Modern dishwashers have two or three spray arms. Models with a single “corona” are rare, they are found only among the smallest and most compact dishwashers. This part, called the impeller, rotates and sprays water during the operation of the machine. The upper and middle sprayers are responsible directly for washing the dishes. The bottom one is mainly designed to wash the walls and the bottom of the chamber.

Unfortunately, sometimes dishwasher owners notice that one or all of the rockers stop rotating. In this case, the machine washes dishes poorly or interrupts the cycle with an error. Why did this happen, and what is the reason for the lack of rotation of the sprinklers, let’s talk in our article.

Probable malfunctions that require repair

Unfortunately, it is not always possible to “cure” the dishwasher by regular filter cleaning. Often the cause lies in the malfunction of the impellers themselves, as well as other components. According to the experience of Chula Vista Appliance Repair Company, most often, the sprinklers in the dishwasher stop turning because of the following breakdowns.

1. The nozzles of the spray blade or blades from which the water is supposed to flow are faulty
The breakdowns include:
– Contamination. Most often, the holes in the impellers are clogged with food residue, grease, and limescale.
– Increased size of the holes. Sometimes the holes are corroded by household chemicals. Due to the larger holes, the jet stream becomes weaker, and the impeller rotates poorly or does not rotate at all.

2. gasket wear and tear
Over time, the gasket at the junction of the water supply channel and the impeller itself lose their seal. As a result, some or all of the water does not enter the rocker’s arm but flows bypassing the sprayer. Sprinkler rotation is poor or absent, and the dishes are left dirty.

3. Blockage in the rear, bottom, top, or under-counter water supply duct
Water enters the impellers through special channels. You can see them:
– On the back of the dishwasher;
– on the bottom of the basket for the under-basket sprinkler;
– on the bottom of the washing chamber for the bottom impeller;
– on the ceiling of the washing tank for the upper sprinkler

If the channel is clogged, the water pressure drops and the sprayer does not rotate properly. If the channel is clogged, the water does not reach the rocker arm at all and it does not rotate. If the back channel is clogged, most often all of the impellers do not work. If the upper, lower, or sub-canal is clogged, only one corresponding impeller is clogged.

4. Rear channel water inlet nut seal is torn
There are two channels through which water enters the impeller under the upper basket: the rear channel and the under corner channel. They are joined by a nut the moment you push the basket all the way in and close the dishwasher door. If the nut seal is damaged, water partially flows along the rear wall. Therefore, the water pressure directed to the middle sprayer drops: because of this, it rotates poorly or does not rotate at all. The dishes in the upper basket are badly washed, and the detergent partially or completely remains in the dispenser.

5. Circulation pump malfunctioning
The recirculation pump is responsible for “pumping” the water during washing. Often it gets dirty or fails (burns out, broken impeller). In the case of contamination, the pump continues to work, its noise is audible, but the water pressure is weak: as a consequence, the impellers rotate poorly and the quality of washing is low. If the pump fails, the impellers do not rotate at all: the machine either interrupts the cycle with an error or leaves the dishes “untouched”.

6. Water flow divider is broken
The water flow divider in dishwashers is responsible for switching the flow of water between the impellers. In most dishwashers, it looks like a device consisting of a motor with gear, a cam disk, a microswitch, and a shut-off disk with three holes that regulate the water flow. Receiving a signal from the control board, the actuator motor drives the pinion, which in turn rotates the discs.

Prolonged use of dishwashers often results in abrasion of the pinion, causing the machine to malfunction. The actuator breakdown can also be caused by loss of tightness of the seal, in which case water gets on the motor and it burns out.

In some dishwashers, water flow in the actuator is regulated by a magnetic valve, which often burns out due to power surges.

7. The control box is defective
Probably burned or oxidized tracks or broken elements in the circulation pump circuit.

8. The wiring or contacts in the circulation pump circuit are damaged
That’s why it doesn’t turn on. Circuit breakage is often caused by vibrations during dishwasher operation: wires are frayed, and contacts are loose. In the private sector, mice and rats can damage the wiring.

If your dishwasher isn’t spinning one or more sprays, and you’re not getting your dishes clean, contact the experts! Chula Vista Appliance Repair Company‘s handymen handle all dishwasher repairs in your home. Call us or book now.

Contact us
(619) 880-5508