I have had my Kenmore UltraWash Dishwasher for 2.5 years and it started by not cleaning the upper rack at all. Just recently it is now barely cleaning the lower rack. I have been searching the internet and have noticed a lot of people running into problems with these dishwashers and was wondering if anyone ran across the same problems? I was going to call a repairman but would save my money if the consensus was to just go out and purchase another one if it wasn't worth fixing. Is it worth fixing - any thoughts?

My friend has the same one and hers went on the fritz earlier than mine. My advice to anyone wanting to buy one! DON'T!!

Please share any help with me that you can offer. Thanks.

I have the same problem. I have a Kenmore 665.16012403, UltraWash Quiet Guard 3purchased in Aug. 2006. So, two years old. For the last several months the top rack doesn't seem to get water. Sears is no help. It appears to be not enough pressure getting to the top wash arm. Also, I noticed when I search for my model number, it doesn't seem to exist. I can't even use the model number online to get parts.

My previous Whirlpool, bought two years earlier, did the same thing and I replaced it with this piece of junk.

Any thoughts... the pump, perhaps? Or something more simple (I hope).

Ok, think simple solution.
These models are "designed" to be able to put your dishes in covered with food. Yeah right!
The screens and filters below the lower arm get clogged and the water pressure to the upper arm and roof sprayer gets lower and lower until no water at all comes out.

Simple solution! Remove the lower arm. Remove the 4 screws holding the screen and remove it. Clean it!
Remove the one small screw holding the lower plastic housing, right up front. Remove the housing and you will find a treasure of food stuffs! I found food, plastic fork prongs, grapefruit pits, and small beads! (I have a 2 year old!)

I used a wet/dry shop vac to remove the stuff.

Re-assemble and put a cup face up in the top rack.

Try it on quick rinse and it should fill the cup in about 20 seconds!

And don't call Sears again!

Thanks, much. That was absolutely the problem. I cleaned it out a few weeks ago and found similar stuff including glass. It worked great for two weeks, then I had to clean it out again and found one single propel opening cover (you know, the round paper with glue you have to peel off to drink). It was covering one of the ports. Very poor design of a dishwasher, but not that hard to clean out every couple of weeks or so. It's due again. Maybe these emails will help other users.

Thanks and Happy Halloween!

__________________________
Simple solution! Remove the lower arm. Remove the 4 screws holding the screen and remove it. Clean it!
Remove the one small screw holding the lower plastic housing, right up front. Remove the housing and you will find a treasure of food stuffs! I found food, plastic fork prongs, grapefruit pits, and small beads! (I have a 2 year old!)

I used a wet/dry shop vac to remove the stuff.

Re-assemble and put a cup face up in the top rack.

Try it on quick rinse and it should fill the cup in about 20 seconds!

And don't call Sears again![/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Elktrekker;1245918]I have the same problem. I have a Kenmore 665.16012403, UltraWash Quiet Guard 3purchased in Aug. 2006. So, two years old. For the last several months the top rack doesn't seem to get water. Sears is no help. It appears to be not enough pressure getting to the top wash arm. Also, I noticed when I search for my model number, it doesn't seem to exist. I can't even use the model number online to get parts.

I have the same problem. I have the Quite Guard 5. I tried to take off the arm but the plastic screw just turns.

"Remove the one small screw holding the lower plastic housing, right up front. Remove the housing and you will find a treasure of food stuffs! I found food, plastic fork prongs, grapefruit pits, and small beads! (I have a 2 year old!)"


Hi!
Culd you help, I have removed the arm, and the small screws, but that spot where the "one" screw is to rmove the screen doesn't seem to budge, nor can I see what size to use to remove it, so I can't get the screen off. Would appreciate any help!
Thanks,
Caroline

I'll see if I can help. It was last Fall when I did this but it is pretty easy.
Once you remove the arm, the plastic screw is turned opposite to remove, you'll need to remove the lower section of the water transfer pipe. This is the flat wide plastic pipe that delivers water to the upper sprayer. It snaps into the pump and if you remove the srew on the back wall of the washer the pipe will swing out of your way. No need to remove it completely. The big round screen is held in by three or four star screws. You'll need a star driver or a set screw driver. Once you remove those screws the screen should pop off. You may need to wedge it off with a screw driver or a dull knife. Once the screen is off the plastic housing (right in the front, covering the lower plastic screen is held in with one screw. I can not remember if it is also a star screw or not. I think it is in the front part of the screen. This screen snaps into place so you'll have to "unsnap" it. As I remember, it sort of folds forward into place. Once it is off you can see the metal "grinder" below and that's where all the good stuff clogging the water flow will be found!
I used a wet/dry shop vac to suck it all out.
Then the fun part, put it all back together!
Put a cup in the top rack right side up and give it 20 seconds of wash and it should be full!

****Be careful not to drop the screws into the motor!****

I hope this helps!

Remember, don't call Sears!

The last time we had them in, the washer was under warranty and they replaced the motor. The problem they came for had the same symptoms that indicated, a clogged filter screen! They replaced the motor, failed to install the seal properly and the dishwasher leaked into my crawl space for two- three weeks before we noticed. The damage was well over $5,000 in damaged from mold in our NEW cabinets, walls and insulation. Four weeks to get it all put back together. I HATE SEARS!

Hello everyone, just so you all know Sears is now an american company and their helpdesk is in India. Good luck trying to get help

Tried the solution above and it worked GREAT! thanks for the idea, saved me purchasing a new dishwasher.

I'll see if I can help. It was last Fall when I did this but it is pretty easy.


****Be careful not to drop the screws into the motor!****

Um.. and if it is too late for this now? Screw has been dropped!! :(

I had this problem as well and successfully cleaned out the bottom as instructed above. However, the problem still persisted. I determined that there was not enough water getting into the washer. There is a valve of some sort where the water intake connects. I shut down the power and turned off the water to the dishwasher... disconnected the water line. The piece that the water hose connects too is held in place by a small hex screw to the left of the piece. Then, I removed 4 small screws that held the piece together. This allowed the piece to separate and I could see a screen type deal inside that had a bunch of hard water gunk built up that seemed to be blocking the water flow. I removed the screen with my pliers and washed the gunk off in the sink. I replaced the screen and put everything back together. The washer was back to it's "like new" self! :) Hope this helps somebody!

[QUOTE=scottfamily8;1521013] Once the screen is off the plastic housing (right in the front, covering the lower plastic screen is held in with one screw. I can not remember if it is also a star screw or not. I think it is in the front part of the screen. This screen snaps into place so you'll have to "unsnap" it. As I remember, it sort of folds forward into place. Once it is off you can see the metal "grinder" below and that's where all the good stuff clogging the water flow will be found!

I did all this and can't seem to get this last plastic housing off... I don't want to break the plastic. Any other tips?? :(

Yes... 99% of this "advice" is typical internet nonsense!!

Use a Magnet

Remove the grider all together works good now

So I followed everyone's great advice-cleaned out all the gunk, put it back together-but I have a thin clear washer left. Where does this go?

Thanks a bunch scottfamily8, very helpful, It was as easy as you described, I too was considering calling Sears, and your answer convinced me to try my own repair, it worked, and I saved an expensive service call, or worse, I was considering throwing my dish washer out.
Thanks

So I followed everyones great advice-cleaned out all the gunk, put it back together-but I have a thin clear washer left. Where does this go?

Having just done this, and if you are talking about a thin washer approximately 2' across, I would have to say this was used more as a bushing and not a washer, I believe it went under the bottom spinner to ride on and not much more significant than that.It is probably used so there is a smooth surface for the spinner to ride on. I don't think you have to worry about getting it back in place.
Although I am not a pro, that's what I think.

I used the solution to fix y 2 year old dishwasher -- seems to be working fine now -- the screws in my machine had torque screw heads -- as for the plastic arm on the back wall of the machine -- unclip it from the backets (back wall and top) and turn the whole arm slightly (carefully) to the right and it will come off the base bracket easily enough -- found my treaser under the cover of the grinder - which I had some trouble with, but found that after removing the torques srew on the left, it lifted straight up

You guys have saved my butt!! I’m not exactly Mr. Handy, but I was not happy about calling someone to my home to fix my washer. We got it with our new home, which was 5 years ago. Over the past weeks we noticed things didn’t clean like they used to. I even reread the directions to see what we suddenly did wrong. The directions clearly state to save water and don’t rinse the dishes. I always wondered where that ucky stuff went; well I surely did find out. What A MESS!! Reading these mailings from you guys gave me the confidence to take things apart and start cleaning. Worse case I’d have to call someone to fix my mess. About 2.5 hrs later … problem solved!! My wife was quite impressed; I earned lots of point for that event. Guess who’s going to rinse the dishes from now on :o) Thanks for these responses. You guys ROCK!!

Just want to thank Scottfamily 8 for the help!! And to confirm the final screw is a star screw - and of a smaller bit size than the other 4.

Ok, think simple solution.
These models are "designed" to be able to put your dishes in covered with food. Yeah right!
The screens and filters below the lower arm get clogged and the the water pressure to the upper arm and roof sprayer gets lower and lower until no water at all comes out.

Simple solution! remove the lower arm. Remove the 4 screws holding the screen and remove it. Clean it!
Remove the one small screw holding the lower plastic housing, right up front. Remove the housing and you will find a treasure of food stuffs! I found food, plastic fork prongs, grapefruit pits, and small beads! (I have a 2 year old!)

I used a wet/dry shop vac to remove the stuff.

Re-assemble and put a cup face up in the top rack.

Try it on quick rinse and it should fill the cup in about 20 seconds!

And don't call Sears again!
=
that voids your warranty. Since we keep going back in time to Dracul's time maybe it will be a while before special tools start to become popular again...

My Kenmore dishwasher was not cleaning items on the top shelf, and its 2 years old. Here are a few things I found:

1- My top shelf has 2 heights. When the shelf is pushed in, the washer spinner has the option of a high water hookup or a low water hookup. While one push-in water hookup is in use, the other is self sealing with a soft rubber "trap door". When I pulled it out, it was not completely sealing, so I permanently plugged it so it wouldn't leak. (If I change the shelf height, I'll have to move the plug).
2- When I took out the lower shelf, and removed the lower spinner, I was confronted with 4 screws. They should be common screws, but Sears puts in Torx screws to prevent DIY's from gaining access. Fortunately, I had the correct screw driver (#20). After removing the lower pump cover, I found what appeared to be a loose quarter-sized fine mesh filter totally caked. I could not find where it came from, so it was either from the dishwasher or from somewhere besides the dishwasher. After cleaning out the debris in the lower housing, I put everything back together, and voilà, it cleans like a charm. I'll report back in 2 weeks with a progress report.

This worked perfectly for us... It was easy and so simple.. I couldn't believe it was something like a toothpick and paper stopping the water flow? But it was... Thank you, thank you, thank you..

P.S. I hate Sears too :o)

These answers got me off to a good start. My Kenmore swore it was self cleaning. Alas.

1)I ended up removing the two plastic grid covers from the middle and back of the machine. Besides the heating coil, they were the only things with hex nuts that you COULD remove.

2) I scrubbed the underside of both of these covers. The center one was NASTY.

3) The center cover reveled a secondary smaller cover that pulled right out. Underneath it was a small silicone well filled with fairly nasty water. I sponged that out and found a lot of debris.

4) After I got all the water and floaters out of the center well, I felt around for the inlet. I found it and discovered several bits of cellophane lodged in the drain screen. I cleaned these all out.

5) I resembled as necessary and ran an empty load with some vinegar.

The results were FANTASTIC! My dishes ACTUALLY come clean! I shouldn't be so amazed, but it has been a long time for this dud of a dishwasher.

I did it! I had to make 3 trips to the hardware store, had one site visit by my brother-in-law, I cut two fingers on glass and I may have to go to the ER for a stitch, but I got it done. Oh, and I dropped a screw through the filter plate openings! But I found it after pulling off the filter plate.

The TORX star screw drivers (http://www.torxtools.com/Torx-Bits.aspx) I had to use for a Whirlpool Quiet Partner III were a 20 for the 4 screws holding down the filter plate after you move the sprayer arm out of the way, and a 15 for the one screw holding down the housing to the grinder assembly.

Your advice about using a Shop Vac was where I went wrong. I had loaned it to said brother-in-law the day before, he burned up the motor, so I used my fingers to try and get crap out of the grinder filter location. Bad idea, there was glass in there, and I really cut my fingers good. So use a Shop Vac and TORX 15 and 20 star screw drivers, and you CAN DO THIS!
Susan

Oh, I forgot to say that the original issue was top rack not cleaning, water pressure was less and less until it just stopped spraying. Then bottom sprayer arm stopped as well, dishes were dirty and unwashed at the end of a cycle. And getting the glass, chicken bones, plastic bits from containers and forks out of there is what fixed the dishwasher. Susan

Thank you, I did what was said and I found the following: 3 fake fingernails, cherry seeds, plastic bread tie, string, 2 q-tips (not kidding) and other junk now it pumps a good stream and the dishes are supper clean... thank you, thank you

Just did this. Worked like a champ. Thanks for the advice.
Darin

Here is a video of how to take it apart...
http://www.handyguyspodcast.com/462/episode-73-fixing-a-kenmore-elite-dishwasher-that-is-not-cleaning-dishes/

I also dropped a screw the last time.
I have a magnet at the end of an extension type rod that brought right out.
Purchase at almost any hardware store.

Thank you so very much! Fixed thanks to these great directions. Thanks Scottfamily8. Tip for those reassembly issues- take a picture with your digital camera or video as you take each piece apart. It helps when you need to put it all back together!

Thanks for this thread! Mine was jammed up with popcorn kernels. Saved me a bunch of time and money and now I don't hate my dishwasher anymore!

You ROCK!! This is exactly what I was looking for!!

I have a quite guard 3 dishwasher. And need ti reset the panel. Can you give me the 3button sequence?

The Kenmore Ultra Wash Quiet Guard is a piece of . We did exactly what you explained and it still does not work. Thank you for your help. I have never liked Sears Appliances or Sears. They are rip off artists. Unfortunately we are living in a rental house and the landlord is a selfish cheap . He thinks it works great. He is from Korea.

To remove the lower arm: hold the tab at the top of the arm with pliers or other instrument then turn the arm off. (if it gets stuck, you can chisel it off, $30 for a new one)

You need to take off all the sprayer arm components (including the top one) to get the lower assembly apart.

Then just keep taking parts off until you can see the impeller. Dig out all the stuff in there. I would sop up the water so you can see if there is any glass is in there (there was in mine).

Good luck

Scottfamily8 IS AWESOME!! Tried his solution, found all sorts of trash, including a screw from something else entirely. Personally, I like number steps so:


Remove plastic caps off rails by pinching top inside of clip and lifting, and then remove both upper and lower dish trays (upper requires
Remove lower washer arm by turning plastic nob in center clockwise (I had to use channel locks).
Remove water track to upper arm by removing (2) phillips head screws
Separate upper water track from pump discharge track by lifting tab on pump discharge track.
Rotate pump discharge track approx 45 degrees clockwise and lift out
Remove (4) star screws from screen and lift screen to remove
(Fine filter screen is a friction fit and can be removed simply by lifting)
Check Fine filter screen and screen holder for debris
With a flashlight, use Wet/Dry VAC to clean debris from top of pump housing.
The lowest part of the pump housing is the pump suction. I had to use thin needle-nose plyers to get various foreign object from the pump suction/inlet. Pay close attention here, this is where all the nasties are that my be causing your problem.
Additionally, pay attention to the decline races atop the pump housing, they have 3 plastic fingers which do course filtering, lots of stuff gets stuck there as well.
Reassemble in reverse order. When you've replaced the screen with the (4) star screws, I recommend placing a towel down prior to replacing the (2) phillip screws, I almost dropped on back into the pump suction necessitating removal again.