My dishwasher sprays water up into the dishes but the little spray arms don't move when the water sprays up. The arms move by hand when I touch them. What could this mean for my dishwasher?

I would check for a water flow blockage in the pipes.

Most dishwashers dispense the detergent via gravity and the sprayer arms spraying against the soap dispenser once the little door flips open during the wash cycle. Since it sounds like the soap door is opening I would look at the sprayer arms and make sure they are free of food particles or other debris that might be keeping them from rotating and spraying properly. Here are some instructions for performing this check.

Remove the lower dishrack from the unit. Reach into your dishwasher and spin the lower spray arm. Take note of whether or not the arm moves freely or if its movement is restricted. It should not be restricted in its path of motion. Now gently pull up on an end of the spray arm. The spray arm should be free to wobble up and down. Unscrew the arm retaining knob (some of these are left hand threads) and take the arm out for inspection and carefully examine the spray arm seams. If they have split or are damaged, the dishes may not receive the amount of water pressure required to fully clean the dishes or to rotate the arm properly. What’s more, if water is in fact spraying out of the spray arm from its seams, it is possible that it can cause your dishwasher to leak. Make sure there is no debris in any of the holes.



If your dishwasher has a spray tower, pull up on it as far as it will go and then let it fall back down. Again, this movement should not be restricted. It should be a fluid and smooth motion. Also, unscrew the spray tower and examine it for any debris or foreign objects. Remove any that you find.
Gain access to the upper spray arm by removing the upper dishrack. Perform the same tests for the upper spray arm as you just did for the lower spray arm. Keep in mind that the upper spray arm may not wobble as much as the lower spray arm.
On a final note, some dishwasher models have a water tube that meets up with the upper spray arm once the upper dishrack is pushed back. It is a good idea to check to make sure this tube is aligning properly with the upper spray arm and that this has not split or is damaged in any other way.

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Dishwasher Spray Arm Not Turning ' Home Guides ' SF Gate

homeguides.sfgate.com > Foreclosures > Other Foreclosures
Remove the lower tray of the dishwasher to freely access the spray arm. Turn it byhand, and if it doesn't move freely, you will need to unscrew or unbolt any ... How to Remove the Lower Wash Arm on a Maytag Dishwasher MDB7000AWW ...

Maytag dishwasher bottom spray arm doesn't turn - Home Repair Forum

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Jan 3, 2009 - 5 posts - ‎3 authors
I'm now soaked, but I was able to determine that the lower arm isn't turning. There's a LOT of water coming out, but it doesn't move. Turning by hand I can turn it freely, it spins like a top. .... You may not post new threads; You may not post replies; You maynot post attachments; You may not edit your posts.

How do i remove the lower spray arm of my Maytag .

Hello; this dishwasher has a pretty poor track record, but since you have it, I'd suggest the obvious solutions first. You only mention that the spray arms aren't spinning. If this is the ONLY problem, and the dishwasher empties properly, the problem has to lie in the spray arms, since the same pump that runs the sprays pumps the water out of the dishwasher.
If you have the manual for the machine, remove the sprays and check that they are clear of all debris (small pieces of bone, plastic, glass, food) that are usually removed when you rinse the dishes prior to putting them in the dishwasher. These small particles are blown into the spray holes when the sprays try to run, and block the holes. Often, they drop back into the spray arms when the pump is off, so they aren't visible on inspection. For this reason, smack the spray arm into the palm of your hand sharply, then shake the arm. If you hear rattling around inside the arm, it's debris. It's a little time consuming, but you need to get it out, and check for this problem regularly.
While the arms are off the fittings, close the dishwasher and start the cycle. Once it reaches the point where the sprays come on, if the pump IS working, and the debris screen on the food chopper is clear, you should hear the water gushing inside.
If you DON'T hear the water gushing, the next thing to check is the food chopper debris screen.
If all else fails, and the washer does NOT empty at the end of the cycles, you probably have a pump problem.
If that's the case, considering the history of these machines and the cost and labor involved in installing a new pump, you should consider getting a new, more reliable machine. Check Consumer Reports next time. (;<)....Good Luck!

Hi

If the top rack of the dishwasher doesn't get clean, check your appliance to see if you can fix the problem.
First check the spray Arms to make sure the holes in the spray arms are free and clear of debris. Your dishwasher should have several spray arms, including one at the bottom of the tub, one under the top rack, and possibly a third spray arm on the top of the tub. Sometimes food and mineral deposits can block holes in the spray arms, preventing water from spraying effectively. If this occurs, warm some white vinegar and pour it into a spray bottle. Spray the holes with the vinegar and dislodge debris with a toothpick or large safety pin.

Then check to see if your dishwasher has clogged filters. Filters generally cover the drain valve area to catch debris as the water drains from the dishwasher. Many dishwashers have maintenance-free filters, but your dishwasher may have filters that need cleaning. Read your owner's manual before you perform any filter maintenance to avoid damaging your dishwasher.

Check your water temperature to make sure it's hot enough. Water that is under 120 degrees Fahrenheit may not be hot enough to clean dishes effectively. Turn your kitchen hot water tap on and wait until the water warms up completely. Fill a cup and measure the water temperature with a kitchen thermometer. If the water is less than 120 degrees Fahrenheit, turn your water heater up to 120 degrees.

Load the top rack properly. Place cups and bowls upside down in the rack and don't nest dishes because this can prevent water from reaching dishes. Don't overload the top rack. Instead, position each item so the dirty areas of the dishes will receive full contact with water spraying up from the main spray arm located beneath the top rack. Prevent items from hanging below the top rack, which could prevent the spray arm from rotating.

Also check this link for more helpful info:-

http://www.ehow.com/info_7977311_top-dishwasher-not-getting-clean.html

Please get back to us if you have further query else please accept the suggestion.
Thank you for contacting fixya.com

Check the outlet holes on both spray arms for clogs. If necessary, remove the spray arms, clean out the holes and empty out any debris inside the spray arms. Verify that the upper arm is turning also.

If the machine does not drain completely at the end of the cycle, the pump drain outlet is partially blocked and you are retaining dirty water for the next load.

You may have a chemistry problem - inferior soap, empty rinse agent dispenser, or extremely hard water.

Improper arrangement of the dishes can prevent some from being washed. Make sure no dish blocks the spray to another.

Position the spray arms in a certain position. Activate the dishwasher for a few seconds and then examine the position of the spray arms. If the upper spray arm has not moved, then either there is no water coming to the spray arm or the spray arm is clogged.

Lots of possibilities...

1. the sprayer arm might be sticking and not moving, or moving very little. Check to see if you can spin it by hand. Listen when the machine is running and you should hear the sound of the spray changing as it rotates. Check for items that might be jamming the arm like silverware, cups, jar labels, etc.

2. the little holes in the sprayer arms could be clogged. Need to remove the arms and clean them.

3. If it has a spray arm in the top rack, check to see that the piping for that is not broken or missing any pieces.

4. Any filter screens inside the plumbing could be clogged. This would slow down the spray and result in the dishes not getting rinsed properly. Check the inside of the machine for any foreign objects (see #3 above).

5. The machine might not be emptying between portions of the cycle. After the wash cycle, see if it is draining by either checking for water coming out of the drain hose or by opening the machine before it should start filling up for the rinse cycle.

6. Machine could be overloaded. Or loaded with extremely dirty dishes. Or with foods that are hard to clean like grits or oatmeal.

7. The machine could be improperly loaded. Bowls or platters blocking the spray. Tall objects like glasses and jars should not be loaded into the corners of the racks. The corners do no get a lot of spray and tall items can end up dirty.

Pour 1 Cup of Muriatic Acid (Can be purchased at your local Pool Supply Store) into the bottom of the washer and a little in the soap dish. Run the Dishwasher through 5 cycles. Check to see If this helps. If not Try the same process with CLR house cleaner.

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