Kenwood Dishwasher not working but no error codes

[Nmw500]

Hello. We have a problem with our two year old Kenwood KFW60W15/A dishwasher. Last week it made a whirring noise during the wash cycle. I have just tried it on the normal wash cycle (1.5 hours) and it appeared to let some water in, but only enough to only just cover the bottom of the machine. The incoming water wasn’t very loud, much like when you put your finger over the end of a hosepipe. The noise stopped and then a whirring sound started. It was much like an electric motor was trying to operate but had seized. I left it for 10 minutes and the noise remained. The water remained in the bottom of the machine. I turned it off and on and selected the quick rinse option (15 minutes). It drained the water and then tried to refill, again only just covering the bottom of the machine. 14 minutes of whirring then it emptied itself and displayed ‘End’. The manual suggested there should be an E1 or E4 error code, but nothing is displayed. I have taken the bottom panel off and couldn’t see anything amiss, but there was some residue in the tank which holds the salt. Do you have any suggestions please? Regards Nick

[electrofix]

sound like a main pump problem
its either had a mechanical failure or or it has swallowed something that has got through the filter

Dave

[Nmw500]

Thanks very much for your reply Dave. I’m happy to investigate most things, but I’m not sure where the pump is. But assuming I find it, is it worth repairing financially? Regards Nick

[electrofix]

well if its just swallowed something, yes. Remove blockage and your there

I have attached a pic of the rear half of the motor. you can see the impellor this may be jammed

there is also a capacitor in most units normally its either 4uF or 5uF . If these fail the motor will hum but not start

take the sides off and find motor. At the back of a lot of dishwasher motors there is a screw driver slot you can turn the motor by hand to see if its free. Dont force it if it wont turn, as if it is glass blocking it, you will break the impellor. if its free, run the machine and see if you can hear a faint hum from the motor when it goes quiet. If yes change the cap and see what happens

this is the 5uF
https://shop.ukwhitegoods.co.uk/cap0…-5uf-capacitor
but you need to find and check the value used on your before you order

Dave

[Nmw500]

Hi Dave. Many thanks for your reply. I took the hoses off the motor, and with my finger through one of the hose inlets/outlets I tried to turn the impeller. It clicked then moved freely. On taking the impeller housing off I could see some of the blades had some bits missing. So I presumed it may have been a bit of impeller which jammed it. I put it together and ran it on the 15 minute soak cycle. It burst into life rather than just whirring, but it sounded like there was something rattling around inside. It finished its cycle as normal I hoped the draining of the water would take with it any debris. I ran it again but it appears to have jammed again. Is there a way of flushing the system from where the water enters the washing chamber (if that’s the correct term!) back to the motor housing? I’m hopeful there isn’t too much wrong with the dishwasher as it appeared to work ok on the first try. I’ll take it apart and let you know how I get on. But in the meantime, thanks again. Nick

[electrofix]

its just a case of stripping and searching for the debris

no easy way i an afraid. a good torch and a pair of glasses that stay put when you at silly angles does help

Dave

[Nmw500]

Hi Dave. I know what the problem is, and your picture has been invaluable in helping me. I took it apart again, but this time I couldn’t move the impeller through the motor housing. I took the housing off and the impeller fell off the motors drive. Not having looked at a dishwasher of any kind before, I hadn’t noticed the lack of retaining screw holding the impeller onto the motor. I also hadn’t noticed the housing on the picture of the impeller you sent me wasn’t there on mine. I think at some point the screw has come out, I haven’t found it, and the impeller has been wearing itself away on the motor housing. I found a replacement screw of the same thread (but not a countersunk one which it looks like it needs), and screwed it back together. It all works perfectly now, no additional rattles etc. The impeller pieces are incredibly brittle though. Would you know which impeller I should buy? I screwed it back on by locking the slot on the opposite end of the motor with a screwdriver. Is there a better way of stopping the motor spinning whilst tightening the impeller screw? I can’t tell you how grateful I am for your help, with thanks again, Nick

[electrofix]

i doubt its available on its own but there is no harm in checking

think you may have model wrong as i caould only find KDW….

you could ask the site shop and do a google search for parts and looked on a major supplier. the part diagram only listed a complete motor

also the screw you replaced need to be high quality stainless or it will rust over time. you may well find the old screw in one of the bars if you look.

even if you cant order a screw or impellor then at least it will work for now

Dave

[Nmw500]

Morning Dave. It was my hamfistedness which put the model as KFW, my apologies! I managed to order an impeller yesterday. Only £8 including p&p for a genuine part apparently, what a result!! I still haven’t found the screw though. Is it possible that it may have gone through the machine and been ejected through the waste? Or would you say it’s definitely still inside? Regards Nick

[electrofix]

its too heavy to go through the waste. it will leave pump and head towards the wash bars so its probably in the tubes somewhere.

if its still together and working try running it with the bars off as maybe the extra water flow will push it out. do it with filters in as if it pops out we dont want it going round again

well done finding an impellor. the supplier i looked at did not list one

Dave

[Nmw500]

I’ve just ran it on the 15 minute soak cycle, but with the bottom washer (the bit that spins around) left off. There is still no sign of any screw. I looked at the top washer and the aperture is too small to pass a screw through I would have thought. Both spinning washers do not rattle when shaken, so I’m confident there isn’t a screw caught up in them. I’ll have another look around the motor when I fit the new impeller. But I’ll try and get hold of another stainless screw if I can’t find the old one. I’ll keep you posted, and thanks again. Nick

[electrofix]

ok no problem

Dave

[eddyesi]

Nmw500 wrote:Hi Dave. I know what the problem is, and your picture has been invaluable in helping me. I took it apart again, but this time I couldn’t move the impeller through the motor housing. I took the housing off and the impeller fell off the motors drive. Not having looked at a dishwasher of any kind before, I hadn’t noticed the lack of retaining screw holding the impeller onto the motor. I also hadn’t noticed the housing on the picture of the impeller you sent me wasn’t there on mine. I think at some point the screw has come out, I haven’t found it, and the impeller has been wearing itself away on the motor housing. I found a replacement screw of the same thread (but not a countersunk one which it looks like it needs), and screwed it back together. It all works perfectly now, no additional rattles etc. The impeller pieces are incredibly brittle though. Would you know which impeller I should buy? I screwed it back on by locking the slot on the opposite end of the motor with a screwdriver. Is there a better way of stopping the motor spinning whilst tightening the impeller screw? I can’t tell you how grateful I am for your help, with thanks again, Nick

Just found this via Google and this is the exact problem I have, lost screw and worn impeller, explaines why it has been noisy too
just ordered an impeller from espares, hopefully get it next day, fixed for £10
https://www.espares.co.uk/product/es1743627/dishwasher-impeller

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