How many pumps in a dishwasher?
 

GF says her GE dishwasher didn't drain, then she ran a test run with no dishes and smoke came out and smelled electrical. So I am guessing discharge pump is bad. But are there two pumps or just one? I am guessing one for circulation (washing) and one for draining but maybe one pump can do both? It is about a 10 year old GE. Thanks

I had a Kitchen Aid dish washer apart and I remember only one pump and motor-combined as a unit. A few cheap valves can allow one pump to do many functions. Once the smoke get out it's usually new washer time.

If it's like a clothes washer, the one pump/motor spins in both directions to either provide high pressure wash water or pump the water out.

If it has a mechanical timer, the contacts may be worn out.

I've had 2 dishwashers apart in my short time on this earth.

They both only had one pump, and a solenoid valve that ported the pump's discharge to either the tub/sprayers or the drain line.

I remember replacing a pump assy for $150 a year or two ago - still cheaper than a new dishwasher, but not as cheap as a craigslist dishwasher IIRC

High-end dishwashers might be more complex though.

How long is a piece of string?

Don't know. Ask the Appliance Samurai:

http://fixitnow.com/wp/2006/07/04/ge-dishwasher-drainology/

He says "Some newer GE dishwashers have a separate drain pump and motor; the older models, however, used a drain solenoid valve (item 1 in the above thumbnail). If this solenoid fails, the dishwasher won’t drain, plain and simple. If the solenoid cannot pull in the silver plunger, the drain port will not open to allow the motor and pump assembly to drain the water out. Use your ohm meter to test the continuity of the solenoid coil. You should also test to see if it’s receiving 120vac when the dishwasher is supposed to be draining.

Read more: GE Dishwasher Drainology | Dishwasher Repair | Fixitnow.com Samurai Appliance Repair Man http://fixitnow.com/wp/2006/07/04/ge-dishwasher-drainology/#ixzz11RkArFGq
Get appliance parts at http://parts.fixitnow.com

Exactly... It turns out this one has two seperate pumps, a big one for washing circulation, and a smaller one for discharge to the drain. In fact there appears to be nothing wrong with anything on the machine. I looked underneath at all the pumps and all looked good. I took the door apart and looked at the circuit boards, all looked fine. Ran it and it ran fine. It had some features not mentioned in tha manual (and some that were not read...) that caused the operator to think it was malfunctioning. And there was the matter of the smoke that was reported, but I found no evidence of it. We will see what the future holds for it...

Thanks for the links! They were right, two seperate motors. Everything seems to be working for now. Some prices I got from a site: New pump 122.00, new impeller kit for same 23.00, new circuit boards 88.00. Didn't price the drain motor.

Brings to mind THE single most necessary Kitchen Appliance
 

Fire Extinguisher.

I never cease to be amazed at how few homes have them!

Scenario ,where I live:
Smoke/Fire/Co2 Alarm goes off...Grab extinguisher,whilst dialing 911...
Screaming,
"Out,Out,Out,Everybody OUT.Fire,Fire,Fire."

Was this 'smoke' coming out low, near the motor compartment below, or high, where steam vents through the upper part of the door?

Unknown. They said there was "white" smoke. They say it was not steam. Said it did not smell like burning plastic and I found no evidence of anything on the heater element either. They weren't right there when it first came out. I said I thought it meant the pope had been selected.

:D :D Well, maybe....

She says it runs quieter than ever now that I "fixed" it...

Must have the magic touch. :D ;)

Sounds like a little sumptin' sumptin' due to the repairman.....:D