Kitchen Aid KDS-17 help needed!

[spudz64]

Hello! I just bought a home with an original Kitchen Aid KDS-17 Superba dishwasher (in Avocado no less!) and I need some help as it's not running good...dishes come out very dirty. It sounds like its working, it seems to go through its cycles in the alloted time (I timed it) but when it switches between the phases (prewash, ect) a very loud buzzing sound is coming from the timer below (took off the trim to locate where exactly and its the timer) which goes on for over a minute, then the buzz stops and it carries on. I can see the timer moving ok though. I'm not sure if this buzz is related to its poor performance though...so any advice on what to look for and how to correct would be appreciated!

I'm torn as I'd love to keep it going but the racks are pretty messed up (lots of rust on lower rack esp, but I found a source online to replace the lower one at least) and before I spend money on that I need to see if I can get it to work as it should, otherwise I'd have to replace it with something new.

Thanks in advance!

 

[stevet]

BAD DRAIN VALVE!

Spudz, the buzzing sound you are hearing is most likely the drain valve which lets the water out between cycle segments. Have you noticed if the water is actually draining out of the machine? Is there water left in the tank when the cycle is finished?

Your machine used one of two styles of valves. One was a 90 degree configuration and a solenoid that pulled up the plunger inside the valve and the other is a straight through type which has a lever setup which is pulled by a solenoid coil and exposed linkage.this valve can be manually operated to empty the machine when it is running. If something has gotten caught in either valve,the coil can buzz and then the water won't all drain out which may be the reason your dishes are coming out dirty. You are basically washing and rinsing with the same water.

Look further into what is happening and let us know. Hope this helps.
Steve