dishwasher question

[4tify]

Hi all

I bought a condo with a "new" dishwasher and had to call the repairman after running it about 20 times (Samsung). When he came out he said "you want the good news or the bad news?" Apparently I have been blessed with "one of the worst" out there. He suggested I try to sell it while it's still working and buy a better brand (Bosch) while I can still get a couple hundred bucks out of it. A new one seems to be around $600.

My question is: do I just run it into the ground or take his advice? (This is my first appliance purchase btw!) Apparently they don't make 'em like they used to. I think we had the same appliances in my home the entire time I was growing up!

Thanks!

[BTDretire]

I'd do some research before I took action after one review.
 Samsung is generally a pretty good brand, now, and has improved over the last 30 years.
 It may be, you have a dud, but post the model and we can look it up to see what others are saying.
It could be all the repair guys experience is with Bosch, so he knows how to fix them, just by hearing the customers complaint,
he know what he needs to replace.
He hasn't worked on many Samsungs so they are trouble for him.

[farfromfire]

Yeah, I don't buy it. Dishwashers are not such a complicated appliance (I just fixed my super cheap one that started giving me trouble after ~700 uses).

I think you should get a second opinion/figure out the problem yourself using the user manual and youtube.

EDIT: what model is it and what's the issue?

[Cranky]

Alas, dishwashers don't last the way they used to, I suppose because they have so many electronics. I just had to replace my 5 year old Bosch.

It did a fabulous job of cleaning, though, and I replaced it with another Bosch.

I've had a terrible summer for appliances all around.

[4tify]

Yeah, I don't buy it. Dishwashers are not such a complicated appliance (I just fixed my super cheap one that started giving me trouble after ~700 uses).

I think you should get a second opinion/figure out the problem yourself using the user manual and youtube.

EDIT: what model is it and what's the issue?

It's a Samsung DW80F600. The tech said it had stopped working due to a sensor at the bottom that had gotten water logged. I turned off the electricity and apparently it dried out, but he said it would likely happen again, hence the advice to replace.

[BTDretire]

I don't think there is any clear answer on the subject.
 I do see several repairs for your model, but there is no way to compare the number of units in use to the number that
actually have needed repair. Samsung is a large seller, so I suspect a lot of these were sold.
 If you sell it, you are selling a used dishwasher, I don't see a lot of return, maybe 1/3 of what you paid.
 If it were me, I'd hang on to it and do repairs myself, but not everyone can do repairs themselves.
 Best of luck on this. I will reiterate, don't be swayed by one flip comment from a repair man.

[FINate]

If you're DIY inclined at all then it makes sense to investigate further.

Dishwasher these days are very modular, similar to the way PCs are built, with various peripherals (valves, fans, etc.) attached to a motherboard (control unit). This means it's generally very easy and cheap to replace individual components IF you do it yourself to avoid service charges. Appliance repair companies charge $200 just to show up, and then they just fix the most obvious problem and don't dig deeper. Our dishwasher was having problems with wet electronics and the repair guy simply replaced the affected components (I didn't have time to look at it myself back then). Of course a short time later the problem happened again. This time I diagnosed the problem myself, was able to replace the bad component for $30 (vs. $400 the first time), and I found the root cause of our issues (unit was installed incorrectly, causing it to leak which was damaging the electronics). Three years later and no issues.

Many people abuse appliances and the previous owners may have been overloading it or never cleaned the filters. If a sensor was getting wet then something somewhere is leaking, try to figure out where the water is coming from. Check the gasket that seals between the main body and the door for damage or corrosion (sometimes it just needs to be cleaned), and check gaskets/seals around and above the sensor that had the issue (unplug the unit and inspect the internals). Replacing a gasket is ~$10 if you do it yourself, sensors and other electronics are usually less than $100 (depending on the part).

The service manual for your dishwasher (http://members.msaworld.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2016/03/DW80J3020US_AA-Service-Manual.pdf) has a section on diagnostic codes which will give you a sense for what parts/area is having an issue.

[J Boogie]

I would follow his advice.

He has no incentive to give you bad advice, and he seems to know dishwashers fairly well.

There is no kitchen appliance whose shoddy performance decreases my quality of life more than a dishwasher.  I like things simple.  Most any basic fridge will keep food cold, most any basic gas stove will give a flame, but not all dishwashers will consistently clean your dishes.  I have a Dacor, it was expensive, but it's totally sweet and Dacors are known to last.  Sounds like Bosch is a good brand too, I have some of their power tools which are very good.

[FINate]

Also, based solely on the location of the sensor (so take this with a huge grain of salt) the problem could be with the  "Assy case brake and case sensor." Lots of people have had issue with this part but it's only $79 (http://www.appliancepartspros.com/samsung-a-s-assy-dd82-01111a-ap5789093.html) and you may be able to get it cheaper on other sites.

Edit: See also https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V04PvdyWVTM <-- If you are/were getting the oE error code then I'd definitely start here and try this before buying replacement parts. On your specific model the error code might be the Normal Heavy and Smart Auto lights flashing (but not Delicate) or Heavy and Smart Auto. If just the Heavy light is blinking then it's the leak detection sensor and you have a small leak somewhere that you can probably fix on your own: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTvthC4rCTk

[4tify]

If you're DIY inclined at all then it makes sense to investigate further.

Dishwasher these days are very modular, similar to the way PCs are built, with various peripherals (valves, fans, etc.) attached to a motherboard (control unit). This means it's generally very easy and cheap to replace individual components IF you do it yourself to avoid service charges. Appliance repair companies charge $200 just to show up, and then they just fix the most obvious problem and don't dig deeper. Our dishwasher was having problems with wet electronics and the repair guy simply replaced the affected components (I didn't have time to look at it myself back then). Of course a short time later the problem happened again. This time I diagnosed the problem myself, was able to replace the bad component for $30 (vs. $400 the first time), and I found the root cause of our issues (unit was installed incorrectly, causing it to leak which was damaging the electronics). Three years later and no issues.

Wow sounds like a great side hustle!! Thanks for the info (and your following post as well). I'll give it another shot & see how it goes and then try to channel my inner handyman :)

[MrsPete]

In 27 years of marriage, I have only owned two refrigerators and two stoves ... but I think I'm on my fifth dishwasher.  They don't have the lasting power of other appliances.  It's just the way it is. 

No one is going to give you pennies on the dollar for a used dishwasher, so run it into the ground.  Fix it if you can, but plan to use it 'til it just won't go anymore.  In my experience, everything seems to limp on longer than you anticipate.  If you can get another year out of this dishwasher, it's a win.  The only reason I might be convinced to go ahead and buy before the current one is totally, totally dead would be an excellent sale, which might happen around Black Friday. 

[4tify]

In 27 years of marriage, I have only owned two refrigerators and two stoves ... but I think I'm on my fifth dishwasher.  They don't have the lasting power of other appliances.  It's just the way it is. 

No one is going to give you pennies on the dollar for a used dishwasher, so run it into the ground.  Fix it if you can, but plan to use it 'til it just won't go anymore.  In my experience, everything seems to limp on longer than you anticipate.  If you can get another year out of this dishwasher, it's a win.  The only reason I might be convinced to go ahead and buy before the current one is totally, totally dead would be an excellent sale, which might happen around Black Friday. 

Good to know! I feel like when I was a kid our dishwasher lasted forever?? Anyway I'm sure selling a used one won't go far so I'll stick to the course, thanks!

[JLR]

I agree with Mrs Pete. You probably won't get much for it. I would use it as a test case to build up your skills in appliance repair. If you ruin it, oh well. It was broken anyway and you wouldn't have gotten much money for it if you had sold it while it was working. Alternately, you might get good at repairing it and have it for a very long time.

There are lots of YouTube tutorials on how to fix things like dishwashers. Even if there isn't one that perfectly matches your model, lots of brands have similarities between their models, so you can usually figure it out. Give it a go! :) (Just make sure you unplug it first!)

[4tify]

I agree with Mrs Pete. You probably won't get much for it. I would use it as a test case to build up your skills in appliance repair. If you ruin it, oh well. It was broken anyway and you wouldn't have gotten much money for it if you had sold it while it was working. Alternately, you might get good at repairing it and have it for a very long time.

There are lots of YouTube tutorials on how to fix things like dishwashers. Even if there isn't one that perfectly matches your model, lots of brands have similarities between their models, so you can usually figure it out. Give it a go! :) (Just make sure you unplug it first!)

Dishwasher University, love it! Thanks :)

[JLR]

<3

[205guy]

I used to fix our dishwasher, it would always burn out the same component, until the online parts stores stopped carrying it--more like the manufacturer stopped making it. he So we bought a different brand at Home Depot and paid for the 5-year warrant. Best $100 we ever spent (ok, maybe not...).

The new dishwasher lasted a year before the wash cycle wouldn't run. It was an intermittent problem that would go away for a while after resetting the breaker (aka rebooting the dishwasher). I called the Home Depot support line and they sent out a local repairman. He ended up ordering a whole new control board, and came back to install it a week later. That didn't help more than a reboot, repairman came again after I called Home Depot, said there was nothing else to be done. After complaining t Home Depot, they sent a different repair company, who did exactly the same thing (he said the boards are refurbished and sometimes defective). With exactly the same result.

By now I ask Home Depot to just give me back my purchase price, but they sent the 2nd repairman back who decides to replace the motor, except he says it's just as easy to replace the whole lower assembly, so he orders that. On the last visit, he installed the lower assembly and now it all works again. I really don't know if these repairmen weren't really trying (the second one did actually look at motor currents with a voltmeter), or if they were just milking the Home Depot warranty department. Either way, it was really annoying to have over 10 appointments and 2 months of hand washing before it got fixed, but I never paid a cent. So I got a lemon of a dishwasher the first time but the extended service plan/warranty eventually got it fixed for free--I hate to think what it cost Home Depot, not to mention all the waste.

[SC93]

Just in case you don't know, my 3rd career is an appliance guy. Although I usually only sell used washers and dryers, I do know about dishwashers a little. I know enough about them to say your appliance guy is very correct in telling you to buy a Bosch. No matter what brand you currently have, Bosch is the very best dishwasher on the market. Kind of like Speed Queen is the best washer & dryer you can buy. As far as your current dishwasher..... it might be a future hassle factor. We like spending our time doing what we want to do, not screwing with a stupid dishwasher. I'd try to sell it while it is still hooked up. Let people see it work. Then buy the Bosch that is so quiet you will never hear it run.