Kitchenaid dishwasher not heating water: Model KUDM01T. What should be the voltage at the element? I'm measuring 12v.

The easiest way is the system of elimination. Professional way by measuring the resistance, current and voltage.
Could be: faulty power board (completly or only relay for heating element), faulty wiring between heating element and power board, faulty heating element (interruption, short circuit or current leakage,on some heaters faulty thermal protection)

Dado

You don't want to run this without water. You will burn out the pump.

Check this possible causes:

Water-heating cycle
heat,wash,rinse you must check the 3 types. one of them can be the problem, most of the time when water reach the level of heating work o.k , you must troubleshooting the heating elements.
Timer
often fail, in some cycle, they stuck, try to clean the contacts, tight the wires very well, or replace.

sincerely. God bless you

Hi,
Check your heating element..
A bad heating element causes many problems in dishwashers...

Dishwasher Problems The Heating Element not Working
How to Replace the Dishwasher Heating Element
Dishwasher Maintenance

heatman101

Asker's Testimonial " explanation very clear. will give it a go and seehow simple it was. thanks Ronnie " - ronnieshomes

Hi,
Check your heating element..
A bad heating element causes many problems in dishwashers...

Dishwasher Problems The Heating Element not Working
How to Replace the Dishwasher Heating Element
Dishwasher Maintenance

heatman101

Asker's Testimonial " explanation very clear. will give it a go and seehow simple it was. thanks Ronnie " - ronnieshomes

check your water level float for interference and make sure the switch activated by the float is good

Depends on how much that you use the dishwasher. It's possible that the element is burnt out. If you know how to check the element, you can with a meter, however if you don't know electrical, then by all means get a qualified individual. There isn't a thermostat. Everything is on a timer circuit.If there is a preheat on the machine, you could set it to that and the element should come on also.

I know is sounds strange, but on a typical Kitchen Aid dishwasher, cycles can go longer because the the dishwasher is waiting for the water be raised to the proper temperature, especially during a hot rinse cycle.
Checking that the heating element is working would be the first thing to check.
If the heating element is working, the probable cause is a failed console (which controls the logic/programming of the dishwasher.)
Good Luck!

normally on a kitchenaid dishwasher the diagnostics cycle is activated by pressing heated dry - sani rinse - heated dry - sani rinse - heated dry - sani rinse - heated dry and this will energize the heating element but the only way to check is to see if you are geting voltage out of the board or by checking the resistance of the elment should usaly be around 16 ohm's

It could be a malfunction heating element, thermostat or both. In most cases it's the heating element. Check with a multi-meter for 115/220V on the heater tags. In case you get this voltage there, you should replace the heating element. In case you can't read the 115/220V on the heater tags, check thermostat's for continuity (you should read a low resistance). In case you can't get any measurement. You should replace the thermostat. Good luck