Whirlpool Dishwasher Fills but Does Not Wash?

If your whirlpool dishwasher is filling but not washing, you’re in the right place! This is the ultimate guide for how to fix a Whirlpool dishwasher filling up with water but not washing.

Simply follow our step-by-step instructions below, and you should be able to find the cause of the problem and fix it. Thankfully, most of the time it’s quite a simple problem to fix.

This guide covers most major models of Whirlpool dishwashers, including:

7DP840CWDB0

7DP840CWDB1

7DU840CWDB0

7DU840CWDB1

7DU900PCDB0

7DU900PCDQ0

WDT780SAEM0

WDT780SAEM1

WDT780SAEM2

WDT790SLYM2

WDT790SLYW2

WDT910SAYE1

WDT910SAYE2

WDT910SAYH1

WDT910SAYH2

WDT910SAYM1

WDT910SAYM2

WDT910SSYB1

WDT910SSYB2

WDT910SSYM2

WDT910SSYW2

Step 1 – Check the Detergent Drawer

If your Whirlpool washer isn’t cleaning, start by checking the detergent drawer. Sometimes the drawer doesn’t open up correctly when you turn your dishwasher on, and this causes your dishwasher not to wash your dishes.

Here’s how to check the detergent drawer:

1. Turn your Whirlpool dishwasher onto a wash cycle.
2. Wait 15 minutes and then pause the cycle.
3. Open the dishwasher door and check if the detergent drawer has opened up. 
4. If it has, this means the drawer is working correctly, and you can move on to the next step. However, if it hasn’t, this means that it is faulty. Before replacing the spring in the drawer unit or replacing the whole unit, try to give it a good clean, and then check if this solves the problem. If cleaning it doesn’t work, it will need to be replaced.
5. If you repair the drawer, turn the power to the dishwasher back on, put it on to a cycle, and check if it is now working correctly. If not, move on to the next step.

Step 2 – Check the Spray Arms

The spray arms (sometimes called wash arms) in your dishwasher circulate water into and around the dishwasher during a wash cycle. Some dishwashers have one spray arm, and some have multiple spray arms. When they get clogged or damaged, your dishwasher won’t be able to wash your dishes properly.

Here’s how to check the spray arms:

1. Open your dishwasher.
2. Remove the spray arms from your dishwasher – they should just pop out.
3. Once removed, check the spray arms for any cracks or damage.
4. If damaged, they will need to be replaced.
5. If they are not damaged, give them a good clean to ensure there is no loose food debris blocking them.
6. Once cleaned, put them back into the dishwasher.
7. Turn your dishwasher on to a cycle, and check if the problem has been solved. If not, move on to the next step.

Step 3 – Check the Wash Motor

The next step is to check the wash motor. When the motor becomes faulty, your Whirlpool dishwasher fills with water but does not wash.

Here’s how to check the wash motor:

1. Locate the wash motor (check your manual if necessary).
2. Turn your dishwasher on to a cycle.
3. Listen to the wash motor for a clicking sound coming from the motor.
4. If you can hear clicking sounds coming from the motor, this means it is faulty and will most likely need to be replaced.
5. Before replacing the motor, use a multimeter to check it for continuity.
6. To check the motor, you first need to turn the power to the dishwasher off.
7. Locate the motor – you’ll need to remove the lower access panel.
8. You can then remove the wiring harness that is attached to the motor.
9. Set your multimeter to R x 1.
10. Place the multimeter’s probes on one terminal each. The test should show little resistance (zero or just above zero).
11. You should also check the ground connection. You can do this by placing one probe on the bare metal housing of the motor and the other probe on one of the terminals (then check the other terminal). The multimeter should show no reading.
12. If the motor doesn’t pass either of these tests, it is faulty and will need to be replaced.
13. Once replaced, turn your dishwasher on to a cycle, and check if the problem has been solved.