How to Replace A Dishwasher Wash Motor

Firstly, just to check you are on the right path, here are the warning signs that your wash motor needs to be replaced:

• If your dishwasher is making a loud buzzing noise
• If it is screeching when running
• If it doesn’t spray water at all

If you need to replace the wash motor but are unsure where to start, there’s no need to panic. We’ll talk you through how to successfully replace the wash motor without damaging your dishwasher.

This video shows an example on how to remove or replace the part on a typical machine, some models may be different but the procedure should be similar.

• Wash Motor
• Torx Screwdriver Set
• Pump Pliers
• Pen/Black marker

Safety First! Please make sure that you have switched your appliance off at the mains before starting your repair.

Well, let’s state the obvious now…we need to access the motor, don’t we! To do this you need to remove the bottom metal panel that your dishwasher stands on.

To prevent water spillage, remove the lower basket and the filters to access the sump (the part underneath the filter).

Grab yourself a sponge and bucket and simply transfer excess water from the sponge into the bucket. You can now close the door, and then carefully turn the machine around to access the back.

Disconnect your dishwasher from the water supply now, to ensure your kitchen does not get flooded, and also the hose at the very bottom.

There are three screws located at the back that you need to unscrew - this will then loosen the bottom metal plate (you need to do this now because once the machine is placed on its back these screws won’t be accessible).

Carefully place the dishwasher onto its back now. You will see that there are three additional screws on the base panel- proceed to unscrew these now, and then the base should lift off.

Below the plate you’ve removed, there’s an anti-flood switch, where you need to disconnect the electrical connector - and the base is now free.

For you to be able to get to and remove the wash motor, you need to take out some internal components to give you the access you need. Just continue to read on to find out what needs to be removed, and how to do it!

Out of the way drain pump...the drain pump is held in place by one locking screw - just simply unscrew this and carefully twist out  (paying attention to the electrical connectors).

Bye, Bye Wash motor...Disconnect the electrical connectors, these are attached to the wash motor (there should be one at the top and one at the bottom).

eSpares Top Tip: Take a quick photo of how they are connected, for reference later when fitting the new wash motor.

Removal of the spring clip…you will notice that there is a large spring clip that is holding the motor in place. You need to apply some slight pressure to release this clip, (be careful of the sharp edge running along the bottom of the cabinet).

eSpares Top Tip: Place a cloth down to protect your arms and wrists before you do this.

Time for the hoses to be taken off now...you need to use a pair of pump pliers and get a firm grip around the hose and clip. Use a little bit of movement while pushing the wash motor down, and you should be able to release the hose.

Repeat the process for the remaining two hoses. There might be some excess water in the wash pump, so we recommend you have a cloth to catch any water before continuing.

eSpares Top Tip: It would be advisable to have jubilee clips available to finish off your repair. A jubilee clip is simply a metal clip that can be adjusted and it’s used to secure pipes or hoses. The original manufacturer clips to the hoses are not meant to be re-used.

You need to remove the spring mounting clip at the bottom of the old wash motor, and put it on the new replacement. Please note - before you do this you need to know how it fits in place: the lower arm of the clip is in correlation to the upper pipe on the wash motor, (take a photo if needed).

Simply rotate the clip clockwise to release the spring. With the new wash motor in hand, get a firm grip on the bottom and turn the clip in a clockwise position to clip it in place. Ensure it’s in the same direction as it was on the old pump.

Remove the old manufacturer clips (using the pump pliers) from the hoses inside your dishwasher and replace them with your new jubilee clips.

With all the jubilee clips in place, you need to reattach the spring mounted clip at the bottom of the new wash motor to the dishwasher.

Make sure it’s secure, and proceed to tighten the two rear hoses to the motor. Don’t forget to tighten the screws on the jubilee clips. You can now attach the top hose, and fasten the last jubilee clip.

eSpares Top Tip: If you twist too early the hooks can break off so make sure you are careful. Tighten the locking screw for the drain pump you removed earlier.

Reassemble the anti flood switch (make sure to attach the terminal wire), and secure the dishwasher base panel with the three screws.

It’s safe to place your dishwasher upright now; simply replace the three screws located at the back of the dishwasher base plate. Refit the hose at the back of the dishwasher, and then the final step is to simply replace the dishwasher basket and filters inside.

You have now successfully been able to replace your dishwasher wash motor! You can now get back to being able to have the dishwasher do all the hard work, rather than the manual labour!

You now have the knowledge that you have fixed the wash motor all by yourself (with a little help from eSpares of course!)

Fancy Giving Your Dishwasher Some Loving Care & Attention?

Your dishwasher no doubt works hard for you, getting your cutlery spotless after meals. If you want to show it some TLC, then it is a great idea to protect it from the build-up of limescale & detergent that can happen over time in your machine.

Introducing the eSpares Limescale & Detergent Remover - which is specifically designed to remove bad odours and bacteria build-up.

Need To Locate The Correct Wash Motor For Your Dishwasher?

As well as being one of the easiest DIY appliances fixes out there, fixing your dishwasher wash motor yourself can save you a lot of money compared to booking a repair or buying a new dishwasher.

Here at eSpares, we have a wide-range of replacement dishwasher wash motors for you to select from - so you can soon be on your way to repairing it yourself.

Now you can add dishwasher wash motor replacement to your DIY repertoire. Congratulations!

If you need any other help for your appliances you can find more videos from Mat and the team at eSpares, who are always on hand with appliance repair advice in your time of need.