rpms
Well-known member
I found this wire in the bottom of the dishwasher.
What does it do and is it a big fix? The dishwasher lights up and just buzzes.
What does it do and is it a big fix? The dishwasher lights up and just buzzes.
what does the white wire do?
- Thread starter rpms
- Start date
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Doesn't look like a wire
Check all the tines on the upper & lower racks. It looks like the plastic or vinyl coating came off one of the tines.
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Was that INSIDE the DW or under it?
Kevin
Check all the tines on the upper & lower racks. It looks like the plastic or vinyl coating came off one of the tines.
= = = =
Was that INSIDE the DW or under it?
Kevin
Brian, it sounds like the pump is stuck - it's a common issue with D&M machines of this era...
rpms
Well-known member
The wire was on the inside of the tub. The tines are yellow so it is not part of the rack.
rpms
Well-known member
With the door open, you can feel the bunch of wires along the bottom of the door.
I am surprised that wires would be so close to water. I am also surprised they have lasted so long without getting cut off.
I am surprised that wires would be so close to water. I am also surprised they have lasted so long without getting cut off.
Could part of that be stuck in the pump causing the pump not to turn? Yes it does look like part of a rack.
It Sure Looks Like A Piece Of White Wiring
It could either be from the wiring where it passes through the hinge area or maybe from the wiring where it attaches to the cord reel.
D&M used the absolute cheapest materials on all their DWs, their only goal was to build something that looked like a DW that worked some of the time for a short while [ there was a reason they never dared to put their name on any DW they built ]. Whether it was the quality of wiring insulation, paint, porcelain coatings and other finishes to the cheap rubber they used on their drain hoses they set new standards for an appliance where almost anything could and did fail long before you would expect it to fail, I have plenty of scars from all the cuts I got from working on hundreds these DWs over the years.
About the only other major appliances that I ever encountered that were built as cheaply as D&M DWs were Appliances like Sunray Gas and Electric Ranges, I can't think of any washer, dryer, refrigerator or freezer that were ever built using such inferior materials as D&M DWs.
It could either be from the wiring where it passes through the hinge area or maybe from the wiring where it attaches to the cord reel.
D&M used the absolute cheapest materials on all their DWs, their only goal was to build something that looked like a DW that worked some of the time for a short while [ there was a reason they never dared to put their name on any DW they built ]. Whether it was the quality of wiring insulation, paint, porcelain coatings and other finishes to the cheap rubber they used on their drain hoses they set new standards for an appliance where almost anything could and did fail long before you would expect it to fail, I have plenty of scars from all the cuts I got from working on hundreds these DWs over the years.
About the only other major appliances that I ever encountered that were built as cheaply as D&M DWs were Appliances like Sunray Gas and Electric Ranges, I can't think of any washer, dryer, refrigerator or freezer that were ever built using such inferior materials as D&M DWs.
philr
Well-known member
John, I won't argue with you about D&M machines being good or not as I have very limited experience with them! I would expect them to have a higher survival rate than other machines like Montgomery Ward or GM Frigidaire "Super Surge" dishwashers, Borg-Warner Norge/Wards clothes washers or Frigidaire 1-18 dryers (BTW I have no experience with the B-W washers, I'm just speculating from what I have read on them here and all my Super Surge Dishwashers and my 1-18 dryer still work!).
I know that some people just don't use their portable dishwashers as it's easier to hand wash dishes than clothes or bed sheets! And that's exactly what happened with my 1965 D&M-made Frigidaire top-loading impeller dishwasher. It's original owners are good friend of mine and they almost never used it. One of the reasons was the unsuccessful use of hand washing detergent which resulted in a big mess! The other reasons were water which left mineral stains on dishes and the trouble to roll it from it's resting spot in the carpeted living/dining room to the kitchen and hook it up to the sink and to hear it running during the wash and drying time as the kitchen, dining and living rooms are in the same open space in the house it was in...
But even if it was very lightly used and stored in an unheated room for about 20 years, it didn't suffer from deteriorated rubber, wiring or hoses which are all original. The porcelain inside had some iron stains but it cleaned nicely and still shines. In fact, it looks better than my newer Plastisol-coated Frigidaire dishwashers!
Brian,
How this white wire got inside the tub? From your picture, I doubt it's from the wiring harness but at this point, you might want to remove the front panel to see if there's anything wrong there! Do you know anyone who hates your dishwasher who might have tried to shorten it's usable life by sabotaging it?!!
I hope you'll post what else you find! You should have a closer look at the pump too! it could be seized but it could also be blocked by something as Scott suggested!
I know that some people just don't use their portable dishwashers as it's easier to hand wash dishes than clothes or bed sheets! And that's exactly what happened with my 1965 D&M-made Frigidaire top-loading impeller dishwasher. It's original owners are good friend of mine and they almost never used it. One of the reasons was the unsuccessful use of hand washing detergent which resulted in a big mess! The other reasons were water which left mineral stains on dishes and the trouble to roll it from it's resting spot in the carpeted living/dining room to the kitchen and hook it up to the sink and to hear it running during the wash and drying time as the kitchen, dining and living rooms are in the same open space in the house it was in...
But even if it was very lightly used and stored in an unheated room for about 20 years, it didn't suffer from deteriorated rubber, wiring or hoses which are all original. The porcelain inside had some iron stains but it cleaned nicely and still shines. In fact, it looks better than my newer Plastisol-coated Frigidaire dishwashers!
Brian,
How this white wire got inside the tub? From your picture, I doubt it's from the wiring harness but at this point, you might want to remove the front panel to see if there's anything wrong there! Do you know anyone who hates your dishwasher who might have tried to shorten it's usable life by sabotaging it?!!
I hope you'll post what else you find! You should have a closer look at the pump too! it could be seized but it could also be blocked by something as Scott suggested!
rpms
Well-known member
I did remove the front panel! I am completely useless at fixing things. I was amazed how easy the door came off. The wires look like they are all still hooked up and none of them are broken.
Basically, I was looking for a big on/off switch inside. It is interesting to see the inside. I was expecting the worse when it came to rust. It is not too bad inside.
It was more like greasy rust that scrubbed off pretty well. I just wish I had an S.O.S pad. Them metal is down to it's bare finish but it is not brittle. For now I just sprayed it with a little WD-40.
I am just amazed I got the screws to line up and the door back together. As Blanche Deveraux would say, "It is a personal triumph!" The dishwasher still buzzes but at least I didn't ruin that.
Is a seized pump hard to fix? I think I read somewhere you can flip the dishwasher over and twist a pencil in the fan or something to get it to move?
It was nice the wiring diagram was still inside the door. The racks only came in Citron,Yellow or Turquoise. Maybe a piece of wire just fell in? I just assumed that is why the dishwasher wouldn't work.
Basically, I was looking for a big on/off switch inside. It is interesting to see the inside. I was expecting the worse when it came to rust. It is not too bad inside.
It was more like greasy rust that scrubbed off pretty well. I just wish I had an S.O.S pad. Them metal is down to it's bare finish but it is not brittle. For now I just sprayed it with a little WD-40.
I am just amazed I got the screws to line up and the door back together. As Blanche Deveraux would say, "It is a personal triumph!" The dishwasher still buzzes but at least I didn't ruin that.
Is a seized pump hard to fix? I think I read somewhere you can flip the dishwasher over and twist a pencil in the fan or something to get it to move?
It was nice the wiring diagram was still inside the door. The racks only came in Citron,Yellow or Turquoise. Maybe a piece of wire just fell in? I just assumed that is why the dishwasher wouldn't work.
rpms
Well-known member
I flipped the dishwasher over and the impeller turns freely. These wires are broke and should that harness be plugged into something?
Although your machine appears to be full-featured, that clip connector might be included in all harnesses but not used on all machines.
It does look like you've located an issue with those wires just hanging. The black tape suggests something has been done before. I wonder if the white wire you found could have accidentally landed in the pump area during that process and been there all this time until it finally became dislodged.
Those with knowledge of D&M machines should be able to advise on where those loose wires are supposed to be connected.
My parents had a Kenmore of similar vintage, but it was a barely MOL machine with only three buttons. Contrary to the overwhelmingly negative press D&M dishwashers receive here, it lasted many years, although it was only used two or three times a week at most. It was a huge improvement over the deafening and horrifyingly BOL 1970 portable Wardgidaire toploader it replaced. Which probably isn't saying much, but its silence was golden, just like its racks.
It does look like you've located an issue with those wires just hanging. The black tape suggests something has been done before. I wonder if the white wire you found could have accidentally landed in the pump area during that process and been there all this time until it finally became dislodged.
Those with knowledge of D&M machines should be able to advise on where those loose wires are supposed to be connected.
My parents had a Kenmore of similar vintage, but it was a barely MOL machine with only three buttons. Contrary to the overwhelmingly negative press D&M dishwashers receive here, it lasted many years, although it was only used two or three times a week at most. It was a huge improvement over the deafening and horrifyingly BOL 1970 portable Wardgidaire toploader it replaced. Which probably isn't saying much, but its silence was golden, just like its racks.
