Kenmore Elite Dishwasher Troubleshooting

Kenmore dishwashers come with great cleaning features and operate quietly. Knowing the best way to troubleshooting these useful appliances can be of great help, especially when your Kenmore dishwasher has problems. While there are several different models, here is a simple troubleshooting guide you can use to clear some common issues on a Kenmore Elite dishwasher.

How Do You Reset a Kenmore Elite Dishwasher?

Resetting your dishwasher returns the settings to their default, overriding any problems it may have. There are several ways to reset Kenmore dishwashers:

Hard Reset

To do a hard reset, simply unplug the dishwasher then wait for at least 30 seconds before plugging it back into the outlet.

Heated Dry Reset

The heated dry reset works for most Kenmore models that have a heated dry button and a normal wash button. To reset:

• Press the heated dry button, and then the normal wash button.
• Repeat the first step: press heated dry button and normal wash button again.
• After this four push sequence, with no more than a second between each push, close and latch the dishwasher.
• It should start to do a short cycle that allows the unit to reset.

Select Cycle Reset

If you have a Kenmore dishwasher with a heated dry button and a select cycle button instead of a normal wash button, then you can do the select cycle reset. Follow these steps for to reset using this technique:

• Press select cycle, options and heated dry buttons.
• Repeat: press select cycle, options, and heated dry buttons again.
• Do it one more time: press select cycle, options, and heated dry.
• Now all the lights should be on and you can press cancel/drain to start the short test cycle.

Make sure you press each button in sequence with no more than a second between each button. Also check to ensure the dishwasher is closed and latched for the test cycle to start.

Pots and Pans Reset

Should the heated dry and normal wash sequence fail to work, you can try the pots and pans reset instead. For this reset technique:

• Start by pressing pots and pans, then press normal wash and one-hour wash.
• Repeat the above sequence two more times.
• At this point, all the lights should be lit, and a short cycle will begin once the door is closed and latched.

Outer Button Reset

If your dishwasher does not have a heated dry button, it is likely it has a total of just three buttons. To such a dishwasher:

• Simultaneously press the two outer buttons and hold for 3 seconds.
• Then, close and latch the dishwasher, and the short test cycle should begin.

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Why is My Kenmore Dishwasher Not Starting?

If your Dishwasher does not start, it may be because of the following reasons:

1. You may not have turned on the unit.
2. The door may not be properly latched.
3. The unit is not reset or previous cycle not completed.
4. Child lock is activated (select models).
5. An interruption of electrical power supply to the dishwasher or blown fuse.
6. Delay Start is engaged.
7. You may have closed the door without first selecting a cycle.
8. Water supply may not be turned on.

Do Kenmore Dishwashers Have a Reset Button?

Kenmore dishwashers will have one of two reset sequences:

• Heated dry reset
• Outer button reset

The heated dry reset works for most models that have a heated dry button and a normal wash button.

How Do You Unlock a Kenmore Elite Dishwasher?

The Control Lock option in a Kenmore Elite dishwasher is used to avoid unintended use of the dishwasher between cycles. When Locked is lit, all buttons are disabled. The dishwasher cannot start if the control is locked.

To turn off Control Lock, you may need to disable Sleep Mode by pressing either Start/resume or cancel/drain, or by opening the door before you are able to turn off Control Lock. Then, press and hold TOP RACK ONLY for 3 seconds. The lights will turn Off.

Where is the Thermal Fuse on a Kenmore Dishwasher?

The thermal fuse is mounted on the control board housing. To release the fuse from the locking tabs, push down the main release tab. Pull the thermal fuse forward and out from under the other tabs. Then release the locking tabs on the thermal fuse.

How to Unclog a Dishwasher with Standing Water

If you have ever opened your dishwasher, only to find standing water below the bottom rack, you have got a drainage problem. The three top reasons for a dishwasher not draining are:

1. Clogged air gap.
2. Clogged drain hose.
3. Kinked drain hose.

To clear this problem, try the following troubleshooting instructions:

• Be sure the cycle has completed. If it has not, resume the cycle by pressing start/resume and closing the door within 3 seconds.
• If your dishwasher is connected to a food waste disposer, make sure the knockout plug has been removed from the disposer inlet.
• Check for kinks in the drain hose.
• Check for food obstructions in the drain or disposer.
• Check your home fuse or circuit breaker.

Kenmore Elite Dishwasher Diagnostic Mode

Pressing any three buttons in sequence three times on a Kenmore Elite dishwasher does more than just resetting the machine. It will also let you view diagnostic codes to help investigate the cause of the problem.

After performing the three button protocol, close your dishwasher door and open it again. The LED will now show a diagnostic error code. If you close the door and open it again, it will display another diagnostic code. You can repeat this door-opening and closing process until all relevant error codes are displayed.

Why is My Kenmore Dishwasher Blinking?

The most common blinking indicator on a Kenmore dishwasher is the light above the Start/Resume button. This light will blink when a cycle has been interrupted as a result of a power outage or when the dishwasher is opened while it is still running. To clear, just press the Start/Resume button again to restart the cycle.