KA Dishwasher KDTE254Ess1 Wash arms not rotating - Diverter?

mattl · Nov 29, 2025

Had this dw about 7 years best unit I've had. Up till last week I could count on one hand the items that did not come out spotless. Now half of stuff is dirty after the cycle. Ran it empty did not hear the "swishing" of the wash arms rotating. I positioned both arms horizontally and let it run for a while, checked no movement. Google points me toward a diverter issue, just want to verify I'm not missing something.

One other issue I've been having is food getting into the wash arms and plugging the end holes. I scrape the dishes and clean the filter regularly, no clue how this happens. Wondering if the is anything else to check when I tear into the unit.

henene4 · Nov 30, 2025

I think these do timed fills? Can't find a pressure switch on the parts diagrams at least.

Doing the old adding gallon of water after it filled trick to check if that does anything just in case it's a clogged up fill valve or so.
A broken diverter in my mind would lead to an error code (basically can't reach position required) - but all error lists I can find also list an error for no fill, so...

phillymatt53 · Nov 30, 2025

Indeed, initially, the sound of the water running should give a clue to this problem.

combo52 · Nov 30, 2025

As mentioned in Heinrich’s response, make sure there’s enough water in the machine, most likely the main pump motor has died if it’s not circulating water, even if the diverter were bad, it would likely be circulating water in the upper or the lower arm.

The clogging in the ends of the wash arm sometimes comes from the removable filter, the flat one being warped, and it allows particles to get past it.

This model KitchenAid uses the cheaper, wet style main pump motor like a Bosch dishwasher, and they tend to fail, eventually requiring replacement, in some rare cases it has something caught in it, but it takes a good bit of disassembly to check.

The good thing about a KitchenAid dishwasher compared to a Bosch if you don’t have to remove the machine to repair it, you can just lift the entire pump and motor assembly up through the inside of the machine you have to reach underneath the disconnect various things to do so however.

Let us know what you find, if you’re not into disassembly, it might be a time to call in the pros

John L

mattl · Nov 30, 2025

I've done the basic stuff, dumped more water in, made sure the water is spraying, plus some things get clean others not, so I guess it's spraying. When I add more water it will quickly pump it out then resume. It has a decent sized pool in the bottom so not a fill issue.

Not getting an error code but not sure how it would be displayed.

update- finally got into service mode, the 1, 2, 3 method only works if the start button powers on the system. Did get a 5-1 error that refers to door latch, the dw runs so I don't think that is the issue.

mattl · Tuesday at 23:40

tried reading codes again, still get 5-1. the water sprays but no rotation. Would indicate a pump issue, could it be filled with gunk as many videos I've seen online?. I guess the next step will be to pull it apart. Parts are cheaper than a new DW, no budget for either with the holidays approaching.

KA Dishwasher KDTE254Ess1 Wash arms not rotating - Diverter?

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