Top wash arm doesn't spin.

If you look at the bottom arm you will notice an extension nozzle that comes up out of the center. If you block that from going up during the wash cycle with dishes then the water will not reach the top. This is what makes the top arm spin.

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.

Arm operates(turns) by water pressure. If it does not turn no water is going to the top spray arm. make sure the setting washer is on does not preclude the top spray arm from operating(read manual). If not check arm by spinning by hand to make sure it is free. If arm is free and it still does not turn when DW is running than there is a restriction in the tubing to the upper spray arm or the check ball or solenoid are not operating correctly.

These spray arm will only get water several times in the wash and rinse cycle. They do not turn at the same time the lower (bottom large spray arm under the bottom rack).
There is a chamber that diverts water either to the bottom sprayer or to the top sprayers, not to both at the same time.
If your top spray arms never get water, then there must be an issue with that chamber motor to divert the water. A new sump assembly that has all the new parts.
Good luck.

you need to check the upper wash arm for blockage from debris,if this is not the case,then you need to replace the water conduit from the lower sump area to the top arm,after time the water erodes the plastic conduit especially where it connects at the arms and water gets by these areas and can no longer build pressure to spin the wash arm

Check to see if the top rack wash arm water fitting is mating with the outlet on the back inside of the machine and the spinning was arm. This fitting can become displaced causing the water from the pump to just spray out into the washer and not clean the dishes on the top rack. it's usually just a matter of re-positioning the fitting and making sure it's connected to the top rack spinning wash manifold.

Hi: I just posted a similar problem, but found a solution. After taking the arm, etc. apart (and verifying no blockages), I thought maybe the lack of water pressure was being caused by the fact that there are TWO holes for the top spray arm (higher and lower rack setting) on my model. ie. that water was being forced out of both holes, causing a drop in water pressure, which was causing the top spray arm to stop spinning. I plugged the unused hole with a wine bottle cork (to keep the water from spraying out the unused hole), and voila, it now works.

I wish all appliance fixes were this easy...!

S

only the top rack isnt getting clean?
there is a little plastic circle in the middle of the bottom of the upper spray arm. turn it counter clock wise to pull the upper spray arm from the upper rack. make sure that isnt clogged and the spray holes are not clogged. otherwise....

the piece that the bottem spray arm plugs into and runs along the back wall of the tank to the top is called a feed tube. pull the bottom spray arm out. now you can see the part of the feed tube that feeds the upper spray arm water. does it pop out freely and easily? if so then you need a new feed tube, if not then its most likely your not achieving the right water level or your impeller connected to your circulation pump(motor) is clogged not supplying enough water pressure to travel up the feed tube to spin the upper spray arm.

matt, did you get down to the chopper screen? If that screen is clogged the flow to the upper arm will be restricted. Check out the pic, Catriver