[xneuromancer]

Hi folks, I'm having an issue with my Frigidaire (FFBD2411NS6B) dishwasher, where there is standing water left in the bottom after all cycles complete. This dishwasher is about 3-4 years old, and has worked fine in my house for about a year since I moved in.

The water almost reaches the bottom of the door and near and around the float switch. I just replaced the drain pump motor with a new one from partselect, and it's still doing the same thing. If I press start/cancel twice (to get to cancel mode), I can get some water drained out. If I do it again, I can get most of the water out, back to where it should be (just enough left in the sump area to keep the seals wet).

Things I've tried / notes:
* Disconnected and cleared drain hose on both ends (sink garbage disposal side and dishwasher side). Hose is completely cleared out.
* Disposal hose is properly high looped from back of dishwasher, up and over to disposal. There is no "air gap", this set up connects directly to garbage disposal. This is not a "new setup", the connection to the garbage disposal is not blocked, and is completely open to the disposal hose.
* Main sink / disposal is not clogged and works fine.
* All debris has been removed, all filters have been removed and cleaned
* Flapper valve on drain hose looks fine, is not cracked, and seems to lay flat properly. Also, I don't think it's this, since after forcing draining (with start/cancel button), water stays out of the bottom and doesn't come back in and fill up.
* Drain pump has been replaced with new part. Multi-meter on both old pump motor and new pump motor read ~28 ohms.
* Main motor has been taken out and cleaned, blades are clean, and turn freely
* Float switch is cleaned and moves freely up and down making a clicking noise like it's supposed to.
* I ran diagnostic mode (hold heat + start), and it didn't show any issues, it went through the tests. This model doesn't have a digital display.


Based on reading online, the last thing that it might be is a bad control board that is either not sending enough power to the motor, or is not giving the pump enough time to drain the water. I've read that I can use a multi-meter while the pump initiates to see if it's getting the correct 120v, but I'm not sure how to do this, and I can't find any videos online.

This model uses a plastic ball for it's check valve, this looks normal and slots in the groove without an issue.

I'm out of ideas and my wife wants to call an appliance repair person, but I don't want to give up or pay the money for someone else to fix it. Especially when these things run around $350 new.

Any ideas? Thank you.

 

[Nealtw]

 

[xneuromancer]

Thanks for responding. I mentioned above, I've already tested the float switch. Works from both inside and underneath. I actually used this video

 

[Nealtw]

Thanks for responding. I mentioned above, I've already tested the float switch. Works from both inside and underneath. I actually used this video

but does the float float? :wink2:

 

[xneuromancer]

but does the float float? :wink2:

I've looked around online, I'm not sure how to test that exactly. Should I run a rinse cycle, have the water fill in the bottom, and see if the switch is "stuck" down and not floating?


I did already confirm it moves freely, has no debris, and makes an audible click noise when manually triggered.

 

[Nealtw]

I've looked around online, I'm not sure how to test that exactly. Should I run a rinse cycle, have the water fill in the bottom, and see if the switch is "stuck" down and not floating?


I did already confirm it moves freely, has no debris, and makes an audible click noise when manually triggered.

those are the problems I have had but years ago. After that I am out of Ideas. With old machines you were able to jump a wire and watch what it did with the door open, doubt you could do that now.

 

[RAL238]

When there is water left in the dishwasher, is it up to the level of the float? That is, is the float floating in the water? If there is water around the float, it would seem that it should be floating, and the float switch should not activating to signal that the water level is down to zero. You can check the function of the switch with water in the washer and the beaker turned off by using an ohmmeter.

I'm thinking that either the float is not floating properly, or that the switch has gotten out of wack and is activating before it should. Some floats are hollow plastic, and if they develop a hole, they become waterlogged, causing them to activate too soon.


In some dishwashers, the float switch is only used to control the filling of the washer with water and is not involved with draining. Not sure which way your model works. So it's possible it may not be the float switch at all.

 

[xneuromancer]

When there is water left in the dishwasher, is it up to the level of the float? That is, is the float floating in the water? If there is water around the float, it would seem that it should be floating, and the float switch should not activating to signal that the water level is down to zero. You can check the function of the switch with water in the washer and the beaker turned off by using an ohmmeter.

I'm thinking that either the float is not floating properly, or that the switch has gotten out of wack and is activating before it should. Some floats are hollow plastic, and if they develop a hole, they become waterlogged, causing them to activate too soon.


In some dishwashers, the float switch is only used to control the filling of the washer with water and is not involved with draining. Not sure which way your model works. So it's possible it may not be the float switch at all.

No, the water level is just below the float, it's not enough to move the float. I will upload a picture soon.

 

[Druidia]

Does your DW have a filter basket that sits underneath the tub?

I had a DW not draining completely problem before and it was because there were bits of paper (from bottle labels that washed off) inside.

 

[xneuromancer]

When there is water left in the dishwasher, is it up to the level of the float? That is, is the float floating in the water? If there is water around the float, it would seem that it should be floating, and the float switch should not activating to signal that the water level is down to zero. You can check the function of the switch with water in the washer and the beaker turned off by using an ohmmeter.

I'm thinking that either the float is not floating properly, or that the switch has gotten out of wack and is activating before it should. Some floats are hollow plastic, and if they develop a hole, they become waterlogged, causing them to activate too soon.


In some dishwashers, the float switch is only used to control the filling of the washer with water and is not involved with draining. Not sure which way your model works. So it's possible it may not be the float switch at all.

Does your DW have a filter basket that sits underneath the tub?

I had a DW not draining completely problem before and it was because there were bits of paper (from bottle labels that washed off) inside.

Yes, all parts inside have been removed and cleaned. In addition, both main motor and drain pump motor have been pulled out and cleaned. Still didn't help.

I've ordered a new flapper valve to see if that fixes it.

 

[Nealtw]

Yes, all parts inside have been removed and cleaned. In addition, both main motor and drain pump motor have been pulled out and cleaned. Still didn't help.

I've ordered a new flapper valve to see if that fixes it.

Does the float switch operate the pump or send it to a board.?
I guess the power comes fro the board?

 

[xneuromancer]

Does the float switch operate the pump or send it to a board.?
I guess the power comes fro the board?

Both come from the control board.

During any cycle when draining kicks in, some water does get pumped, I can see it in the tubes and in the bottom of the disposal in the sink. The amount of time the drain operates, appears to be the same amount of time it's always been given.

I'm thinking either the pump is not getting enough voltage/current or the flapper valve isn't operating properly.

The symptoms all point to an obstruction of some sort, but I can't find one.

 

[HotRodx10]

I suggest you check the voltage across the wires to the drain pump when it's on and supposed to be draining. If that checks out ok, maybe try putting a multimeter in the circuit for the drain pump, hook it up and set it to measure current, and set the dishwasher to drain and see if there's any current flowing in the circuit.
It could easily be a bad relay (poor electrical contact) for the drain pump power circuit.

 

[xneuromancer]

Here's what it looks like after 1 full cycle. Water is just below the float valve "click" level. I believe the float switch is working, since it is floating a little bit (see video).


It took about 5-6 manual drain cycles (via start/cancel) button to get all this water out. Again, seems like either not enough juice to the motor or some sort of obstruction.



After full cycle:

https://imgur.com/CJAsmoN


After 1 manual drain:

https://imgur.com/ynpIsvI


Video:

 

[bradleyfam05]

My Dishwasher has been doing the same thing. I have the same one as you. I gave up and thought I just need a new one.

 

[xneuromancer]

My Dishwasher has been doing the same thing. I have the same one as you. I gave up and thought I just need a new one.

bummer. I still haven't solved it. I replaced the drain pump and it didn't change anything.


I have a new flapper valve, I just haven't had time to install it. My next step is to completely remove the drain hose, install new valve, make sure everything is clear, and re-attach.

 

[LeftyMetz]

Do you have an air-break? We had a similar problem and discovered that the air-break was clogged.

 

[xneuromancer]

Do you have an air-break? We had a similar problem and discovered that the air-break was clogged.

there's no air gap. it connects with proper high loop, directly to garbage disposal.