Debating the above question. Whirlpool dishwasher 5 to unknown years old as it was in the house when purchased 3 years ago.
Made a hot smell on attempted start and keypad just flashes lights.
Tried locating a repair service Friday without success and wonder if it's even worth the effort. Figure I'll be $150 minimum into any repair due to a service call assuming I can find anyone in my remote area. Can replace with like kind for $400.
Torn on how best to proceed.
This is a seasonal residence that doesn't warrant a top of the line dishwasher.
Opinions please.

I just replaced a 16 year old GE dishwasher after fixing it many times over the years. This time the pump went. I really don't expect the new one to last that long.

I'd probably replace it as once they start breaking it seems to be a never ending challenge to keep them going. Just make sure the new one fits in the cabinet as mine does not and I had to tear the cabinet apart just to get it in for now and then I have to rebuild it when I get a chance.

If you have a tech replace any parts you are looking at nearly $300. It what now, $80 just to drive out and look at it now or more?

I'd give a web site like www.repairclinic.com a try to see if you can narrow it down yourself. They do have some pretty helpful videos/sources to help narrow down what it could be. Once you narrow the potential part down, then I'd look for a good price as they don't always have the best and sometimes have the highest prices on parts. However, they have saved me hundreds I'm sure on repairing our clothes dryer at least three times of various weak plastic parts that Whirlpool used including the knobs! Most of this stuff today is made to be thrown away, not repaired which is just a huge waste.

If you don't want the hassle of a repair, I get it. Then I'd replace it. However, with all the supply chain shortages that happened. I would be extremely cautious and do my homework and maybe even opt for the extended warranty...something I never do. A lot of companies cut corners to get products to market.

We just replaced a Frigidaire dishwasher when the control pad or circuit board went bad. Priced out the parts online. Control pad was $125, circuit board was $200+ ish.

Bought a new machine.

You Tube academy

Replace it

Current thread going that appears to imply the new 'save-the-planet' models don't do a great job drying.

Assuming you're happy with the beastie when it's working, I might keep looking for Whirlpool service tech to get an estimate.

RE: indeterminate age. You can probably get close estimating the age of the machine if you Google the model number. Should be a badge somewhere inside with model info. Get the owners manual PDF and look at the copyright date, if nothing else.

I would replace.

Thanks for the input. I'm not interested in working on it myself. That combined with what some of you have seen as parts cost I think I'll pull the trigger on a replacement.

Had a 12 year old Bosch dishwasher catch on fire a couple years back. Figured it was time to replace, but checked You tube. Turns out that when they designed/built it - the incompetents had connected a thin aluminum wire to a thicker wire and the expansion/contraction imbalance finally made it loose. The wire nut was melted off of it, but essentially all I had to do was turn off the power, pull that group out, solder the wires together, new wire nut and good to go.

I likely would have never figured that out by myself. So check your model/mfg and see if it's something simple you can fix yourself (like a blown fuse). Then get a new one if you don't see it.

ps, the repaired Bosch is still doing OK.

quote:

Originally posted by jimb888:
Had a 12 year old Bosch dishwasher catch on fire a couple years back. Figured it was time to replace, but checked You tube. Turns out that when they designed/built it - the incompetents had connected a thin aluminum wire to a thicker wire and the expansion/contraction imbalance finally made it loose. The wire nut was melted off of it, but essentially all I had to do was turn off the power, pull that group out, solder the wires together, new wire nut and good to go.

I likely would have never figured that out by myself. So check your model/mfg and see if it's something simple you can fix yourself (like a blown fuse). Then get a new one if you don't see it.

ps, the repaired Bosch is still doing OK.

Sir, thank you for the recommendation. I ran my specific model through YouTube and found a video. Guy was broken English but I picked up how to try a manual reset. I'll be dang if it didn't work.
That's normally something I do but I was being lazy thinking it was going to be an electrical rabbit hole.
Thanks again. You saved me money and frustration.

And that is why Sig Forum is The Best!

My wife said she broke our dishwasher. No lights blinking, no smells, just wouldn’t start.

Me, I made like a rabbit to the circuit breaker panel. Although my wife had already checked to see that it was ON, she did not do the manly thing of switching it off.

So, I did. I counted to 30. I switched it back on. And, the dishwasher works fine.

Upon waterboarding I did confess to the simple fix…after originally attempting to be a real engineer and babble on about my superior diagnostic powers and abilities.