Top Arm Won't Spin on My Kenmore Dishwasher

Arm Pulling

• Spray arms most commonly won't spin because of physical barriers, such as improperly loaded dishes. Make sure the handles on your pots and mugs do not extend below the rack bottom. Accumulated bits of food and debris can also cause problems. Remove the top dish rack and inspect the jets and center stalk for dried food. Clean the spray arm thoroughly.

Permanent Damage

• Serious impact from dishes or from a misaligned rack can break the spray arm or warp it, causing it to bend and spray outward instead of upward. Severe warping and breakage can stop the spray arm from operating altogether, since it doesn’t sit correctly. Unfortunately, a damaged spray arm is not repairable and must be replaced. Contact Kenmore or an accredited parts supply service.

Timer Malfunction

• If the spray arm appears undamaged and is not impeded, then the problem might stem from a related system. The timer controls the central functions of the dishwasher during its cycle, activating and deactivating each part of the washer. A malfunctioning timer may not send signals to one or both spray arms, preventing them from operating properly. Like the spray arm, damaged timers are not repairable and require replacement.

Heating Element

• Hot water is an essential part of the dishwashing process. Water is heated by a separate element in the dishwasher. When the water reaches a certain temperature, other cycle elements are activated, including the spray arms. If the heating element is malfunctioning, the spray arms will not activate.