I just got a used portable dishwasher off craigslist and it won't run. I got the aerator faucet adaptor for my kitchen and so the connection is fine. However I didn't use plumber's tape the threads or use pliers to tighten it up and so water leaks out the side of the faucet.

What happens with the dishwasher is when I turn it on, it makes a weird noise and the heating element gets hot and starting to smell like burning, but it wasn't running. Then once I installed the aerator on the faucet water will go in the dishwasher, but not out. The dishwasher was filling with water on the inside and then overflowing to the floor. It did look like there might have been a lot of hard water gunk in the water in the bottom of the washer. I was trying to run it empty anyway to clean it out a bit (run a cycle with vinegar) since I bought it used. I didn't have my tools with me, but I will tonight and I can try tightening it.

Do you think since there is water leaking out the faucet that the pressure in the drain hose is not getting high enough to release the drain switch? I have tried turning the dial very slowly to try and find the drain cycle, but water doesn't seem to be coming out at the faucet from the dishwasher connection.

Any help is MUCH appreciated! I just want a functional dishwasher!

You have a stuck float valve which also tells it to run when full. I suspect that scale is to blame, so you will have to find it and soak it in Lime Away or another scale remover. Some water level switches are made different and replacing it may be the only way to go. If you can get to the wires going to that switch you can test it with a meter on "volts" to see if the switch is closing. You will read voltage across an open switch and zero when switch closes. You should be able to trace out the circuits with a meter. You also could have a bad timer. Go here for a schematic: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/8010163/Whirlpool_Dishwasher.pdf
Most dishwashers are about the same as far as the wiring goes. You can unplug dishwasher and check the timer to see if power is getting out to the pump and valves. You have one wire coming in which is switched to different contacts. The timer motor has two wires: One ground and one wire attached to incoming hot to timer contacts. It's very simple.

Hi Drtom4444
Your answer was very helpful.
I have almost exact the same issues on my portable dishwasher that was moved in 2 days ago, except my one does not have water leaking through the front door. The water stops going in when the water level on the bottom reached close to the heater elements. During the cycles, I suspected that the spray arms are not spinning even though the meters runs all the way through. In the end those filled water at the bottom never got drained either.

Do you think it is the same problem as MVWYO has that I just have a bad float valve? I was told it could be that the motor stops running, and if that is the case, is it worth to get it repaired since I only spent 200 on this old machine..
Please help, thanks a lot in advance!