Just Answer-Kenmore Elite Dishwasher

[rinso]

My Kenmore Pro/Elite, which I think is based on the Whirlpool manufactured KitchenAid, has a problem with the lower spray arm not clearing the lower rack. It hits the rack and gets stuck. Any ideas?

(I submitted the problem to Just Answer, who promised to respond within 48 hours if not sooner. There was no response, but I did get the request to rate their service.)

 

[appnut]

How old is this unit and what's the model number?

 

[yogitunes]

what part or area of the lower rack is it making contact with?.....

is the wash arm, or rack, sagging or bent in some way?

I can fit almost two fingers stacked between my lower rack and the wash arm....

are you sure its the rack touching the wash arm, or some obstacle sticking through the rack or silverware rack stopping it?

with the rack in place, reach through and spin the wash arm.....

 

[rinso]

appnut the model number is: 665.13173K701

 

[rinso]

Yogitunes:

1. It is making contact with the left rear part of the rack.
2. Unable to determine the culprit, but the wash arm seems to have a lot of looseness and vertical motion to it. I don't know how to remove it to check as it doesn't lift off like the one in my old GE did.
3. No obstacles sticking through the rack as it does the same thing if the rack is empty.
4. With the rack empty, if I reach through and spin the arm, it still hits the rack.

 

[rolls_rapide]

Could the rack be damaged in some way - e.g. a weld that has separated/rusted?

Or a wheel assembly on the main basket that has worn, or broken off?

Or an additional removable plate-rack that has stuck through the main basket assembly?

Or an folding plate-rack that is missing its retaining clips?

It might just be that the spray arm 'bearings' and/or retaining clips have worn, allowing excess play. This happens on my Bosch, but to the upper basket spray arm, which then sticks against the back wall water distribution pipework.

 

[brucelucenta]

Sears has already replaced my bottom spray arm with a new one. It is 3 years old now. Also a Kenmore Elite model.

 

[rinso]

Success!
Well whaddya know: It seems that a couple of years of washing heavy things in the lower rack because we bake and cook large meals which require heavy large glassware and heavy cookware, has cause the rollers to sag just enough to lower the rack right into the wash arm. New, less flimsy, re-designed, rack rollers did the trick. Thanks to everyone for their suggestions.