Why isn't my dishwasher working right?

Why isn't my dishwasher working right? After running my Whirlpool dishwasher I opened the door and the soap looked like it just fell out of the slot and you could tell water had hit it. But it didn't clean the dishes, any ideas???
Asked by: Guest \| Views: 211

Total answers/comments: 2

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bert [Entry]

"Circulation Pump

The circulation pump uses a motor and impeller to force water up through the wash arms. If the circulation pump is defective, the dishes won’t be cleaned properly. If the motor isn’t making any noise or is just making a humming sound after the dishwasher has filled, the motor may be burned out. First, ensure that power is getting to the motor. Second, to ensure that the impeller can turn, check the pump housing for debris. If power is getting to the motor and the pump is clear of debris, the motor might need to be replaced. Be aware that the circulation pump may be challenging to replace, although many do-it-yourselfers have been successful with the replacement.

Pump and Motor Assembly

The motor drives an impeller to force water up through the wash arms. If the motor is defective, the pump impeller is broken, or some part of the pump is clogged, dishes won’t be cleaned properly. Make sure that power is getting to the circulation pump and motor. If power is getting to the pump and motor assembly but it still won’t run, replace the pump and motor assembly."

bert [Entry]

"In my layperson experience, dishwasher failure comes in two flavors—leaks and clogs. You sound like you have a clog. Most people I know have to google “how to clean the chopper” in their dishwasher at some point. The chopper is some built in blender like thing that cuts up food scraps. When it doesn’t do its job then water can’t flow through the whole dishwasher—-and you run a cycle with dirty dishes.

Open the door and find the serial number of your device—that’s your starting point."