# What is this part on my dishwasher? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 24, 2018, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-part-on-my-dishwasher/825020 "2018-11-24T20:06:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cornopean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@cornopean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornopean)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2018, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-part-on-my-dishwasher/825020/1 "2018-11-24T20:06:46Z")
I was installing a used dishwasher today and noticed this part. It is supposed to be plugged in there somehow. I have no idea what it is but when I turn the water on, water comes spraying out of it. Any ideas? Here it is unplugged: [nimbusweb's Organization](http://nimb.ws/chvY1W) and here it is with the thingy plugged in: [nimbusweb's Organization](http://nimb.ws/zs7YZc) and the black thing that plugs in has wires coming out of it and going somewhere. It seems to be a sensor of some sort…no? ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2018, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-part-on-my-dishwasher/825020/2 "2018-11-24T21:09:29Z")
The black thing is almost certainly a solenoid, an electrically operated device that moves a plunger in or out. The whole assembly is a water flow valve that can be switched open or shut via the solenoid. As to the specific name of the valve and its function in this dishwasher, I dunno. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2018, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-part-on-my-dishwasher/825020/3 "2018-11-24T21:55:59Z")
> [@Gary\_T](#): > > The whole assembly is a water flow valve that can be switched open or shut via the solenoid. As to the specific name of the valve and its function in this dishwasher, I dunno. I’m no expert, but have worked on a couple of these more often than have ever hoped to. I’ve never seen a washer with more than one inlet valve, so that is the source for the water, no doubt. ---
**Author:** ![PoppaSan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/poppasan/32/189_2.png) [@PoppaSan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoppaSan)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2018, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-part-on-my-dishwasher/825020/4 "2018-11-25T15:09:27Z")
Where does the water spray out? My first guess at the picture was it was the fill valve as noted above. Why was it off? The wires should have some type of plug to go into a harness or fitting someplace that has the mating plug. ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2018, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-part-on-my-dishwasher/825020/5 "2018-11-25T16:13:10Z")
Solenoid. ---
**Author:** ![Claude\_Remains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/898d66/32.png) [@Claude\_Remains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claude_Remains)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2018, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-part-on-my-dishwasher/825020/6 "2018-11-25T19:57:59Z")
Water inlet solenoid valve. Take the valve itself apart and make sure there’s no obstruction (piece of gunk) preventing it from opening/closing properly. I see this type of issue over and over and very rarely is it the solenoid.