How To Clean A Dishwasher Motor?

You may run into an issue of your dishwasher not cleaning dishes well or hearing that water is getting inside the unit, but it doesn’t start running. This may happen to any dishwasher brand or type, but such malfunctions usually occur with American brands. In this article, you will find out how to properly clean your unit’s motor. Please only do this procedure if you are sure that your appliance can receive and drain water.

What tools will you need?

This repair is intermediate and will not require specific tools but bits, drills, screwdrivers, wrenches, and pliers. Also, prepare some old towel or blanket to use under your dishwasher so you do not scratch the surface of your floor while attempting the repair.

How to remove the dishwasher?

Remove the dishwasher from under the countertop by unscrewing the screws on the sides or top of the appliance. You should be able to pull the unit out from its spot quite easily unless the leveling legs or hoses may be in your way. You may need to lower the front or back legs with a wrench to pull out the unit. Sometimes the water supply hose must be disconnected because it isn’t long enough.

Best way to clean the motor in your dishwasher

Carefully place a blanket under the unit and put the unit on its side for you to have enough space to access the dishwasher from the bottom. In some units, you may need to remove the base panel to access the parts.

Once you have located the pump, please remove it from its original position. In most units, it’s not secured with any screws but rather with a twist-style motion thread. Inspect the pump’s housing and find the bracket pull that has to be pushed to pull the motor off. There is usually a direction arrow on the pump that you should follow.

Once the engine is removed, disconnect it from the wire harness and inspect for debris or dirt. Clean it well. If you have found a big cluster of dirt, clean it and reassemble the unit to test it. If you found no dirt, the issue might be inside the motor itself. Locate the screws on the engine and screw them off.

Once you are inside, use paper towels and water to make the axial and all magnets inside and out as clean as possible. Once the motor is clean, screw it back on. Do such cleaning once every couple of years.

Author: Jacob Dillard

My name is Jacob Dillard, and I am the author of articles at Appliance Repair Expert. Since childhood, I have been fascinated by technology and spent much time reading different books and trying to repair my first CD player. Then, I graduated from the University of Toronto with a degree in Applied Science and Engineering. In a year, I got my first job as a technician at an appliance repair company. After years of practice and working with professionals, I decided it was time to share my knowledge and experience here at Appliance Repair Expert. I want to help you understand everything related to appliance repair, maintenance and installation in the simplest way possible. It will be fun, believe me!