Cleaning and repairing
Actually, this dishwasher, with it's muti-orbital arm does a better job cleaning that anything else, but, heh - some of this is religion, so let's focus on what needs doing. I know it takes a big man to admit GE could do anything right compared to KA (and I'm the only person here who isn't in love with KA), so kudos to John.
So, John hit the high points. Here's what I'd do:
1) Check for the rather large sheet of paper tucked away (usually under the kick panel) with schematic, timer settings and instructions on how to remove and replace the sump, motor, filters, etc. If you have it, that's all you need to clean and check those areas. If you don't, the literature is in the library here. Without it, it's way too complicated.
2) Lots of little holes in the multi-orbital get filled with junk, and on some (not all!, dratted GE), you have to turn one tower of power mount the 'other' way to loosen it.
3) If the soft-food disposer is missing or thoroughly bound up with plastic or wire, it is a good idea to change it out. If the motor is long and black and there's no capacitor in sight, John's advice is good if you want to make this a daily driver. If it's kind of square and grey with a capacitor (especially if it says "SIEMENS" on it, just the rebuild kit will do fine.
4) There's a little valve at the back, under that large filter which can get gunked up. Cleaning it will make an enormous difference in performance as it lets the dirty water out. Or, if it fails, keeps it recirculating.
5) Super caution is called for when fishing through that sump. The filter is big enough to keep a VW Microbus out as one aficionado here has mentioned, but not much else - and slivers of glass are a serious danger.
6) The inner door comes off easily and make cleaning fast and easy. The two black (sometimes grey) pieces of more or less pliable rubber at the bottom corners of the door lift out for cleaning, too.\
7) Two sounds to listen for:
a) Close the soap door and run the machine. Does it open (you'll hear it)?
b) When it drains, is there a solid 'thump' and water drains out with a lot of force? If it's only a weak stream, then you've got blockage or the pump needs replacing. If there's no thump, then either a spring has come off the solenoid package for the drain or the solenoid has failed.
The door springs were used on models both before and after this one, you can grab them at any repair shop or clean them up a bit. Exterior insulation can wait until the rest works great. It must not block airflow, but was pretty extensive, you can see photos of it in our archives. Virtually all parts are available either at online appliance shops or can be had from other GE Dishwashers, including the ones of this series still on sale, new.
If you do have to replace the water inlet valve, make sure you don't disturb the overflow protection system. It's easy to pull out of position (kind of the point). Cleaning that whole assembly can't hurt, either, but pay attention to how the heating element is held by that stainless steel strap first, it's non-intuitive (or, I'm too D-U-M to get it right without pictures).
Hope this helps. Best dishwasher there is.
