Kenmore dishwashers are common in many homes and often reliable—but like any appliance, they can stumble. If yours won’t start, won’t drain, or does weird things during a cycle, don’t panic. Let’s walk through common problems with Kenmore models and how you can try fixing them yourself.
🔌 1. Dishwasher Won’t Start or No Power
If your dishwasher won’t turn on or the control panel remains dark, here’s what you can check first:
- Check the circuit breaker or GFCI outlet—Kenmore often plugs into a protected socket. If tripped, reset it.
- Some models have a wall switch under the sink—make sure it’s on.
- Look for a child lock feature—Kenmore often locks controls. Press and hold the cancel button or “lock” symbol for five seconds to unlock.
- Open and close the door firmly. If the dishwasher doesn’t detect a closed latch, it won’t run.
If you have power but nothing happens, try resetting it by unplugging or turning off the breaker for three minutes—then plug it back in.
⚠️ 2. Internal Parts to Inspect If It Still Won’t Run
If power and door are fine but it still won’t start, the internal parts may be the culprit:
- Door switch: This safety switch senses if the door is closed. If it’s broken or misaligned, the dishwasher won’t start. Technicians report around 16–30% of startup issues are due to a bad door latch or switch.
- Electronic control board: About 35–40% of start failures trace back to a faulty control board. If the lights flicker, buttons freeze, or power-cycle resets don’t help, this could be the issue.
- Power supply board: Supplies electricity to all parts. If it’s malfunctioning, the dishwasher might get no power even if the outlet is fine.
🚿 3. Dishwasher Fills but Doesn’t Wash
If your dishwasher fills with water but nothing happens after, or no spray movement begins:
- Open the filter area and clean it manually—food debris can jam the spray arms or impeller.
- If the spray arms spin slowly or not at all, the wash pump (also called circulation motor) may be faulty. Many experiences show that replacing this pump—the Whirlpool-made part—is often the fix.
- If water stays but the timer advances and drains, the pump is likely the issue.
💧 4. Dishwasher Won’t Drain or Water Stays Inside
Standing water after a cycle? Here’s how to troubleshoot Kenmore drainage issues:
- Run your garbage disposal for 15 seconds if your dishwasher drains into it—sometimes a plugged disposal blocks the dishwasher too.
- Check and clean the drain hose—ensure it isn’t kinked, clogged, or routed too low. It should loop high under the cabinet to prevent backflow.
- Remove and clean both coarse and fine filters at the bottom. Debris-filled filters block drainage.
- Inspect the drain pump impeller—if stuck, water won’t exit even though the pump is on.
- Some models include a check valve or ball—make sure that’s not stuck closed.
⚙️ 5. Dishwasher Runs But Has Errors or Stops Mid‑Cycle
If it starts and then stops partway:
- Try resetting the machine by turning off power for 3–5 minutes, then restarting.
- Check for any flashing or error codes. A stuck button or UI glitch can freeze the interface. If pressing Start or cancel repeatedly doesn’t fix it, the control board might be locking up.
- Intermittent power or flashing lights sometimes point to a failing control board or UI module.
🔧 6. Common DIY Fix Ideas
Here’s a simple checklist you can follow step by step:
- Ensure breaker, outlet, and wall switch are functioning.
- Turn off child lock by holding Cancel or Lock symbol for five seconds.
- Open and close the door fully—listen for a firm latch.
- Reset power by unplugging or tripping breaker for a minute.
- Clean all filters and ensure spray arms rotate freely.
- Run the garbage disposal if one is connected.
- Disconnect and inspect the drain hose for blockages or kinks.
- If filling but not spraying, suspect circulation pump.
- If nothing happens at all, inspect/replace door switch or control board.
📋 Kenmore Troubleshooting at a Glance
| Symptom | Possible Cause | Suggested Fix |
|---|---|---|
| No power or lights, no start | Breaker/GFCI, child lock, door switch, control board failure | Reset breaker, disable child lock, latch door, replace part if needed |
| Lights active but doesn’t fill | Water supply off or inlet valve clogged | Turn on supply, replace valve if rusty or stuck |
| Fills but no spray arms run | Wash pump motor failure or impeller jammed | Clean sump, replace circulation/wash pump if needed |
| Fills and runs, but won’t drain | Filter, drain hose, drain pump, check valve, garbage disposal obstruction | Clean filters, test pump, inspect hose and disposal |
| Starts then freezes or errors mid-cycle | UI freeze, board glitch, stuck button, sensor misread | Power cycle, reseat harnesses, replace control or UI board if persistent |
👤 Real Owner Notes & Repair Stories
“My Kenmore won’t start. Lights are fine, but nothing happens when I close the door. Turned out to be a bad door switch—the latch wasn’t clicking.”
“Dishwasher filled fine but didn’t wash anything. Replaced the circulation pump motor—now it runs like new.”
“It drained slowly or not at all. Cleaned the hose and garbage disposal but still didn’t work. Replaced the drain pump—it fixed it.”
⚠️ Overall Tips & Warnings
- Always disconnect power before service.
- Keep owned manuals or model number handy—parts vary between 600 and 665 sub‑series.
- If you’re replacing control boards, make note of wire colors and connections; taking pictures helps.
- If the water inlet valve or motor assemblies are heavy or awkward, slide the unit out carefully to avoid plumbing damage.
✅ Final Thoughts
Kenmore dishwashers share many parts with Whirlpool-built models, so many DIY fixes are similar across both. Most issues—no power, not starting, no wash, or no drain—can be traced to one or two parts: door switch, control board, pumps, or hoses.
Start with simple steps: check power, ensure doors latch, clean filters and hoses, and reset if needed. If you’re comfortable with basic tools and safety, replacing a pump or switch is doable. But if electronics or internal wiring are suspect, calling a professional may save time—and keep you safe.
Careful inspection and DIY troubleshooting can often fix the problem yourself—and save a repair call. Happy washing, and may your dishes come out clean and dry!