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TROUBLESHOOTING 

First try the solutions suggested here and possibly avoid 
the cost of a service call...

Dishwasher is not operating properly

Dishwasher does not run or stops during a cycle

Is the door closed tightly and latched?

Is the right cycle selected? Refer to the “Cycle Selection 
Charts.”

Is there power to the dishwasher? Has a household fuse 
blown or circuit breaker tripped?

Has the motor stopped due to an overload? The motor 
automatically resets itself within a few minutes. If it does not 
restart, call for service.

Is the water shut-off valve (if installed) turned on?

Dishwasher will not fill

Is the overfill protection float able to move up and down 
freely? Press down to release.

Water remains in the dishwasher

Is the cycle complete?

Detergent remains in the covered section of the 
dispenser

Is the cycle complete?

Is the detergent lump-free? Replace detergent if necessary.

Is the bottom rack installed properly with the bumpers in the 
front? Refer to the “Parts and Features” section. Reinstall the 
rack if necessary.

White residue on the front of the access panel

Was too much detergent used? Refer to the “Detergent 
Dispenser” section.

Is the brand of detergent making excess foam? Try a different 
brand to reduce foaming and eliminate buildup.

Odor in the dishwasher

Are dishes washed only every 2 or 3 days? Run a rinse cycle 
once or twice a day until you have a full load.

Does the dishwasher have a new plastic smell? Run a vinegar 
rinse as described in “Spotting and filming on dishes” later in 
this Troubleshooting guide.

Condensation on the kitchen counter (built-in models)

Is the dishwasher aligned with the countertop? Moisture from 
the vent in the dishwasher console can form on the counter. 
Refer to the Installation Instructions for more information.

Dishes are not completely clean

Food soil left on the dishes

Is the dishwasher loaded correctly? Refer to the “Dishwasher 
Loading” section.

Is the water temperature too low? For best dishwashing 
results, water should be 120°F (49°C) as it enters the 
dishwasher. Refer to the “Dishwasher Efficiency 
Tips” section.

Did you use the correct amount of fresh detergent? Use 
recommended dishwasher detergents only. Refer to the 
“Detergent Dispenser” section. Never use less than 1 tb (15 g) 
per load. Detergent must be fresh to be effective. Store 
detergent in a cool, dry area. Heavy soil and/or hard water 
generally require extra detergent.

Is detergent caked in dispenser? Use fresh detergent only. Do 
not allow detergent to sit for several hours in a wet dispenser. 
Clean dispenser when caked detergent is present.

Is the pump or spray arm clogged by labels from bottles and 
cans? If you wash bottles and cans in your dishwasher, check 
for labels clogging the pump or spray arm. 

Is the home water pressure high enough for proper 
dishwasher filling? Home water pressure should be 20 to 120 
psi (138 to 828 kPa) for proper dishwasher fill. A booster 
pump on the water supply can be added if pressure is too 
low.

Are high suds slowing the wash arm? Never use soap or 
laundry detergents. Use recommended dishwasher 
detergents only. 

Dishwasher door will not close

Is the bottom rack in backwards? The rack bumpers must 
face the dishwasher door.

Spots and stains on dishes

Spotting and filming on dishes

Is your water hard or is there a high mineral content in your 
water? Conditioning the final rinse water with a liquid rinse 
aid helps eliminate spotting and filming. Keep the rinse aid 
dispenser filled.

Is the water temperature too low? For best dishwashing 
results, water should be 120°F (49°C) as it enters the 
dishwasher. Refer to the “Dishwasher Efficiency 
Tips” section.

Did you use the correct amount of effective detergent? Use 
recommended dishwasher detergents only. Refer to the 
“Detergent Dispenser” section. Never use less than 1 tb (15 g) 
per load. Detergent must be fresh to be effective. Store 
detergent in a cool, dry area. Heavy soil and/or hard water 
generally require extra detergent.

Is the home water pressure high enough for proper 
dishwasher filling? Home water pressure should be 20 to 120 
psi (138 to 828 kPa) for proper dishwasher fill. A booster 
pump on the water supply can be added if pressure is too 
low. 

Summary of Contents for GU970

Page 1: ...SHWASHER Use CareGuide For questions about features operation performance parts accessories or service call 1 800 253 1301 or visit our website at www whirlpool com Table of Contents 2 8275178 Model GU970 ...

Page 2: ...are Basket 8 DISHWASHER USE 9 Detergent Dispenser 9 Rinse Aid Dispenser 10 Dishwasher Efficiency Tips 11 Cycle Selection Charts 11 Canceling a Cycle 12 Changing a Cycle or Setting 12 Adding Items During a Cycle 12 Option Selections 13 Cycle Status Indicators 13 Drying System 14 Overfill Protection Float 14 WASHING SPECIAL ITEMS 14 DISHWASHER CARE 15 Cleaning 15 Drain Air Gap 15 Storing 15 TROUBLES...

Page 3: ...injury and tell you what can happen if the instructions are not followed Your safety and the safety of others are very important We have provided many important safety messages in this manual and on your appliance Always read and obey all safety messages This is the safety alert symbol This symbol alerts you to potential hazards that can kill or hurt you and others All safety messages will follow ...

Page 4: ...able for its size and use Remove all shipping plugs from hoses and connectors such as the cap on the drain outlet before installing See Installation Instructions for complete information Tip Over Hazard Do not use dishwasher until completely installed Do not push down on open door Doing so can result in serious injury or cuts Electrical Shock Hazard Electrically ground dishwasher Connect ground wi...

Page 5: ... tub wall 5 Bottom rack 6 Rack bumper 7 Heating element 8 ANYWARE silverware basket 9 Top spray arm 10 Extra capacity fold down shelves 11 Model and serial number label 12 Lower spray arm 13 POWER CLEAN filter module 14 Overfill protection float 15 Detergent dispenser 16 Rinse aid dispenser Control Panel ...

Page 6: ...o rinse the dishes before putting them into the dishwasher The wash module removes food particles from the water The module contains a chopping device which will reduce the size of food items NOTE If hard items such as fruit seeds nuts and egg shells enter the wash module you might hear chopping grinding crunching or buzzing sounds These sounds are normal when hard items enter the module Do not le...

Page 7: ...section for best stability Extra capacity fold down shelves Fold down the extra shelf on the right side of the top rack to hold additional cups or long items such as utensils and spatulas Adjustable top rack You can raise or lower the top rack to fit tall items in either the top or bottom rack One adjuster is located on each side of the top rack To adjust the top rack 1 Hold the top rack with one ...

Page 8: ...he bumpers in front Fold down tines You can fold down one row of tines at the back of the bottom rack 1 Grasp the tip of the tine that is in the tine holder 2 Gently pull the tine out of the tine holder 3 Lay the row of tines down in the rack to make room for larger dishes bowls pots pans or roasters LoadingSilverwareBasket Load the silverware basket while it is in the dishwasher or take the baske...

Page 9: ...t in a cool dry place Fresh automatic dishwasher detergent results in better cleaning NOTE Do not use detergent with a rinse cycle Filling the dispenser 1 If the dispenser cover is closed open the cover by pushing the Cover latch 2 Fill the Main Wash section with detergent See How Much Detergent to Use 3 Close the Main Wash dispenser cover Fill the Pre Wash section if needed It is normal for the c...

Page 10: ... cap 3 Add rinse aid Fill to the smallest opening in the lower part of the dispenser Overfilling can cause the rinse aid to leak out and could cause oversudsing 4 Clean up any spilled rinse aid with a damp cloth 5 Replace the Fill Indicator cap Close tightly Where to fill Top of 3rd step 3 tbs or 45 g Top of 2nd step 2 tbs or 30 g Top of 1st step 1 tb or 15 g Water Hardness Amount of Detergent Sof...

Page 11: ... is full If your home is equipped with a water softener you may want to avoid starting the dishwasher during the regeneration of the softener as this may contribute to poor wash performance CycleSelectionCharts Select the wash cycle and options desired The dishwasher starts filling once you press a cycle unless you select a delay wash You can select an option as the machine is filling Your electro...

Page 12: ...opening the door 2 Open the door If the main wash detergent dispenser is still closed add the item 3 Close the door but do not latch it Wait 30 seconds for the air in the dishwasher to warm up This reduces the amount of moisture escaping from the vent when restarting a cycle 4 Close the door firmly until it latches The dishwasher resumes the cycle after about a 5 second pause Pre Wash Rinse Main W...

Page 13: ...cally heats the air in the dishwasher during the dry portion of the cycle unless you select AIR DRY Delay Start Use Delay Start to run your dishwasher at a later time or during off peak hours You can add items to the load anytime during the delay countdown After adding items close the door firmly until it latches The delay countdown will not continue if the door is not latched To delay the start 1...

Page 14: ...Safe Comments Aluminum Yes High water temperature and detergents can affect finish of anodized aluminum Disposable Aluminum No Do not wash throwaway aluminum pans in the dishwasher These might shift during washing and transfer black marks to dishes and other items Bottles and Cans No Wash bottles and cans by hand Labels attached with glue can loosen and clog the spray arms or pump and reduce washi...

Page 15: ... Interaction Center and ask for Part Number 300096 NOTE The drain air gap is an external plumbing device that is not part of your dishwasher The warranty provided with your dishwasher does not cover service costs directly associated with the cleaning or repair of the external drain air gap To clean the drain air gap Clean the drain air gap periodically to ensure proper drainage of your dishwasher ...

Page 16: ...ould be 120 F 49 C as it enters the dishwasher Refer to the Dishwasher Efficiency Tips section Did you use the correct amount of fresh detergent Use recommended dishwasher detergents only Refer to the Detergent Dispenser section Never use less than 1 tb 15 g per load Detergent must be fresh to be effective Store detergent in a cool dry area Heavy soil and or hard water generally require extra dete...

Page 17: ...gent dispenser Do not use detergent Follow with a Normal wash cycle with detergent If treatment is needed more often than every other month the installation of an iron removal unit is recommended Black or gray marks on dishes Are aluminum items rubbing dishes during washing Disposable aluminum items can break down in the dishwasher and cause marking Hand wash these items Remove aluminum markings b...

Page 18: ...th Features and specifications on our full line of appliances Installation information Use and maintenance procedures Accessory and repair parts sales Specialized customer assistance Spanish speaking hearing impaired limited vision etc Referrals to local dealers repair parts distributors and service companies Whirlpool designated service technicians are trained to fulfill the product warranty and ...

Page 19: ...19 Notes ...

Page 20: ...ident alteration misuse abuse fire flood acts of God improper installation or installation not in accordance with local electrical and plumbing codes or use of products not approved by Whirlpool Corporation 4 Any labor costs during the limited warranty periods 5 Replacement parts or repair labor costs for units operated outside the United States 6 Pickup and delivery This product is designed to be...

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