Help With Vintage KDI-17A

[vtgbabydress]

Hi everyone! I bought a vintage Kitchenaid dishwasher last year. I think it is a KDI-17A. (I can’t access where the sticker is when installed) It will no longer start on it’s own. I have to knock on it near the timer and it will start.
Sometimes it stops and if I knock it again it will start back up.
It’s kinda like Fonzi and the jukebox at Arnolds!
Also the soap dispenser will not open.
Does anyone have any advice for me? I am a female, but I am fairly good at tinkering.
I have a husband, but he is working 7 days 13 hour shifts this week, so it is up to me.
I also kind of have something to prove because I REALLY wanted an old kitchenaid and had to talk him into it.
Timer is numbered C115402. I have tried to find a replacement online, but no luck.
Please help!

 

[combo52]

Temperamental KDI 17 dishwasher

Hi Anne, there are two interlock switches on this dishwasher that might be causing this problem when you latch the door and push one of the cycle buttons first is in the cycle button switch that could be temperamental the first and easy one to check there’s a little pin on the upper right hand edge of the machine that pushes into a hole in the door and that pin could be loose or that switch could be bad.

At this point, unless you’re lucky in that little pin is just loose you’re gonna have to open up the control panel by removing the screws on either end and the four screws at the top of the control panel and take the cover off. Take the selector switch out for loose burned wires also look at the timer for loose or burned wires It could also be a bad timer. Burned terminals on the timer or selector switch were a common problem on this dishwasher back in the day.

Does the detergent dispenser ever open automatically, if so, you probably just need to adjust the little bimetal opener on the detergent dispenser, also check the detergent dispenser mechanically as you close the door does it want to spring open or does it just sort of stay where you put it staying where you put it it has problems and should be replaced if it wants to open it’s bimetal adjustment if it opens sometimes otherwise you could have a bad bimetal.

John

 

[vtgbabydress]

Hi John, Thank you so much for responding. Time to dig in…

 

[john116]

13 hr days

No job is worth 13hr days 7days a week. How hideous. You could never pay me enough to ever do that.

 

[vtgbabydress]

We are house hunting and need the extra $ for earnest etc. He usually works 3 on 2 off. Everyone has been sick, so he is helping cover for them.
I checked the pin and the hole it goes into. It still “clicks”. Is there a way I could test it? I have not opened and looked at the switch connection itself yet. I replaced the selector switch with a NOS one (bought it from ebay a while ago just in case) even though it looked ok. I kept the old as a back up. That didn’t help though. Next I was going to remove the timer and check it. One thing I noticed is that the fan is no longer coming on towards the end. Could that have something to do with it?

 

[combo52]

Non-starting KDI 17 dishwasher

It’s probably a timer problem. They were prone to burned contacts. Look for a loose contact on the timer.

The fan for dry not running is most likely the fan motor getting stiff or failing. It also could be related to a timer problem. The fan motor is easy to find still, I haven’t had a chance I’m off for a few days, but I probably have a timer for that dishwasher as well.

John

 

[vtgbabydress]

Come to think of it, the fan was getting a bit noisy towards the end. I have seen a fan on eBay, but I wasn’t sure of the part number. I guess I should get the parts list.
Thank you for going through the trouble for me! I have been looking for a replacement timer to have as a back up, but I have not been able to find anything for it except the switches. If you have any parts whatsoever I would buy them all. I would love to keep this running as long as I can. I threw out an almost brand new dishwasher when I got this one. The difference is so obvious. And even with all its cleaning power it is fairly gentle. (most of my kitchen items are vintage also) Plus it looks great next to my Radarange!
I am including a photo from the posting when I bought it.
Anne

 

[vtgbabydress]

I can see the back of the door switch and it looks ok. Nothing looks burned. I was still able to tap and start a load until last night. It sounded a bit extra noisy, so I decided to wait to use again until I check the timer.

 

[askolover]

My mother had the superba model in copper tone like that. I was three! Memories...

 

[vtgbabydress]

The Superba is beautiful new appliances just aren’t aesthetically pleasing at all.

 

[vtgbabydress]

Hi again John,
I looked up Australia time so I am posting at a more reasonable hour
Well, I got the timer out and it does appear to have some issues! Photo attached…
The dispenser switches are a bit burned also.
It was leaking pretty badly, is it possible to reseal the dispenser?
I guess I should be looking for some switches

 

[bigalsf]

Timer issue

Hi,  sorry a little late to the conversation.  It definitely sounds like you have a timer problem.   The timer on this model resets when you open the door after a completed cycle; their is an audible "click" when this occurs.  There is a linkage on the left side of the door handle that activates a spring to "pop" in the timer shaft when you open the door.  This action sets up the timer for the next cycle (full, rinse/hold, or soak).    When you describe pounding on the control panel to get the machine to start you may very well be pushing in the timer shaft completing the circuits to power the machine.   If the linkage is broken this is why the timer is not re-setting properly and why the machine is difficult to start.  If the linkage is not broken it may be the timer shaft is damaged;  this could explain the other issue with the fan.  

 

In any case you will probably need a new timer.  Here is one on ebay:  https://www.ebay.com/itm/3045627673...SX43WB&hash=item46e95b0602:g:N8gAAOSwoMlizvLo

 

 Hope this helps.  Let us know how it goes.  

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[combo52]

Replacement timer for a KDI 17A dishwasher

Yay Alan thanks for coming up with a replacement timer parts for KitchenAid dishwashers are very plentiful Still, we have tons of them, the detergent dispenser should also be replaced. It’s easy to do. There are lots of them out there. If you can’t find one. I probably have one to sell.

John

 

[vtgbabydress]

Thank you guys so much!

 

[vtgbabydress]

ok, I just bought the timer.
Do I need to buy the whole dispenser or do I just need to replace the gasket and switches under the dispenser?

 

[combo52]

The detergent dispenser comes as one piece minus the two electrical bimetals that open the compartments, you probably should replace at least one of the bimetals on your old one the right one appears to be damaged and replace the entire dispenser that’s leaking.

John

 

[vtgbabydress]

Does this dispenser look good?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186472690177

I couldn’t find a bimetal switch that said it would fit, although there was a single whirlpool one that looked a bit like it. Any suggestions on where to look or am I searching for the right thing?
Thank you guys x a million!

 

[combo52]

Detergent dispenser for a KDI 17 a

The one you found will work however you had one that had two electrically operated lids. You really don’t need the pre-wash feature in which case you can install this one that you found and only put the bimetal from your old one on the main wash side connect the two leads together from the pre-wash side and the dishwasher will work fine Pre-wash dispenser opens right away, except on the soak & scrub cycle.

The dispensary is kind of expensive however but It will work fine.

John

 

[DADoES]

Our KDI17a did a half-fill (1 min) and drain purge at start of all cycle choices (including rinse/hold). The prewash dispenser didn’t open until after the purge sequence.