HELP! Maytag dishwasher upper spray arm isnt working!

[maytaga806]

Hello all, so I did get our Maytag Jetclean installed and Im running it through a cycle with tang in it, currently is in the wash cycle and I decided to put my camera and a flashlight both sealed in a zip lock bag in on the top rack and I found out that the lower wash arm is working perfectly, but the upper spray arm is not getting enough water. it is turning slowly and the water jetting out of it is not enough to reach anything on the upper rack. Is it maybe because it doesnt have enough water inside? Because it is not filled to very upper lip of the tub and this is a load sensing model too, Im running it empty with on the Heavy wash with Steam Clean & Heated dry as options.

How do I fix this problem?

 

[maytaga806]

BTW, should water be touching the heating element? Because on mine it doesnt look like there is enough water in it or something but the lower arm is spraying perfectly?

 

[yogitunes]

is this the very first wash cycle since you installed it?

did you check and clean the inlet filter before you hooked up water?

did you flush your water line before hooking it up to the machine?

did you check and clean the sump area?

is the top rack pushed in all the way?, and making contact into the rear water port?

is the roof shower putting out any water or spinning?

is the machine level, side to side, front to back?

 

[maytaga806]

Yogitunes

We ran it last night through just a rinse, then cancelled it. We did not check the inlet valve, and we didnt flush the waterline. We have not had time to rip it apart and check the sump area. And the upper spinner shower thing is barley spinning either. The machine is level as far as Im concerned too.

 

[maytaga806]

Also I did make sure the upper rack was slammed back all the way, that was the first thing I made sure of.

 

[yogitunes]

you would have to as MarkDuet as he has the same machine as yours, but wondering if this is one of those that switches from washing each level, one at a time.....

mine is a bit older than yours, all levels wash at all times.....

you could always add a gallon or two more water after the fill stops, just to see if there is any difference in water pressure/volume in the upper two wash arms....

but sounds like something is restricted or plugged up.....

 

[maytaga806]

I was just thinking that exactly! To add a gallon of water before it fills, then run it through just a rinse cycle and see if it gets any louder. I am going to try that.

 

[appnut]

I would let it fill first and once it begins circulating wash water, I'd open it and add a gallon of water, no more than that and turn it back on and see if you hear/see a different result. 

 

[maytaga806]

Yes, helpful tip. Anything else that anyone can think of?

 

[johnb300m]

You might want to tear the pump down and check the screen in front of the hard disposer blade. Those are notorious with clogging up by paper labels, gunk,wrappers etc.

 

[mark_wpduet]

I can't tell by looking

at that pic if the water level the same as mine, but it does look about the same as mine. It could be a number of things, but with all of that white dried white detergent/mineral deposits, and God knows what else in the machine, I'm thinking maybe the upper wash arm and/or tubing is clogged with something perhaps?

I also just noticed that the heating element is COMPLETELY different than in my machine. My heating element is round and sunken (covered with water), yours looks much higher up and shaped differently.

 

[maytaga806]

Mine is a bit older...

I will get a picture of the water level today and check and see if anyone can tell if its filling enough. Then, Im going to pour a gallon of water into it after it fills and see if there is a noise difference.