SOAP DISPENSER DOOR OPENS DURING CYCLE BUT SOAP CAKES UP AND DOES NOT DISSOLVE. ASLO, EVEN WHEN THE SOAP DISSOLVES DURING CYCLE DISHES ARE NOT CLEAN - ESPECIALLY GLASSWARE EVEN THOGH WE DO USE A RINSE

There are two reasons why it can happen:

1. Too much dishwashing detergent (There may be build up from before causing caking and so it's not dispensing the soap tablet)

2. You will notice a tiny spring inside your dishwasher detergent dispenser. This spring is triggered during the washing cycle and causes the dispenser door to pop open. A broken spring can prevent this from happening. If the spring is clean with no food, suds, or obvious buildup preventing it from working, it likely needs replacing.

I had a similar issue and found this website really helpful. Hope this helps.

https://www.expressrepair.ca/why-doesnt-dishwasher-dispense-soap/

assuming you are using the correct dishwasher detergent type and quantity recommended for the dishwasher, the likely cause for detergent not dissolving is that the water is not circulating well enough through the wash arm. Check the wash arms are clean. Do dishes come out clean? Run the dishwasher with a cup correct side up on the top rack. If it is empty at end of wash then there is no water in the top arm.

Is the detergent dispenser door open during wash cycle?
Also lack of adequate wash water template can cause detergent to remain undesolved. Hope this helps.

The electric solenoid that opens the dispenser has failed. It is possible to replace it but you will probably have to disassemble the door to do it. An alternative might be to use a detergent tablet only in the open cup. It will partially dissolve during the pre-wash and what remains to dissolve in the main wash may be enough to get the dishes clean. Try this if the cost of replacing the solenoid is too high.

I believe that the instructions for using these 3-in-1 tablets is to place it in the open dish detergent cup, rather than in the closable compartment, since the tablet needs to get doused by a lot of water in oder to fully dissolve and be effective in getting the dishes clean.

Since the tablets are designed to dissolve more slowly, they are able to be used for the entire range of washing cycles. If it's a constant problem and you don's have an open detergent cup below or next to your closed detergent dispenser, just toss it into the bottom of the dishwasher instead.

The reason that the tablet isn't getting dissolved fully is because the door is preventing the tablet from dropping all the way out and the door is shielding the tablet from quite a bit of water spray.

Another option is to take a look at your owners manual for the dishwasher and see if they recommend these all-in-one tablets versus regular powered detergent and liquid rinse aid.

Hope that helps and best regards!

I bet your clumps of soap began with the beginning of the use of a different DW detergent powder.

Try this (trust me) Go buy a box of brand name Dishwasher powder (e.g. Electrosol or Cascade) Use it for two loads of dishes and report your results back here. OK?

Kitchenaid lists 130 dishwashers with this model. Need the rest of the number
KUDSO1DLxxxx
Back in the day, when I worked on K Dishwashers, the drain valve was the problem typically.
It would get a piece of glass, from broken glass or other item, or a toothpick, whatever stuck in the drain valve. It would not completely close. During the wash cycle, water would be trickling down the drain and by the time the soap dispenser opens, the water would be gone or nearly gone.
Check this. When you hear the dispenser snap open, stop the dishwasher and open the door.
If you have little or no water, you are losing the water during the wash cycle.

Let me know.
Gary

2 things will lead to soap not dissolving, first is cold water, so make sure you have hot enough water. second and more likely is the dispenser is not opening at the proper time , instead fully opens at end of cycle during the dry cycle never even getting wet, and washing dishes with no soap, id replace the dispenser or make sure your not stacking items in front of dispenser hindering the opening. also powder is best, tabs and gelpack put undo stress on the dispenser door not always allowing full operation...

If you are you using a liquid soap or packets that will be the main problem.If your unit fills with water circulates the water and drains the water,and also heaters are working then you probally need to change to cascade powder soap.The film on the dishes is soap.The unit has so much build up in it that when it gets to the rinse cycle it is rinsing dishes with soapy water.You need to get 2 medium bowls fill both 2/3 up with white vinager,place one in upper rack and one in lower rack and run unit on longest cycle letting the vinager splash out during wash.do this with no soap and no dishes.Having soft water will allow you to use less soap.

Something simple you can check is to make sure the spring that flips open the door is not broken or caked up with detergent.

As for the soap not dissolving, I've had similar problems and the only solution I've found is to make sure you are not blocking  the spray jet on the bottom from hitting the soap drawer.

Before taking anything to bits, check you aren't just loading the machine in such a way that something (for us, it's usually a frying pan) is stopping the soap dispenser from springing open all the way. A.