How To Clean Kenmore Elite Dishwasher

Model Number: 665.15953000

Brand: Sears Kenmore

Age: More than 10 years

The dishwasher was in the house when I bought it in 2006. I assume it was from when the house was built in 1998. A couple of years ago, it wasn't cleaning too well. I took the sprayer arms off and cleaned all the holes and took apart the sump area. Both were pretty clogged with old powdered detergent (assuming it was powdered, was caked in like cement...). It cleaned much better after that. I've been using the Members Mark brand liquid detergent since then and everything was great. I drink a lot of tea and it would easily clean the tea stains from the pot I brew in and the pitcher. The glasses came out spotless. I loved it!

About 6 months ago, I went to get more detergent and I can no longer find the one I used to use. I've since tried Cascade liquid and the Wal-Mart brand, neither of which work well. I imagine some of this is due to phosphates no longer being in the detergent. However, it's not even touching the glassware anymore, let alone doing anything for the tea stains.

I've been running dishwasher cleaner through it from time to time. A little while back I tried it and noticed that even without putting soap in, there would be suds in the water. I had to run the quick rinse cycle 4-5 times to get it all out. That seems strange to me. I've checked the sump area and there's not much of anything in there.

I went to Lowe's tonight and bought a piece of acrylic sheet and cut it to match the door opening. I then turned on the normal wash cycle with no soap. The water comes up to, but does not cover, the heating element. The lower spray arm seems to put out a good amount of water and spins. It seems a little slow to me, but I honestly have no reference to how fast it should spin... The upper spray arm spins most of the time, but I did see if stop from time to time. There is also a very large amount of water coming out from the arm seal. The spinner on the roof puts out water, but does not spin under the water pressure. It spins easily by hand, but not by water.

Any suggestions on what I should do about the spray arms? I'd much rather fix something if I can, rather than buy something new.

Jake

Appliance Tech - Admin

Hi,

Ok, you will need a new feed tube assembly for that water gushing out from that valve issue where the middle spray arm connects to.

Here's the feed tube assembly for your model you can order:
WP8539167 Tube

Also for the soap suds issue you need mineral deposit remover(Citric Acid)
WD35X151 Citric Acid

Watch this video below, it will should you how to remove the old feed tube assembly and replace it with the new feed tube assembly:

[video=youtube_share;FC8Vo_NyXls]https://youtu.be/FC8Vo_NyXls[/video]

Jake

rickgburton

The motor, wash impeller, chopper assembly or all three are wearing down. Mineral deposits and soap deposits build up over time and end up back on the dishes whenever water is moving, wash or rinse. Some dishwasher cleaners work well and some don't. If the tub is not stainless steel try running about 2 cups hydrochloric acid (Plumbers Supply Store) through a wash cycle followed by another wash cycle. Cut back the amount of soap you're using. Start there. That will clean out all mineral and soap deposits then see where you stand. You can replace the chopper, wash impeller and seals or replace the circulation motor but that machine has reached the end of it's useful life. It might be better to put that money towards a new machine.

Jake

Appliance Tech - Admin

Rick and I are on the same page.

Mineral deposits and soap deposits build up over time

That's exactly why I recommended the mineral deposit remover(Citric Acid), since I moved from Oregon(soft water) to Arizona(hard water) I use just a tad of the mineral deposit remover(Citric Acid) in my dishwasher every load, and everything comes out clean as a whistle.

And I get no Mineral deposit or soap deposit build up at all inside my dishwasher.

Jake

Thanks for the replies guys. Sorry I'm just now getting back Weather was great today, so I did outdoor chores.

The water isn't coming out from where the arm connects to the supply tube. It's coming from where the sprayer arm actually spins on the arm that's attached to the upper rack. I'm sure some has to come out as the spacer has a gap in it, but it's just gushing. Attaching an image of the spot I'm talking about.

The tub is stainless, so can't use the hydrochloric acid. I assume the citric acid is still fine to use though. I'll look to order some. Do you use the whole package first time and then a little with each load?

Jake

Appliance Tech - Admin

I've tried the citric acid cleaner and it seemed a little better. I've also taken the arms back off and don't see any cracks. Last night I took the whole assembly out. I found a piece of a broken glass and a piece of the old silverware tray cemented in with detergent blocking a decent amount of the inlet area. I imagine this will allow much more water to circulate and hopefully clean much better. However when I put it all back together I now have a leak. The plastic housing the circulation pump shaft goes through is way too loose and I'm sure that's where the water is leaking from. The Impeller is pressed on and from what I can find I'd need to the whole pump now... Time to decide if I just want to buy a new washer now... Any suggestions on a good stainless front dishwasher for around $500?

Jake

Appliance Tech - Admin

Jake

Appliance Tech - Admin

Ok, sounds good.

Frigidaire dishwashers are ok, not my first choice, because the wash motor on them aren't as powerful as the Maytag, so just make sure you check and clean the filter inside the tub regularly or your water pressure will decrease through the wash motor and you'll be back in the same boat.

Your Frigidaire model number is LGID2475QF

Jake