Kitchenaid KDS-60A Superba Stopped Working

[ned4spd8874]

I found this forum searching online and it looks like you guys know your stuff. I'm hoping you can help me!

I came back from honeymoon to find my dishwasher no longer working. It's the Kitchenaid KDS-60A Superba model. We had some house sitters, people who we trust, and I initially thought that it just got out of sync with the cycles. It has done that in the past if the door is opened mid-cycle or something funny happened. Usually I can get it back working by just selecting a lower cleaning setting.

Not this time. For example, if I select the "heavy wash" option, it will just stay at the "sani heat" and "prewash" stage and won't advance. It does heat up though. I have gone through all the options and some do more than others, but none perform a complete wash cycle.

If anyone can help me out and give me some troubleshooting advice, I sure would appreciate it!

I'm hoping it can be fixed cheaply as I am going to be moving this summer and don't want to put too much money into fixing this or buying a new one for only a couple months use.

Thanks in advance!

 

[ned4spd8874]

One other note. If I press the "cancel cycle" button it does cycle through and turn on the lights along the way. But at the end the button does not pop out although all the lights are off and it appears to have completed.

 

[qsd-dan]

I believe the 60A is a portable KDS-20.

 

After you press the cancel button and the timer has finished advancing and the lights are off, you must lift the handle up to to allow the rapid advance timer to reset. Do you hear the timer reset after lifting the handle up? The button should pop out once the door handle is cycled.

 

[ned4spd8874]

Yes, I do hear clicks when I lift up the handle and the button does pop out when it is opened.

One thing I just realized is that I do not believe any water is being sprayed into the unit. The light says "prewash", but when I open it up after about a half hour, everything is dry.

 

[qsd-dan]

<a name="start_45555.666881">One thing I just realized is that I do not believe any water is being sprayed into the unit. </a>

 

Well, we better make sure water is entering the machine. Select a cycle and let it fill (you should hear water enter the machine). Once it stops filling, open the door and check the water level. The water level should be just a bit above the screen mesh of the filter that's located below the wash arm. To resume the cycle, lock the door and press the cycle button that you initially selected.


 

<a name="start_45555.666852">For example, if I select the "heavy wash" option, it will just stay at the "sani heat" and "prewash" stage and won't advance. It does heat up though.</a>

 

If you select heavy wash it should fill with water, drain, fill with water again, stop, and heat the water (Sani Heat). The cooler the incoming water is, the longer it takes for the thermostat to reach its target temp (150F). Once the temp is reached, it should resume washing.


 

If you don't have any water entering the machine, it could be a bad water valve, but most likely is a plugged screen at the water valve. A plugged water valve screen is very common after 30 or so years of use. This becomes especially true if you live in an area that has hard water.

 

[danemodsandy]

Calling Dr. Bombay!

Fortunately for you, we have a resident KitchenAid expert, Steve (stevet), who is fully conversant on vintage units.

He should be along presently to murmur a few wise and comforting words that will put your KDS-60 on the road to recovery.

P.S.: It really does sound like the fill valve or its filter screen. Without water coming in, everything else no worky.

 

[ned4spd8874]

Thanks for the replies! Where would the water valve be located at so I can check? Searching online didn't help me.

 

[ned4spd8874]

I think I got it figured out now! I kinda feel like a fool, but you guys helped point me in the right direction. Turns out that the water supply was turned off to it. Why they did that, I don't know. But now at least it seems to be running. It's only a few minutes into the cycle, but it's doing more that it did before.

Thanks!

 

[qsd-dan]

Hope everything works out fine. Keep us updated!

 

[countryguy]

I hope there isn't a leak somewhere which is why the housesitters turned off the water supply?

Gary

 

[ned4spd8874]

It finished the cycle last night and worked like a charm! Yay! Thanks again for the help everyone!

Not sure why they turned it off yet, but there are no leaks or anything bad or strange happening. Maybe they thought it was for the outside faucet or something??? Who knows.

I have another question...I'm not sure if this is allowed here, but as you know I have this old dishwasher but I also have a really old (50-60's) Kelvinator range. I am selling this house and moving this summer and really don't want to leave them behind to get scrapped or wasted because they are old and could be seen as "old junk". I know there are people out there that would appreciate them and possibly even restore them.

Where could I sell them? Both of these are large heavy items. So it's not like I can list them on ebay and ship them out. When I leave, I just want them to go to good use and not go to waste.

 

[polkanut]

You could possibly list them here in the correct forum for each item, or list them on your local Craigslist.