up just as normal at this point.

Elisabeth Kauffman Humphrey

• 3 Answers
• Posted on Mar 22, 2008

SOURCE: Kenmore Ultra Wash Dishwasher LIghts are blinking....

I just read this for the same problem: push sanitize, then heat and dry, sanitize, heat and dry, sanitize, heat and dry, cancel, then open and close the door. It worked. The dishwasher is running correctly even as I type this. 

SOURCE: Stuck on wash cycle

Do you set your cycles by a manual timer or do you have a digital display?If a timer then it most likley bad or its stuck---if thats the case try wd40 behind it and see if it loosens,If your unit is digital then the control board is most likley bad,let me know.

SOURCE: kenmore dishwasher ultra was quiet guard 3 model

that would be model # 66516012403 correct??
you may have inadvertently set the lock on function..
check this out from your manual...

Lock On
Use the Lock On to prevent unintended use of the dishwasher
between cycles. You can also use the lock feature to prevent
unintended cycle or option changes during a cycle.
When LOCK ON is lit, all buttons are disabled.
NOTE: The dishwasher door can be opened while the controls
are locked. However, the lock must be turned off and the Start/
Resume button pressed to resume the cycle.
To turn on the Lock
Press and hold HEATED DRY for 4 seconds. LOCK ON glows.
If you press any pad while your dishwasher is locked, the light
flashes 3 times.
NOTE: If the Heated Dry option is selected, the light will
temporarily turn off until Lock On glows.
To turn off the Lock
Press and hold HEATED DRY for 4 seconds. The light turns off.

hope this helps,
best of luck,
ttfn