Kenmore Dishwasher Keeps Stopping/Beeping/Running

Dishwashers can be great when they do what they’re supposed to do. However, if your dishwasher is beeping, you have probably already guessed that there is something wrong. Sometimes the dishwasher will stop mid-cycle or won’t stop at all, running for much longer than usual. This article will help you diagnose what is wrong with your dishwasher so that you can fix it and have it up and running again.

A Kenmore dishwasher will pause/stop if the door is opened, there has been a power surge/outage, a fuse has blown or a component is broken. If your dishwasher keeps running, you should check the heating element, thermistor and circuit board timer. Beeps can be normal, but may also indicate an error.

Hand with gloves putting cup into top dishwasher rack

I will explain these issues and their solutions in more detail below. I have also included a list of error codes that you may come across with your Kenmore dishwasher, as well as what they mean.

Kenmore Dishwasher Keeps Stopping/Pausing

Hand putting plate into bottom dishwasher rack

The easiest explanation for your dishwasher stopping mid-cycle is that the door is unlatched or there is no power to the dishwasher. Usually you will know if you or a child unlatched the door, but sometimes the door latch is faulty and may unlock on its own.

In terms of power, there may have been a surge or power outage that overloaded or cut the power to the dishwasher. In this case, you will need to make sure you re-establish power and start the cycle again. Before every cycle, the dishwasher will drain away residual water, so you don’t need to worry about it overfilling.

You may also need to reset your kenmore dishwasher because these situations can cause an error on the circuit board. You can do this by following the steps below.

Step 1: Unplug the dishwasher from the power (if you can), or switch off the circuit breaker to cut the power.

Step 2: Wait at least 60 seconds.

Step 3: Re-establish power to the dishwasher.

Another common issue is when a thermal fuse blows inside the dishwasher. These fuses are supposed to prevent the electrical surges from damaging different components of the dishwasher. You can find the thermal fuses on the control board, and these can be replaced individually when needed.

Each Kenmore model is different, but there are other components that will stop the dishwasher mid-cycle when damaged. These are listed below. These should be accompanied by an error code, which I will discuss further down.

· The circuit board may be damaged or faulty, affecting all electrical components.

· The control panel may get damaged, become loose or the buttons may get stuck.

· The heating element or thermistor may be broken, making the water too cold for the dishwasher.

· The dishwasher vent and fan may stop working, trapping moisture and hot air inside.

· The pump/motor may stop working or become damaged, meaning the water is no longer circulated properly.

DID YOU KNOW:
A Kenmore dishwasher door that won’t open could be due to a latch that is stuck in the locked position. This can happen if the latch becomes jammed with food debris or if a component within the mechanism breaks. To fix this issue, first try to gently wiggle the door handle to release any jammed parts. If the latch is still not releasing, it may need to be cleaned or the latch assembly may require replacement.

Kenmore Dishwasher Keeps Running

Clean cups and bowls on top dishwasher rack

Dishwashers will not proceed to the next cycle until they have registered that the previous cycle is complete. These cycles consist of washing, rinsing and drying. If the dishwasher is stuck on one of these cycles, the only way it is going to stop is if you open the door or turn it off at the power.

These cycles are mostly controlled by a timer. However, they also rely on the water reaching a particular temperature. For this reason, a dishwasher that keeps running most likely has a faulty timer, thermistor or heating element.

One way to distinguish between these is to feel the temperature of the dishes when you open the door. If they are cold, either the heating element or the thermistor is broken.

If they are warm, but not as hot as you would expect, then it is likely to be the thermistor. If your dishwasher is a normal temperature, then the thermistor and heating element are working and the problem lies within the circuit board.

You can also use a multimeter to check your thermistor and heating element. The heating element simply needs to register current, but the thermistor reading needs to change smoothly with changes to temperature. If the changes are erratic, or the multimeter reads ‘0’ or infinity, the thermistor is faulty.

Kenmore Dishwasher Keeps Beeping

If you’ve ever been startled by the unexpected beeping of your Kenmore dishwasher, you’re not alone. Just the other day, as I was enjoying a quiet evening, the persistent beeping from my kitchen disrupted the peace. Have you ever wondered why your dishwasher suddenly decides to sound like a morning alarm?

A Kenmore dishwasher beeping can often indicate a door latch issue. If the door isn’t properly closed or the latch is faulty, the machine will beep to alert you. To resolve this, ensure the door is firmly closed. If the beeping continues, inspect the latch for any obstructions or damage and clean or adjust as needed to secure the door closure.

Another common cause of beeping in Kenmore dishwashers is a blocked dishwasher filter. Over time, food particles and debris can accumulate in the filter, obstructing water flow and triggering the dishwasher’s warning system. To fix this, turn off and unplug the dishwasher, remove the lower rack, and locate the filter. Clean it thoroughly under running water, remove any debris, and reinstall the filter. This should stop the beeping and allow the dishwasher to operate smoothly.

There can be a number of errors that occur within a dishwasher, which will cause it to beep. These indicate that a component has malfunctioned and may need to be replaced. If it is an electrical error, such as the issue above, resetting the dishwasher will likely solve the problem.

Every error has a unique code to indicate which component needs your attention. This is particularly important to note if you are trying to fix the problem yourself.

A detailed list of these codes, including how to fix the error, can be found on the Sears Parts Direct website. However, below is a summary of these codes. These codes should also be listed in your operating manual.

Error Code	Problem
1-1 or F1E1	Stuck relay on the electronic control board
1-2 or F1E2	Damaged or corrupted memory on control board. Incompatible software components inside microprocessor.
2-1 or F2E1	Stuck button on the user interface control
2-2 or F2E2	User interface control can’t communicate with electronic control board
3-1 or F3E1	Thermistor/OWI sensor failure (The thermistor is the water temperature sensor, the OWI sensor is the Optical Water Indicator that detects the amount of debris in the water.)
3-2 or F3E2	Shorted thermistor/OWI sensor
3-3 or F3E3	OWI failed to calibrate or the drain hose check valve failed, allowing dirty water to backflow into the dishwasher
4-1 or F4E1	Communication error between the electronic control board and the circulation pump motor
4-2 or F4E2	Communication error between the electronic control board and the circulation pump motor
5-1 or F5E1	Door switch failure
5-2 or F5E2	Control detects door not opening
6-1 or F6E1	Won’t fill
6-2 or F6E2	Water inlet valve failure
6-3 or F6E3	Suds or air are in the water pump
6-4 or F6E4	The float switch is open
6-6 or F6E6	Incoming water is too cold
6-7 or F6E7	Disconnected or damaged flow meter
6-8 or F6E8	Problem with water softener regeneration valve (Water Softener Models Only)
7-1 or F7E1	Heating element doesn’t work
7-2 or F7E2	Heating element won’t shut off
8-1 or F8E1	Slow drain
8-2 or F8E2	Drain pump electrical problem
9-1 or F9E1	Electronic control board can’t detect the position of the diverter disc
9-2 or F9E2	Diverter motor is stuck on
10-1 or FAE1	Detergent dispenser failure
10-2 or FAE2	Vent wax motor electrical problem
10-3 or FAE3	Drying fan failure

Kenmore Dishwasher Keeps Saying Locked

If your Kenmore dishwasher says ‘Locked’ or ‘Control Lock’, you won’t be able to use the dishwasher because the control panel has been locked. To clear this, press and hold the ‘No Heat Dry’ button for four seconds.

Depending on the model, you may have to press the ‘Heat Dry’, ‘Air Dry’ or ‘Delay Start’ button instead. Some models may also need you to hold the button for 10 seconds instead of four.

For the Kenmore Elite Dishwasher, the process is slightly more complicated. For this model, follow the steps below and you will notice all the lights come on if you are successful.

Step 1: Press and release the ‘Heated Dry’ button.

Step 2: Press and release, in sequence, the ‘Pots & Pans’, ‘Normal Wash’ and ‘1 Hour Wash’ buttons.

Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on July 8, 2021.

Step 3: Repeat ‘Step 2’ two more times.

You could also try resetting your dishwasher. This is done by unplugging it or cutting the power supply for at least 60 seconds before turning it back on again, as mentioned above.

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Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on July 8, 2021.

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