Just Picked up 1996 Whirlpool Series 900 Dishwasher!

[pumpkina]

Someone just gave me a Whirlpool dishwasher!

900 Series
Model number
DU900PCDQ4

Serial number
FF3915928

Appliance 411 says it was made in Sept 1996 in Findlay, Ohio

I know nothing about dishwashers, so I need your help.

The power cord is cut. There's a copper pipe sticking up in the back with a gray threaded nut outside of it (in photo 3 on the right side). What is that?

How do I remove my old dishwasher and install this one?

While I have it outside of the house, are there any repairs or preventive maintenance I should do?

What regular maintenance should I do on it?

Whirlpool has not been helpful in the past with parts lists or service manuals for older appliances. Anyone have a link for the parts list and service manual for this one?

Thanks!

 

[appnut]

it's a PowerClean.  You did excellent!!!

 

[pumpkina]

Thanks! I could not have done it without all of your support!

Any links on how I can remove the old one and install this one?

Thanks!

 

[wayupnorth]

I have had the same dishwasher since 1995 minus 1 button as mine has 4 and complete with the what was white knob is now brown too. Only problem I have ever had is the vent gets clogged every so often and its best to pull the screen on the inside, clean it out and nothing will come out of the vent on the floor. If you dont have a clue what to do to install it, it would be best to call a professional. Those of us at AW want to help but we are not there and cant see what you have to deal with.

 

[yogitunes]

and to think, Alien abductions never happen at Harvard, or Yale or Princeton....

 

[pumpkina]

Youtube to the rescue!

I removed the old dishwasher, easy peasy. I'm taking a break before installing the Whirlpool.

Please explain: "Only problem I have ever had is the vent gets clogged every so often and its best to pull the screen on the inside, clean it out and nothing will come out of the vent on the floor"

What vent is there and where is it on my dishwasher?

 

[askolover]

I'm pretty sure he's referring to the steam vent in the door.

 

[wayupnorth]

In the inside of your door there is a screen on the left top side going to the vent, mine gets plugged every so often since my water is so bad and 2 shedding animals. Its a matter of releasing the vent screen carefully, cleaning it all out inside and its fine. I did discover it when the dishwasher was leaking crap out of the vent over the push buttons. Figured it out and no more mess on the floor and not having to get another dishwasher.

 

[pumpkina]

Update; Question

I finished prepping the area and am about to take the old dishwasher outside and install the Whirlpool. Everything is okay so far.

Out of curiosity, I looked at replacement motor prices for my new dishwasher: $328! I'm unsure how often motors go out, but is that price right? If not, where are places to get reasonably priced parts? Can you rebuild the motor?

Thanks

 

[pierreandreply4]

depending on the parts you need

hello pumpkina,

this is a good place to order parts on line https://www.partselect.ca/Models/DU900PCDQ4/#pscomredirect had 2 order 2 parts from there for my whirlpool duet washer luckly it was 2 easy repairs that i could do myself it was 1 door handle and a new cover for the dispenser drawer

http://https//www.partselect.ca/Models/DU900PCDQ4/#pscomredirect

 

[pumpkina]

Thanks.

Any links to wiring diagrams?

 

[askolover]

I found a brand spanking new in the box pump/motor module for my powerclean Kitchenaid on ebay for only.....$75!  It's a spare for mine or Mother's should either of us need it in the future when they become no longer available.  So I always check ebay first with the part number.

 

[washdaddy]

BTW that copper pipe sticking up out of the back of the dishwasher is the waterline for your dishwasher.

That's a great machine for cleaning dishes. The power clean series could handle anything you ran threw it.

 

[pumpkina]

thanks

What were the production dates of the PowerClean series?

What model numbers were in the PowerClean series?

Any links to Kenmore and other Whirlpool-made model numbers?

How much water does an average load use?

 

[Chetlaham]

Model number

It should be on the sticker to the right with the door open.

Production dates- the last version of power clean was produced up until 2011- I remember around that time period buying one of the last of them.

 

[pumpkina]

Update, Photo, and Drain Air Gap

I'm running the dishwasher for the first time. It sounds normal. I followed the instructions, including ensuring that the water entering the dishwasher was at least 120' F (it was > 140' F).

About five minutes after starting and well before the rinse, a lot of clear, warm water came out of the drain air gap, maybe a liter of warm water.

When In installed the dishwasher, I removed the drain air gap, cleaned it, and reinstalled it. There are no kinks in the line. The sink is NOT backed up.

What's going on here?

Thanks

http://update and Lots of Flow from Air Drain Gap

 

[yogitunes]

well bumpkin, if you have water backing up, there has to be a clog somewhere...

and did you put all the parts back in the air gap correctly.....some codes call for this unit.....I never use one, and if one was installed, I took it out and threw it away, and connected directly to the disposer/sink.....just make sure the hose is looped high enough under the counter....

besides, that dishwasher has a built in back flow preventer....no chance of anything flowing back into the unit...

are you sure you don't have the water and drain lines reversed?...you didn't sound too sure of which one was which....

 

[wayupnorth]

And trust me, you cant keep that textured front clean. Plus your link doesnt load. If the water is coming out of the front over the push buttons, your vent is clogged.

 

[pumpkina]

Thanks.

In my last comment, I did not include a link, only a photo.

I found a small kink where the hose from the drain air gap connects to the garbage disposal. I was unable to adjust the hose or the garbage disposal to undo the kink. So I replaced the hose. In doing so, a lot of drain water came out.

However, at the very bottom of the tub around the circular center is some residual dirty water (see photo).

What's the cause of that?

Thanks

By the way, there's no link to click on in this comment.