Spray Arm Won't Work on Kenmore Dishwasher

Symptom

The main symptom that your Kenmore dishwasher's spray arms are not working properly is dirty dishes. If the arms are not spraying, spinning or both, then the dishes are not getting the water sprayed on them like they are supposed to. This lack of water contact with the dishes will make it difficult for the wash cycle to get the food off the dirty plates and return them to a sparkling clean state.

If the spray arms on your dishwasher are not spraying water, it is most likely because something is blocking the path of the water. It is possible that you do not have a water supply to the machine, but assuming that is not the case and the water is flowing, then the problem is likely a clog. The tiny holes in the spray arm that allow the water to spray through may be clogged with food, sediment from the water or other debris. The holes must be cleaned out for the arm to begin working properly again.

If the spray arm is not spinning, then it is either stuck, or it is a result of a spraying problem. If some or all of the holes in the spray arm are clogged, then the arm may not spin. The force of the water acts like jets on the lightweight plastic arm inside the dishwasher. The water propels the arms in the proper direction, making them spin and reach all the areas inside the machine. If the arm is spraying but it is still not moving, then most likely there is something preventing the spray arm from rotating. It could be a rack in the dishwasher out of place, overloaded or improperly loaded dishes or even a foreign object making the arm itself stick instead of rotating freely.

Unplug your dishwasher and take the middle cap off the spray arms in the dishwasher and lift the entire pieces out of the machine. Clean the spray arm by soaking it in a mixture of soapy warm water and vinegar. Straight vinegar may be necessary if there are mineral deposits in the holes. After soaking, use a scrub brush or toothbrush to clean all the openings. If there are tough-to-remove pieces of debris in the openings, use cotton swabs, toothpicks or tweezers to pull them out. Rinse the pieces with clean water and replace them.