UltraWash air locking

I have a 1988 Kenmore UltraWash dishwasher with the center tower...

lately it has been air locking, as in once it fills, I have to open the door, let the trapped air bubble to the surface, and then close the door, and all works fine....while the air is trapped, there is no water movement....

this seems to be intermittent, you never know when it is going to do it through out the cycle, sometimes it runs fine, other times, during one of the fills/pumping, it will air lock....

I have taken this completely apart, and there is nothing that looked like it would have something blocked, actually rather clean through out.....the plunger and little float ball for the UltraWash chamber all seem in good condition and working...

by design, the water starts, and then within seconds the motor turns on, it may surge a few times until the water has reached it shut off level....but that has always been part of the normal operation...

now you have to stay near it during the cycle in case it 'airlocks'....once you stop it, you can hear the bubbles, and then close the door, and it takes off as it should.....

I can't even catch it fast enough to figure out where the air is being trapped...

any thoughts or ideas of what to check for next?


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Post# 870365 3/3/2016 at 18:19 (2,975 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)
Checkrate/Likes I have a 1988 Kenmore UltraWash dishwasher with the center tower... lately it has been air locking, as in once it fills, I have to open the door, let the trapped air bubble to the surface, and then close the door, and all works fine....while the air is trapped, there is no water movement.... this seems to be intermittent, you never know when it is going to do it through out the cycle, sometimes it runs fine, other times, during one of the fills/pumping, it will air lock.... I have taken this completely apart, and there is nothing that looked like it would have something blocked, actually rather clean through out.....the plunger and little float ball for the UltraWash chamber all seem in good condition and working... by design, the water starts, and then within seconds the motor turns on, it may surge a few times until the water has reached it shut off level....but that has always been part of the normal operation... now you have to stay near it during the cycle in case it 'airlocks'....once you stop it, you can hear the bubbles, and then close the door, and it takes off as it should..... I can't even catch it fast enough to figure out where the air is being trapped... any thoughts or ideas of what to check for next?

Post# 870367 , Reply# 1 3/3/2016 at 19:01 (2,975 days old) by combo52 (50 Year Repair Tech Beltsville,Md)
Checkrate/Likes *airlocking PC Pump* I have seen this happen [ rarely however ] either replace the separator chamber or the complete pump and motor assembly.

Post# 870442 , Reply# 2 3/4/2016 at 08:14 (2,974 days old) by Yogitunes (New Jersey)
Checkrate/Likes thanks John.... I have a spare machine for parts...so I will switch those out.....these machines are so simple, it can be done in minutes.... curious at the same time as how that UltraWash chamber works..... I was almost tempted to drill a small hole in it to allow the air to escape, but still not sure where its being trapped.... at the same time, may open this defective chamber up to see inside.... thanks again.....

Post# 870444 , Reply# 3 3/4/2016 at 08:41 (2,974 days old) by panthera (Rocky Mountains)
Checkrate/Likes *just a thought* AEG dishwashers had similar problems when an air-bleed channel got blocked (residue, broken glass, etc.) Is it possible there's a blockage in a non-obvious location? Just a thought....