# Intermittent dishwasher issue **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 18, 2018, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intermittent-dishwasher-issue/806912 "2018-01-18T16:28:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2018, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intermittent-dishwasher-issue/806912/21 "2018-07-25T02:02:30Z")
> [@Twistedjay](#): > > IMO I think the problem lies with your wash pump. If it fails your dishwasher will fill, heat, and drain, but not clean. Oh, I should also give **Twistedjay** credit for getting the right answer (I assume this is the same thing as the pump motor assembly) way back in January. I’m not entirely sure why the motor sometimes worked, and sometimes didn’t, though, but I guess motors sometimes go out like that? ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2018, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intermittent-dishwasher-issue/806912/22 "2018-07-26T10:54:15Z")
We have a Bosch and it is great. However when we had it installed there was a problem with the drainage and it turned out to be a damn false fingernail flexing across the draining spigot. However, that does not sound like the problem you have. If it is under warranty I’d be calling the person who supplied the warranty but an interim fault can be so difficult to locate. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2018, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intermittent-dishwasher-issue/806912/23 "2018-07-26T12:57:39Z")
> [@Cicero](#): > > We have a Bosch and it is great. However when we had it installed there was a problem with the drainage and it turned out to be a damn false fingernail flexing across the draining spigot. However, that does not sound like the problem you have. If it is under warranty I’d be calling the person who supplied the warranty but an interim fault can be so difficult to locate. Oh, we solved the problem. It was absolutely definitely the motor pump assembly. I replaced it, and it’s as good as new. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2018, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intermittent-dishwasher-issue/806912/24 "2018-07-26T18:06:53Z")
Aren’t appliance repair sites and youtube instructional videos great? About three months ago our fridge decided to stop chilling. My husband went online and found a “ask the appliance guy and send him $20 if his remote diagnosis is correct” website. He consulted, bought a part (a new motherboard), watched a youtube video on how to install it, and fixed everything himself. I think the appliance guy fee plus the cost of the motherboard came to about $100 max. My husband has used this same method to repair our washing machine and our air conditioner. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2018, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intermittent-dishwasher-issue/806912/25 "2018-07-26T18:57:58Z")
> [@SamuelA](#): > > You shouldn’t own a house/condo if you can’t afford the > $800 hit for a major repair or appliance several times a year. And if you are renting, get your landlord to replace it. While I agree that the service plans are bogus (most aftermarket extended warranties are actually in point of fact, insurance plans not warranties, if that tells you anything) But $800 or so for a new appliance several times a year, presumably every year? That’s excessive. I’d say at most maybe having enough cash/credit to handle one or \*possibly \*two major appliances crapping out entirely in any given year is adequate for most people. And $800 is more mid/high end for a lot of appliances. And not all breakdowns are fatal; my dishwasher just had one this week- it was leaking, which turned out to be a split in a hose, and while testing it, the tech found out that the grinder was also busted, so he replaced that too. All said and done, it was about $200. Far better than buying a new one or having paid even $5 a month for the 6 years we’ve had that dishwasher. And it was done in a time frame shorter than getting a new dishwasher picked out and delivered. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/intermittent-dishwasher-issue/806912.md?page=1)