I think the heating element on my Kenmore Ultra wash dishwasher 665 13839K-600 maybe bad. The clean light was flashing 7 times. Is there a test I can do to check if is still heating? If I have to check for continuity, how do I access the terminals. They are in the back and not very accessible.

Jim

Remove element, test it, replace if needed.

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=checking+kenmore+dishwasher+heating+eleme nts+on+YOUtube&FORM=VIRE5#view=detail&mid=6EEA4A10D8F3811D33216EEA4A10D8F3811D3321

Easier to test when its been removed. Here is another method of removal, but it all starts with pulling the electric plug FIRST.

How to Test the Heating Element on a Dishwasher | eHow (http://www.ehow.com/how_6178953_test-heating-element-dishwasher.html)

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=testing+kenmore+dishwasher+heating+elemen ts+on+youtube&qpvt=testing+kenmore+dishwasher+heating+elements+o n+YOUtube&FORM=VDRE#view=detail&mid=F51DEDB0D0A5EAD6C5B9F51DEDB0D0A5EAD6C5B9

Here is the manual: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/8010163/Kenmore_Ultrawash_Dishwasher.pdf
More: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/8010163/How%20to%20use%20Test%20Equipment%20Service%20Manu al.pdf
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/8010163/Whirlpool_Kenmore%20Dishwashers.zip
Make sure it's bad before you replace by testing it with an ohm meter. It could be a safety.

First just do a quick visual inspection of the coil in the tub to see if the element is showing any signs of being burned out. If you can actually see a spot on the coil where it's burned out, the coil will need replacing. If you don't see any obvious damage to the coil, the dishwasher will need to be pulled out from under the counter since the terminals for the element are under the back of the dishwasher. First, make sure that power to the dishwasher is off, find the two terminals with their push on connectors and pull the connectors off. Using a multimeter set to ohms, check the heating coil at the terminals. If its good, it will read approx. 14 ohms. If its bad, it will read either higher or lower, depending upon whether it's simply burned out or shorted out. New elements aren't expensive and replacement is fairly simple and straightforward.