" relatively low tech devices"..."Parts tend to be dirt cheap" It is kinda odd that the "higher" tech electic and plumbing parts, timers, pumps, solenoids etc are cheap compared to other appliances and are relativly dependable. Its the smaller things like rollers, clips and "convenience" items like adjustable baskets with flip tops, adjustable rack tines that are cheaply made, flimsily attached, easily breakable and comparitivly expensive . Seems like the more important a piece is the more poorly designed it is.
What I broke on mine was one of two very thin tabs that clip over a ring molded around lower arm and tower assembly. Vertical plastic support was too thick to be flexible, maybe okver the years it had become brittle, horizontal tab was plastic on moving plastic, had worn thin and snapped right off. Without it arm flys right off.
Little tab was continuos part of riser tube, bottom of tub, pump assembly mount, molded water channels and who knows what all. Cost of it was $90, replacement required complete diassassembly to bare tub in top, removal of pump and all attached plumbing and electrical underneath. Making new L shape retainer required stripping tub to reach any reasonable attachment point. I made a sort of washer from plastic jar lid. Smaller hole diameter of arm just above ring, larger incomplete hole to fit over riser, left two tabs extending from large hole into diameter of smaller, slid it down over riser,tabs extended thru water inlet slots in riser. Slid arm down till tabs clipped over ring. 3 years ago, working fine, jar lid even seems to be slippier than original plastic.
None of that really has anything to do with kar's problem or the price of mushroom soup in France, except that a simple task, that really oughta be part of regular maintenance, like cleaning sump, can be overly difficult because of access problems poorly designed hidden cheap flimsy attachment methods. I'd say clogged sump and clogged hose are equall suspects. It should be easier to clean inside of unit than pulling it out for average "un-handy" person. Sump cover in kar's unit should be held in with two easily accesable screws, not flimsy plastic clips which may be integral part of larger tub bottom. Drain hose should be easily accesable, should exit unit near front so unit does not have to be slid out all the way, which can a hassle for "unhandy Andy" if installed on copper line or short power cord.
Next time you are washing mushrooms or chopped carrots put them in nylon mesh bag. The flip tops on convenient rack baskets will fly off, being held on with poorly designed, cheap, molded in place , brittle, thin, plastic. When washing car parts or paint buckets and roller trays, make sure boss lady will be gone long enough to clean both them and washer afterwards.