Dishwasher Wars - Part II

So last night, after the fourth time of pulling the dishwasher out, flipping the circuit breaker, pulling everything apart in the back, putting it all back together and running a test cycle, and it STILL leaving water behind in the tub, I finally decided to give up for the time being and feed my kids.

Thankfully, I had started this project early enough that it was only 6pm (although it honestly felt like 10pm at that point).  I’d made Corned Beef and Cabbage in the Crockpot that day (yay for Sunday traditions!) so it was an easy dinner.  Quick to put out, the kids love it so they ate everything, and even brought their dishes to the overflowing kitchen sink (I think they just wanted to get close to the “monster” that had been occupying Mommy for the past two hours).  To top it all off, they went to bed very nicely for me.  Thank God for small miracles. 

By 7:30pm I was back downstairs (finally changed out of my church clothes into some jeans and a sweatshirt) and back under the dishwasher -once again pulled out and power shut off.

Here’s where I need to make four points:

1.        Thank you to my Dad for having me right beside him for every repair he ever did to the house, the car, the tv, . . . Had it not been for that early training and watching, I would never have had the courage to pull the dishwasher out and even ATTEMPT to fix it.

2.       Thank you to Barry, who stayed on the phone with me all the way from Ireland (at close to midnight his time) while I described what was going on and what I was trying to do, tried to evaluate the pictures I was sending him via text, then even Skyped to try to get a better look at it and give me some advice.  While it was impossible for him to TOTALLY help half way across the world, he was there for moral support (and reminding me to turn off the breaker to the electric before I started pulling at the wet wires).

3.       Yes, my butt crack was hanging out of my jeans while I was bent over and under and behind the damnable machine.  I guess we can’t totally blame those overweight plumbers for the peep show.  At different points, all three kids came around the corner and yelled at me to pull up my pants!

4.       I’m glad my kids got to see me working through this problem.  Despite the fact that I yelled at them a few times to “go away from the kitchen and play in the playroom!” they saw their mom working to fix a problem.  For the most part, I kept my cool.  I think that’s a good thing for kids to see their mom doing.

So . . . after making two more attempts at fixing things, slicing my thumb open and bleeding all over the floor, I finally put it all back together and told myself that was it.  I’d tried my best.  I’ll have to probably call a repairman.  But I have to tell you, I am not satisfied with this answer.  I NEED to fix this!  So later that night I googled some more and came up with this:

1.        http://www.appliance-repair-it.com/dishwasher-not-draining.html

2.       http://www.amazon.com/AP2617344-Dishwasher-GE-HOTPOINT-KENMORE/dp/B0050KMEGS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327334831&sr=8-1 (AP2617344 Dishwasher Piston & Nut Check Valve)

I am 99.99% sure that this is my problem.  Because at one point I had that little bugger of a piston out of the machine and it looked totally messed up.  But I just shoved the rubber gasket back down in it and put it all back together.  That obviously wasn’t the solution – but REPLACING it probably will be.  So for $15 I am going to give it a shot! 

Keep your fingers crossed!  I want this to work!!!

AP2617344 Dishwasher Piston & Nut Check Valve