Hobart KitchenAid KDP-20 Stuck in Drain Mode

[fishgold]

I have a Hobart KitchenAid KDP-20. I got it a couple of years ago after needing a new dishwasher and reading about the older KAs here. My wife, 5 kids, and I have loved and used this machine since we got it -- way better than the Bosch it replaced.

Now to my problem. A few weeks ago, the dishwasher started making a weird noise. After taking off the lower cover, I diagnosed the issue as the dual solenoid fill inlet valve - basically a jack hammering like one of solenoids was trying to open but could stay open. I ordered and received a replacement single-solenoid fill inlet valve.

Hooray! The DW now filled like it was supposed to, the water heated, and then it emptied the DW but the drain pump stayed on and the timer didn't move to the next cycle. I tried the cancel, but it too was stuck with the drain pump running and wouldn't advance. After spending some time researching, I thought it was the timer.

I found someone on ebay with a NOS KDP-20 timer (amazing!). I ordered it and replaced the timer. I hit cancel and it cycled completely through just like it was supposed to - everyone is excited. We start a wash cycle, and it again gets stuck with the drain pump running (left it for 10 mins). I hit cancel, and it stayed stuck with the drain pump running.

Any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks!

 

[toploader55]

Might be electrical as far as a wrong wire ?

Stevet should know or John L.

 

[combo52]

KDP-20 Problwms

Hi carl, The drain pump and the main motor are the same thing on your DW, then there is a drain valve that opens while the main motor is running which allows the water to drain when called for by the timer.

 

I am wondering if just the main motor is staying on and or is the drain valve also staying on as well ? [ When it is stuck in the cycle open the door and poor a gallon of water in the DW and see if it drains when you start the DW again right away ]. Also if you think the drain valve is staying on ? or it might have something stuck in the valve that is holding the valve open causing the DW to appear to be getting stuck in the drain mode [ very likely ]

 

Do some more checking out and let us know what you find.

 

John L

 

[jons1077]

Solenoid

My KA activates a solenoid to drain. Sometimes these solenoids get dirty and corroded and will stick. My Kenmore 800 washer had a stuck solenoid and I cleaned and lubricated it with WD40 and it was fine. Might be the same issue with your dishwasher.

 

[fishgold]

I thought I'd respond here in case anyone else runs into this issue. After running sporadically for a couple of months, our dishwasher quit draining. When we took out the drain solenoid, it had obviously shorted and melted a hole in the side of the solenoid. Once I found the appropriate replacement solenoid, the dishwasher has run fine for 2 years.

I suspect that the short was causing some form of voltage drop that wouldn't allow the timer to function properly. With the replacement of the solenoid, we are back to loving our vintage Kitchenaid dishwasher.

 

[combo52]

Melted Drain Solenoid

Yay Glad You got it working great news.

 

These Solenoids are intermittent duty coils, if they are energized more than a few minutes they melt and fail,

 

They can also just short and fail on their own as well, The failure was not caused by a voltage drop and the only way a timer can cause a failure is if it keeps the coil energized too long, so if the timer caused it the new part would have failed by now.

 

John L.