Troubleshooting a Kenmore Dishwasher When the Heating Element Terminal Melted

Shut off the electricity to the Kenmore at the circuit breaker.

Take out the screws in the left and right edges of the kick panel below the door. Pull down on the panel and forward at an angle to expose the components at the bottom of the appliance. The heating element terminals extend through gaskets inside the dishwasher tub through the bottom. Each element connects to a wire with a slip-on clip.

Turn on a flashlight and direct the beam into the space below the dishwasher to inspect the wiring. Look for evidence of scorching, melted or cracked wire insulation and any other evidence of overheating. Sniff carefully. A burnt odor may be a sign of a wiring problem beyond just the heating element. Continue troubleshooting.

Pull the wires off the element terminals. Make a note of which wire connects to which terminal.

Set the multimeter to R1, which is a resistance test to check electrical circuits.

Touch the multimeter test rods to the element terminals. A zero or infinity reading means the element is burned out and must be replaced, especially if one of the terminals is partially melted or distorted.

Unplug the two wires from the thermostat, which is wired to the heating element.

Place the multimeter test rods on the thermostat contacts. A zero reading means the thermostat is locked in the open position and has likely burned out. The thermostat must be replaced; it cannot be repaired.

Open the cabinet adjacent to the appliance to locate the dishwasher power cord where it connects to a standard socket or into a junction box. Check the wire for signs of scorching and cracked or worn insulation. If the power cord appears damaged, contact an electrician to test the wiring and the circuit breaker box, as the problem may be outside the dishwasher.