Tricity Bendix DH101 dishwasher water intake - again!

[daveprkl]

My dishwasher is not taking in water when started. It powers up OK and there is a sort of thrumming noise from the inlet valve - I think - but no water goes in.

I've had a search and found a couple of old threads which make me think that the valve is locked out. So far I have taken off the inlet hose and reconnected it as suggested in an earlier thread but no joy.

Next I took apart and cleaned out all the bits that are accessible from the inside of the machine and although they were a bit grotty this has not helped either. Then I tipped it on it's back and took off and blew through as many hoses as I could manage particularly the little ones which go up through the plastic tray into the U-tubes. One of these is connected to the inlet valve and I presume it is a sensor of some kind.

One other point is that the tank under the salt filler was full to the brim and so I suspect a blockage in there or in one of the hoses attached to it but it seems like a bit of a job to get it out.

Can anyone help please?

Dave

 

[daveprkl]

I've now taken out this tank and can find no blockage. I've also disconnected the inlet valve and am wondering if I can test this with just the inlet hose connected to it. If I switch on the machine with just the electrical connections and inlet hose attached to it will this prove whether or not the valve is faulty?

I will take great care not to get electrocuted.

OK - I went ahead and switched on the machine briefly with nothing connected to the inlet valve except the wires and it turns out that the "thrumming" noise is coming from whatever the last thing before the outlet hose is. Is it a diaphragm (sp?) pump?

In any event the inlet valve was silent. I would have thought it might at least click although perhaps it needs the water pressure for that.

 

[Leccy758]

The first thing a dishwasher does when switched on is to drain so the drain pump will operate.
After a short while (time depends on model etc) the fill valve should operate

 

[daveprkl]

Thanks for that.

So is it only dependant on a time delay or is anything else monitored before the inlet valve opens? Does the brimfull tank indicate anything or is it always like that? We've never added salt so I don't know what is normal.

Sorry for all the questions.

 

[Leccy758]

If you post the product number (PNC) 'normally begins with something like 914' you can get more specific help
the salt tank always contains water,
The initial drain is time and water level dependent but does not normally last too long.
If the drain pump does not shut off it is normally because the anti flood if fitted (in the base of the machine) has been activated.
If the drain pump shuts off and you get a humming from the fill valve but no water flow it may be water pressure is too high or the valve has failed.

 

[Leccy758]

You can put a separate power supply to the inlet valve and see if it allows water to flow, or test the continuity of the coil on the valve with a multimeter

 

[daveprkl]

Thanks again. That gives me some more stuff to try today. THe product number is 911861046.

 

[daveprkl]

Success! (simultaneously punches air and touches wood.)

Thanks very much indeed to Leccy758.

After the fuller description of the start procedure I realised that I hadn't waited long enough after cleaning it out yesterday before deciding I had failed (because I didn't like the noise of the drain pump but of course I hadn't heard it pumping when dry before) and switching off again.

Today I repeated all the cleaning I'd done yesterday, carefully reassembled, switched on, ignored the unfamiliar noises from a dry dishwasher and bingo, away it went. It's now half-way through a second cycle.

So thanks again to Leccy for giving of his time and wisdom. I've no doubt I'll be back - but hope it won't be too soon.