KitchenShows up, but not every week

Dishwasher

Also called dish washer.

A pump, a valve, a heater, and a float. Wet, grimy, and electrically ordinary.

A donor is the dead machine. The parts below are what is still worth removing from it. “Leave it” is a part that is physically in there and should stay in there: too dangerous, too worn, or only useful as part of a repair you are not doing.

What you are looking at

A scrapped machine is a box of parts that failed at different times. The reason it was thrown out is often one bad piece. The motor, the cord, the supply, and the screws are frequently still good. This index says which is which.

Why it is in the trash while the parts are not

A leak, a dead board, or a worn pump seal. The valve is often fine.

Before you open it

Do this while it is still unplugged, cool, and not leaking. Kill power and water. Expect standing water in the sump.

Mains voltage

Where the dead machine usually is

Kitchen — In the house
Bulk trash day — Curb
Remodel and construction dumpster — Curb

Remodel dumpsters. Ask the crew. They drip.

How it comes apart

Lower kick plate for the valve and the junction box. The pump is under the tub.

Tools: Nut driver, Pan, Meter.

What to take

The table is the short version. The notes under it describe that part inside this machine, not only the general description.

Parts in this donor
Part	Call	How many	How often	Where to look
Small pump	Prize	1–2	usually	Sump.
Solenoid water valve	Prize	1	usually	Inlet.
Tubular heating element	Worth pulling	1	usually	In the tub.
Float switch	Worth pulling	1	usually	In the tub.
NTC thermistor	Bonus	1	usually	Near the heater.
Microswitch	Worth pulling	1	usually	Door.
Power relay / contactor	Bonus	several	usually	Control board.

Prize

Prize — take this firstSmall pump1–2 · usually
Circulation and drain. Mains.
Sump.
It will be filthy. The seal is the usual failure.
Impeller may be cracked.
Prize — take this firstSolenoid water valve1 · usually
Solenoid, usually mains.
Inlet.
Read the coil.
Screens clogged, coil fine.

Worth pulling

Worth pullingTubular heating element1 · usually
A loop element.
In the tub.
Insulation-check. Scale is cosmetic until it overheats.
Good if it measures right.
Worth pullingFloat switch1 · usually
A float and a switch.
In the tub.
Check that the float still floats.
Sticks with grease.
Worth pullingMicroswitch1 · usually
Interlock.
Door.
Map it.
Good.

Bonus

Bonus, if you are already in thereNTC thermistor1 · usually
Temperature probe.
Near the heater.
Calibrate.
Good.
Bonus, if you are already in therePower relay / contactorseveral · usually
Heater and pump relays.
Control board.
Read the rating.
Mixed.