Dishwasher help?

Factual Questions
1

I have a dishwasher that’s giving me quite a headache.
It’s a KitchenAid model dishwasher, but I cannot find the model number on it anywhere, and I have looked all over the door (inside and out), and even removed the panel looking for it.

Here’s my problem:

My dishwasher starts the first cycle normally, and the basin fills up with water as it should and completes the first cycle.

The detergent cup opens, and what should be the second cycle begins, but no water is ever let into the dishwasher again. What I am left with is dishes that have a detergent film on them and a pile of gooey, slightly dissolved detergent on the bottom of the dishwasher. If I run the dishwasher again (without adding more detergent) the detergent is dissolved and the dishes come out clean, however I worry about allowing the pump to run in a “dry” condition so I am handwashing the dishes right now.

I have looked alll over the door and removed the front panel looking for the model number, but I cannot find it anywhere. It’s a quiet scrub dishwasher with automatic water temperature control.

Any help you can provide would be appreciated.

2

http://www.acmehowto.com/ has a lot of troubleshooting guides. That may help, or at least hold you over until a smarter person comes along.

3

Sounds like the timer’s gone off.

If it’s an older model with a mechanical timer, it’s a fairly straightforward, if tedious job to disassemble the door and get at the timer. If the controls are electronic, the job will probably be less obvious, and the timer/controller might not even be inside the door.

Your KitchenAid dishwasher was most likely made by Whirlpool, which means parts should be easy to find.

Whirlpool usually puts the model number on a small plate just above the bottom rack, just outside of the door gasket. If you’re still lost, give Whirlpool a call at 1-866-698-2538, or call KitchenAid’s major applicance support at 1-800-422-1230

4

I had something similar happen. I had the pump replaced and all was back to normal.