How to remove lower spray arm and center plate cover?

Check the water supply line for kinks, check bottom strainer/drain inside to remove particles/trash blocking water from exiting to pump washer motor, be sure no items block rotation of washer heads. Good luck.

Hi, I have an older dishwasher also and recently mywife also complained about it not cleaning right... so me being the man I amtried in vain to clean the things... Bought new spray arms online and installedthem in minutes...now the thing works like new... However I have also foundthat if the heating element goes bad then that also can mess things up bad...So I would buy new spray arms, and also check out the heating element to makesure it is working... Here is a tip that will help you with the onlinebuying...
Dishwasher SprayArms not Spinning

How to Buy ApplianceParts Online

A bad heating element causes many problems in dishwashers...

Dishwasher Problems The HeatingElement not Working

DishwasherMaintenance DishwasherResidue and Film on Dishes

heatman101

Asker's Testimonial "explanation very clear. will give it a go and see howsimple it was. thanks Ronnie " - ronnieshomes
==]-]=-

Be sure you are not blocking the spray arm for the top rack. If your dishwasher has a telescoping spray arm in the botton center that retracts when the dishwasher is off, be careful about covering it with the dishes

Steps:
1)Shut off power to the dishwasher at the circuit breaker and turn off the water line to the dishwasher by locating the shut-off valve, which is typically inside the cabinet beneath the kitchen sink.
2)Remove the four screws that hold the dishwasher kick plate in place.
3)Locate the motor,which is typically centered beneath the bottom spray arm.
4)Lower the dishwasher door and take out the bottom dish rack.
5)Remove the spray tower and spray arm assembly by unscrewing the bolt through its center.
6)Take out the filter immediately beneath the spray tower.
7)Disconnect the motor wires from the wiring harness,making a note of which wire connects to which terminal.
8)Disconnect the pump assembly and drain hose from the motor.
9)Remove the motor from the base of the dishwasher by unscrewing the four bolts holding it in place.
10)Repair or replace the motor and reinstall,taking care to reconnect the wires the same was as they were attached to the old motor.
11)Attach the pump and drain hose to the motor.
12)Replace the filter,spray tower and lower spray arm assembly.Reattach the center bolt in the spray tower.
13)Restore electrical power and turn on the water supply valve.
14)Run a test cycle to check for leaks underneath the appliance.
15)Replace the kick panel in front of the dishwasher.

I just had a simliar problem with all spray arms and solved the problem by cleaning the food screen. Basically, it takes water pressure to make the spray arms rotate. Before assuming there is a failed part, make sure the spray arms are getting max water pressure by checking the food screen. Here's how I serviced my Kenmore dishwasher.

The lower arm assembley is removable by twisting the center plastic piece. It's not very tight and should come off easily by twist with a pliers (but gently). Then remove the tubing to the upper arms (Two screws). Then remove the bottom drain cover (4 star screws).

Under the drain cover are two more things to remove. One, a plastic plate over the bottom of the water drain (1 screw). Two cover to the food screen (1 screw). After removng the screw to the cover of the food screen, it will be a little difficult to remove that cover. The side opposite the screw requires releasing a catch with a screw driver. It's hard tell which way it releases, just keep trying different ways until it pops up. The cover may stick a little beacuse of the food stuck in the screen.

Once you have access to the screen, the screen can be removed by pulling on the center shaft (spring loaded) with a needle nose pliers and lifting the screen straight up. (Note: there maybe a blade next to the screen used to braek up the food.)

After removing the screen, clean it (I used a plastic scrub brush).

Reassembly is performaing these steps in the reverse order.

Hope this helps!

Your lower spray arm is broken, allowing the water the hit the door where it shouldn't thus causing the water to blow out of the door gasket. To remove you turn the center plastic screw in the middle of the spray arm clockwise while holding the spray arm stationary. You can obtain the spray arm either at you local appliance dealer or at repair clinic dot com.

Hold the lower spray arm hub (plastic bolt spray arm connects to) and turn the lower spray arm counter clockwise to remove it.
Using a torx bit, remove the 4 screws and the top cover. Remove the screws for the lower cover and the chopper cover. Insert a flat screwdriver it into the clip of the chopper cover to pull it up easier.
Unless there are alot of "foreign objects" in that area, be prepared to replace the chopper, the motor and/or sump assembly.

• First, check water level. Start machine, wait until the machine begins main wash. Open the door, the water level should be just below the heater element. If too low replace inlet valve.

• If you can't hear the wash motor running or is just humming, the motor may be bad.

• To check if the food chopper is blocked or broken;

1. Remove lower spray arm by holding the arm and rotating the spray arm retainer.
2. In the back of the tub, unclip or remove the screw from the upper spray arm supply tube.
3. Rotate the lower spray arm support to the right while disconnecting the supply tube from it.
4. Remove the four torx screws from the sump cover, remove assembly.
5. There may be a primary filter in the left side of the sump, if so, remove the torx screw and the filter.
6. On the right side there is the chopper assembly cover. Remove the torx screw and cover to expose the chopper.

Hope everything goes well for you,

Regards

Richard

Could be a a couple different issues.. Not filling with enough water or food chopper broke or food chopper filter screen clogged.

Check water level:
Run the DW and wait for the main wash to start (water will fill. pause then complete fill) The water should be no more than 1/4 inch below the heating element. If not there..replace water inlet valve.

Inspect food chopper:
1. Remove lower spray arm and rear water supply tube to upper spray arm.
2. Remove torx screws that secure the sump cover.
3. Remove primary filter
4. Remove food chopper cover to expose the chopper assembly. Inspect for breakage or blockage.



If you need further assistance, let me know
Regards,
reg501

I had a similar issue, I removed the lower spray arm (had to hold center plastic tab with pliers and then unscrewed and lifted up the arm). Then I removed the cover with the screen filter(4 screws) and then removed the top half of the stainless chopper housing (1 screw). Found that things like cherry pits, elastic bands, bread plastic ties had blocked the water inlet to the chopper and the area around the chopper blade. Cleaned it all up, reassembled and machine works great! Mine was so blocked that I was hardly getting any water pressure to the upper rack.