KITCHENAID DISHWASHER KDS 20 WATER NOT FILLING

[ratan]

Hello,
I just found out about your site and have registered as a member.
My dishwasher is not filling water. From Google search I found the following posting from Chris with similar problem which he was able to fix with your help.
1. Discuss-O-Mat Thread# 18275
- 3 visits - 9:01am
16 posts - 5 authors
I understand that the water inlet may be clogged, but I have not pulled it out yet. ... There are many components from the 21 which will go into your 20 series machine ... I had a Kitchenaid KDS-18 like the one shown above for many years and would not .... Another Kitchenaid dishwasher saved by one of our very own ...
I was wondering if you can help me with the repair. I have opened the plate at the bottom in the front and can see the water inlet valve. What other parts I need to open to get access to the valve for replacing?
I would really appreciate your help.

Ratan Gupta

 

[rp2813]

I'm just guessing here, but if you are able to advance the timer manually and the machine cycles OK to drain or whatever, then you may just need a new inlet valve.

Others here who have more experience with this sort of thing will likely post some suggestions.

Your KitchenAid is definitely worth fixing. Don't buy a new machine. You'll regret it.

 

[tomturbomatic]

I don't know where you are, but in the past, sustained very cold weather has resulted in frozen inlet valves or frozen supply lines keeping dishwashers from filling, especially if they are on an outside wall or over an unheated crawl space.

 

[ratan]

Thank you both for your quick response. About an year ago I had similar problem and one of my friend technician has adked me to gently tap on the water valve and it started working. But this time no luck with tapping.

I would appreciate if you someone can walk me through the repair - taking out the old water inlet valve and replace with the new one. So far I have opened the bottom plate in the front and can see the water valve (light blue). What other panels etc. I have to open to have easy access to the water valve for replacement?

Please help.

 

[mrb627]

Float Valve?

Is there a float switch in the tub that might be stuck up keeping water from entering?

Malcolm

 

[ratan]

Hi Malcolm,

Inside the tub I checked the float and when I move it up and down, I here the click. I s the switch iside the tub or under the washer?

Thanks.

 

[volvoguy87]

Water.

The dishwasher should fill from only a hot water line. It's usually tapped from the hot water supply to the kitchen sink (the reason why dishwashers are often placed near the sink). If your hot water to the sink is turned off or frozen, that will also take out the supply to the dishwasher.

Do the rest of the dishwasher's functions work as normal? If you select the plate warmer cycle, do the heater and fan turn on? (This would test to see that the dishwasher is getting power and that the timer is working.)

Good luck and DEFINITELY worth fixing,
Dave

 

[ratan]

Thanks Dave.

It appears that whole cycle is working fine except for the water not filling. Hot and cold water in the sink are working.

Ratan

 

[rp2813]

If you hear the click when you move the float, the switch is likely working. With lower panel removed and looking in the area directly below the float, you should see the switch going up and down as you move the float.

The water valve should be fairly straightforward to replace and a new one shouldn't be too difficult to obtain. The valve is probably held by just a couple of screws and the wires should be easily disconnected. The fun part is disconnecting and reconnecting the supply line. If it's a compression fitting, well, good luck with that! It does sound like the valve is the source of the problem, especially considering that giving it a tap fixed it the last time. It's probably stuck or corroded enough at this point that no amount of tapping will help.

I'm fresh off a dishwasher project that should be documented here before too much longer (although it wasn't a KitchenAid), so I'm basing my advice on what I experienced.

 

[ratan]

Thanks for the suggestion and diagnosis. As suggested by someone, I ran the dishwasher with the dooor open and I saw the hot water coming very slowly from the water inlet hole in left top side of the dishwasher wall near the top rack. But the water is not filling up to the desired level and letting the float to stop the water filling.

What I need to do open the bottom from panel to get acces to the water inlet valve for replacement? Can anyone help me and send me the instruction please?

Thank you.

 

[rollermatic]

that's very easy to do on a kitchenaid.

just pop off the lower panel by removing the 2 screws and you will have no trouble finding the inlet valve. turn off water supply and disconnect inlet pipe or whatever from the solonoid valve. remove the 2 screws that hold the valve to the frame of the machine and then disconnect hose from valve to the fill cup. take valve out, take it apart by removing the screws and clean it. i have had many dishwashers that have this problem when i get them, most of my older ones do. i simply clean out all the gook inside, especially if there is an inlet screen, put them back together and they always work fine! if you need a more detailed version of this process i'm sure someone will be glad to supply it here.

you'll get it, it's a simple talk!

 

[DADoES]

 
Fill is controlled by time via the timer. The float is not intended to control the fill level in normal use, it's a safety in case of overflow if the timer fails to advance.

As Rollermatic directs, remove and clean the water valve. It's likely clogged with debris and/or calcium deposits.

 

[combo52]

KA DW Inlet valve

If the screen is not packed debris with don't waste your time taking the valve apart just replace it this is one of the most common repairs we make on all brands of DWs when they don't fill properly. If you are on a city water system the valve is probably not clogged unless the dip tube in your water heater is breaking up and clogging the screen with little bits of white plastic.

 

[ratan]

Thank you all very much. I can see the water valve (light blue) from underneath. I just need help finding how to take off the bottom front panel. I do not see any screws as mentioned by Rollermatic. Can someone help?

 

[rollermatic]

there are 2 screws on the bottom

lip of the panel

 

[ratan]

Thank you Rollermatic, I look for the screws and let you know.

 

[stevet]

Step one...

TURN OFF ALL THE POWER TO THE MACHINE!!!!AND THE WATER SUPPLY!

Take off the black lower kick panel..( see last line of this message)you should see those two screws, one on each side, then if you look under the lower front panel in the corners, you will see 2 more screws. These hold the lower panel in place . Take them out and gently pull the panel forward a bit and then down and out. It will slide out of the silver retaining channel and right into your hands.

The water valve is on the left as you have seen above.Remove the water line to the valve. If there is a compression adapter on the valve, you should be able to leave it in place.

You can either remove the 4 1/4" screws that hold the valve to the mounting bracket and then clean the strainer screen or remove the valve by removing the 2 screws that hold it to the cross member and it will fall down for you. Remove the wires to the coils and then the rubber hose that goes up to the fill air gap. Be careful with the hose as it can be hard to remove and brittle. Once you have the valve in hand, you can disassemble it and clean the filter. It is a straight forward job and you should really have no problem doing it.

Re install the wiring and the hose and valve and inlet plumbing and then test it before putting on the panels and check for leaks and proper operation.
Proper fill level should be about 1/4-1/2 inch below the bottom of the wash arm hub.
If all is well, slide the lower panel back into the ends of the silver channel support(holds the black rubber gasket against the tank), screw the panel back in and then install the black kick panel. Sometimes it is easier to remove the lower panel first and then the kick panel and install the kick panel back on first at re-assembly.
Hope this helps

 

[rp2813]

Yeah, the lower panel was always a little tricky on my KDI21.

 

[ratan]

Thank you very much Stevet for the detailed instruction. I think now I will be able to take off the lower panel and do the repair as per your instructions. I will let you know the result by Monday.

Have a nice day.