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So, you just finished a meal and loaded the dirty dishes into your Whirlpool dishwasher, only to discover that it fills but does not wash.
This can be one of the biggest inconveniences because you will most likely have to remove all the dishes from the dishwasher and hand wash.
In the meantime, you’ll also have to troubleshoot to see what the problem is.
If your Whirlpool dishwasher filling but not washing dishes, there are 2 common reasons: 1) a malfunctioned circulation pump (wash motor) or by clogged holes on the spray arm.
Here’s how to troubleshoot and fix these two common repairs.
Whirlpool Wash Motor (Circulation Pump) Malfunctioned
The most common reason a Whirlpool dishwasher filling but not washing dishes is due to a malfunctioned wash motor.
The first thing you’ll want to do is locate the motor and check to see if it’s bad. If the wash motor is bad, you can hear clicks coming from the area where the motor is.
You need to pull the dishwasher out from the countertop and listen to the motor.
If the motor will not start washing in a couple of minutes right after it filled with water, 99% wash motor is failed.
You can also check the wash motor for the continuity, this is how to check it:
- Disconnect all power to the dishwasher by flipping the appropriate circuit breaker
- Locate the motor which should be behind the lower kick plate or access panel
- This panel will be secured by either two or four screws, remove all of them so the panel comes all the way off
- On some dishwasher models you must open the door to remove some screws. Just be sure to close the door before removing the panel
- Disconnect the two wire leads from the wiring harness that are attached to the motor
- Using a
multimeter , set the device to R x 1. - Touch each of the
multimeter ’s probes to one terminal each - The motor should show very little resistance, such as a reading of zero or close to it
- Also check the ground connection by placing one probe on the bare metal housing of the motor, and the other on each terminal (one at a time)
- This test should show no reading on the meter
- If either of these tests show readings other than what they should, then the motor is bad and needs to be replaced.
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Here’s how to replace the wash motor on your Whirlpool dishwasher:
- Disconnect the power by unplugging the unit or turning off the appropriate breaker
- Again, locate the motor which should be located behind the lower access or kick panel
- Remove the screws that hold it in place
- Open the dishwasher door and remove the lower dish rack
- Remove the spray tower
- Remove the lower spray arm assembly. This is usually held in place with one single bolt
- If your unit has a filter assembly under the spray arm, you’ll need to remove that as well
- Disconnect the two wire leads from the wiring harness that are attached to the wash motor
- Next, you’ll need to remove the drain hose from the pump
- You should now be able to life the pump and motor assembly from the base of your Whirlpool dishwasher
- Remember it’s important to keep your work area as dry as possible to prevent dangerous electrical shocks
- Reverse these steps to install the new motor assembly.
- When you have all components back in place you’ll need to pour one gallon of water into the dishwasher’s tub
- Check under the unit for any water leaks
- If there are no leaks present, go ahead and restore the power to your dishwasher and run the unit through a test cycle
- Check under the unit again for leaks
- If you find no leaks, replace the lower access panel or kick plate. If there are water leaks you’ll have to determine where they are coming from and fix them.
Once you’ve replaced the wash motor, your Whirlpool dishwasher should not only fill with water, but it should also wash your dishes. If this alone didn’t solve your problem, keep reading.
Read also: How to Reset Whirlpool Dishwasher?
Sprayer Holes are Clogged
If your Whirlpool dishwasher filling but not washing dishes, the problem may be that your sprayer holes are clogged.
If your Whirlpool dishwasher is not cleaning your dishes the way it used to, or at all, the problem may be that your sprayer holes are clogged.
This problem can usually be solved with the help of some wire length. For example, you can cut a metal clothes hanger, and use it to clear the holes on the spray arm.
There’s no doubt that you’ve noticed the spray arm in the bottom of your dishwasher. This part shoots water out to clean your dishes.
However, over time it can become clogged with food and even hard water, or mineral, deposits. When this occurs you’ll need to clean it.
To clean it, you can use part of a metal hanger as we mentioned above. While you can do it while the sprayer arm is still installed, for best results you may want to disconnect it and pull it out of the unit.
Most Whirlpool dishwashers secure the arm using a simple locking knob on the bottom.
Once you determine if you’ll leave the arm in place or remove it, you’ll use the wire or tooth stick to clear out the holes. Be sure to poke the wire all the way through to the bottom.
This will ensure you remove as much of the food or mineral deposits as possible.
If the sprayer arm is really caked with debris, you can soak it in a tub of warm water with some vinegar added to it. The vinegar will help dissolve deposits inside.
Once the arm is clear you’ll simply put it back in place, and lock it on to ensure it’s securely in place.
The most important step is to make sure you spin it once you have the arm positioned correctly.
It should spin freely, if it doesn’t you’ll have a new set of problems. Your best bet is to also clean the spray arm at the top too. If you do this, the dishwasher will work like new.
Read also: Dishwasher Not Spraying Water- 5 Top Reasons
Here are the steps to unclogging the spray arm holes:
- Remove the spray arm from the dishwasher
- Use a piece of wire that is slightly smaller than the spray arm holes to clean it effectively
- Put the arm back in place and make sure it turns easily
- When the arm is extremely clogged, soak it in warm water and vinegar to dissolve all mineral deposit and other debris
Have you dealt with this issue before? What model Whirlpool dishwasher do you have and what was the problem? Comment below.
I had the same issue as most, it washing. I pulled the dishwasher out and reconnected it, and nothing would happen after it filled. I pushed on the 2 wire connector on the back of the circulating pump and it came on. It won’t stay on without me pushing on it.
I’m still trying to come up with a solution.
It sounds like it’s a connector issue — unless that was a coincidence, which shouldn’t be ruled out.
Disconnect the connector that you pushed on and inspect it carefully. See if there is corrosion or dirt obstructing it.
Also, make sure the wires are fully secured in each half of the connector. Sometimes they come loose.
If the connector itself is loose, sometimes you can pinch the individual sleeves a bit to make a tighter connection to the pins. This, of course, depends on what type of connector it is. If it’s not pin-and-sleeve, then you may be able to bend the tabs slightly to make better contact. Otherwise, replacement of the connector may be needed.
Less likely, but it may not be the connector at all. There may a break in one of the wires and your moving it causes it to reengage. If so, that will take some trial and error troubleshooting.
For a temporary fix, you might try using a small ziptie to keep pressure on the connector. That way you can get your dishes clean while you’re waiting on a part.
Dishwasher is filling but not starting it’s cycle, I pulled the pump, terminals are reading 7.46 ohms, terminal to ground is nothing. Is the terminal to terminal reading good or bad? Your article says closest to 0 but I’m not sure if my reading would be considered good.
Motor terminals should read approximately 7.5 ohms and infinite to ground.
Your motor resistance readings are good.
There should be trouble-shooting instructions in a plastic envelope attached to the kick plate. Look behind the insulation.
Review the resistance checks for the control board. Remove the dozen or so T15 door panel screws for access. Note that some plugs are numbered right to left, others right to left.
Instructions say if both motor and control resistance checks are good, suspect the controller.
Hello, I have a Maytag MDB8989SHZ0. It fills with water but won’t start wash cycle. Water will just sit there, it will drain after I open and close the door. I cleaned the wash arms and replaced the circulating pump. It’s still doing the same thing. Any suggestions as to what to look into next? Thanks.
See response to Paul above.
I have a Whirlpool dishwasher mod#WDT750SAHZ and the circulation pump was bad and i replaced it and after replacing it,it fills up with water and washes for maybe 1 second and then stops for like 2-3 seconds and washes for another second and stops again all through the cycle and so far i’ve replaced every electrical component that i can think of(control board,every single sensor and i’ve replaced the wiring harness like i said everything i can think of,i’m a technician and i’ve had this happen to me multiple times with different appliances,all whirlpool and all that the circulation pumps were bad and i had to replace and so far i have not been able to figure it out,so if you have any advice just let me know
I’m chasing this problem, and I have replaced the recirculation pump. I managed to get it to run once after re-assembly, then replaced the pump after the problem re-appeared. I can open the dishwasher and it is obviously heating, steamed up my glasses. It will fill, and then just sit there. I can cancel, and it will drain fine. The soap door opens, but that re-circulation pump never kicks on.
I am down to replacing the control board, but can’t find anything that tells me it could be the problem. Hate to replace it just blindly hoping that might fix the problem. whirlpool wdf520padm5
Tim, unfortunately I don’t have your answer only the same problem with my Maytag (part of Whirlpool) MDB4949SHZ0. I’ve replaced the “door latch”, checked the “overfill control switch” removed cleared and re-installed the pump and still nothing more than water filling and draining. At this point I’m leaning towards replacing the “control board” unfortunately it’s some what costly and I haven’t been able to locate the part anywhere on line (BACK ORDER date unknown). I would welcome any additional insight and/or problem solving steps that you’ve taken.
The trouble shooting guide (located in a plastic envelope behind the kick plate insulation) says to check motor terminal resistance (7.5 ohms, approx.) and control board fuses ( less than 3 ohms). If all check ok, instructions say to suspect the control board.
Thanks Bill
Hi I have a kitchen aid dishwasher makes a lot of noise when washing. Took the chopper out now it is much quieter.
Do I need the chopper ?????
Yes. Large particles will eventually cause clogging.
My dishwasher fills with water then does nothing. After a few minutes the soap even opens up. No noises coming from the motor
See response to Paul above.
See above. Same problem as Paul.
I have a whirpool dishwasher and the water isnt even coming in for the wash cycle
Any thoughts
Hi Eugene,
I had handyman look at whirlpool wdta50sahz0 – water fills up but not cleaning dishes. He mentioned control board is not working. Please let me know if you have any recommendations on fixing this?
Thanks,
Sid.
My dishwasher lights up sounds like water is filling on bottom a Lil does and just sits there … what’s wrong anyone know ?
Just replaced my wash motor and drain assembly washer fills with water and doesn’t wash gets hot tried to run but atops
I have a wdp340pafw0 it fills with water then nothing. I have cleaned it. Cleaned the holes in the arms. Still does the same thing. The dishwasher does drain the water.
Water runs in, just sits there—doesn’t actually wash anything, then water drains. All of that within 15 minutes. Why is it completely skipping the wash cycle? Seems if it was the motor we would hear it trying to engage, but that doesn’t happen. Doesn’t sound like arms are spinning either. Dishwasher is only about 6 months old.
What is the model of your dishwasher? Sounds like a circulation pump failure
My dishwasher suddenly started pouring soap side out the bottom of the door. My wife said she used the same soap and amount. I changed the deals on the lower arm because I saw they needed replacement. What would cause the side to pour out the door bottom?
Sounds like air mixing with detergent. It should not be like that.
Open the dishwasher during the first 5-10 minutes. Do you see a lot of suds inside?
Hi dear
Thanks for helping
I wonder if you could help me with my dishwasher machine issue,
Recently facing error whenever starts giving F11 which interpreting the cycle of running.
The whirlpool dishwasher number is WFC3C26
Thank you so much for supporting
Turbidity sensor is dirty or needs replacement
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qx2juCetVhI
The washing door will not click
My daughter has a Whirlpool 184 Standard dishwasher. Today, the door won’t stay closed. She told me there is no latch on this model. Any idea what might have happened? I will probably be the one to try to fix it.
Every dishwasher has a latch system. No exception. Also, check the door to make sure it aligns with the dishwasher (in case if you have a plastic tub)