Kenmore Elite 66512793K311 undercounter dishwasher Parts

Common problems we see on the Kenmore Elite 66512793K311 dishwasher include poor cleaning, water not draining, not filling, leaking, and cycles that run unusually long. Many of these issues trace back to loading, detergent/rinse aid use, filter maintenance, or a few serviceable parts.

Most common symptoms and what to check first

• Not cleaning well: confirm spray arms spin freely and the filter is clean
• Not draining: check for a kinked drain hose and food blockage at the drain path
• Not filling: verify the water supply valve is on and the float moves freely
• Not drying: use rinse aid and consider heated drying options
• Leaking: inspect door seals and confirm the unit is level

Quick model-specific checks from the manual

These items are specifically called out for this dishwasher:

• Clean the ULTRACLEAN filtration components regularly (monthly is a good baseline)
• Incoming hot water should be about 120°F (49°C) for best results
• If the Start/Resume light blinks, press START/RESUME and close the door within 3 seconds

For step-by-step guidance, use the 66512793K311 use & care manual.

Parts that commonly solve these problems

If basic checks do not help, these model-compatible parts are often involved:

Symptom	Likely part to inspect	Why it matters
Leaking at the door	Dishwasher door seal W11177741	A worn seal can let water escape during wash and drain
Water remains in tub	Dishwasher drain pump WPW10531320	A weak or jammed pump may not evacuate water
Poor cleaning	Dishwasher spray arm WPW10498900	Clogged or damaged jets reduce spray pressure
Not filling	Dishwasher water inlet valve W11175771	A failing valve can restrict or stop water flow

Why it matters

Catching the root cause early helps prevent repeat wash failures, reduces standing water and odors, and can avoid secondary damage (like leaks reaching the floor). On high-efficiency dishwashers like this Kenmore Elite model, filter care and rinse aid use have an outsized impact on performance.

Last updated: January 2026

For Kenmore Elite model 66512793K311, the most reliable “hard reset” is to cancel the current cycle and reset the control by pressing CANCEL/DRAIN twice, then reselecting a cycle and pressing START/RESUME. This matches the reset procedure in the 66512793K311 use & care manual.

Reset options for 66512793K311

• Cancel/reset the control (recommended): Press and hold CANCEL/DRAIN until the Cancel/Drain light turns on; close the door and let it drain (about 2 minutes).
• Full control reset to restart a cycle: Open the door, then press and hold CANCEL/DRAIN twice to reset; select a new cycle and press START/RESUME.
• Power reset (if the keypad is unresponsive): Turn the dishwasher breaker OFF for 1 minute, then ON; reselect a cycle.

Step-by-step: “hard reset” (control reset)

1. Open the door slightly and wait for spraying to stop.
2. Press and hold CANCEL/DRAIN until the Cancel/Drain light turns on.
3. Close the door and let the unit drain completely.
4. When the light turns off, select your cycle and press START/RESUME.

If it still will not start after resetting

• Make sure the door is fully latched; the cycle will not run if the latch is not engaging.
• If START/RESUME is blinking, press START/RESUME and close the door within 3 seconds.
• Check for a tripped breaker or blown fuse.
• If the door closes oddly or drops open, inspect the door balance system; a worn dishwasher door balance link 8194001 can affect door behavior.

Quick comparison

Reset type	What it fixes	What you do
Control reset	Stuck cycle, wrong selection, most “won’t start” issues	CANCEL/DRAIN (hold) or CANCEL/DRAIN twice
Power reset	Frozen keypad, glitchy electronics	Breaker OFF 1 min, then ON

Why it matters

Resetting correctly clears a stalled cycle and forces the control to accept a fresh cycle selection; it also triggers a drain when needed, which helps prevent standing water and error conditions.

Last updated: January 2026

On the Kenmore Elite 66512793K311 dishwasher, you can force a drain by canceling the active cycle: open the door slightly to stop spraying, press and hold CANCEL/DRAIN until the Cancel/Drain light turns on, then close the door so it runs a drain for about 2 minutes. See the steps in the 66512793K311 use & care manual.

Quick steps to force a drain

• Open the door slightly; wait for spraying to stop.
• Press and hold CANCEL/DRAIN until the Cancel/Drain light turns on.
• Close the door; the dishwasher will drain if water is in the tub.
• Wait about 2 minutes for the drain sequence to finish.
• Open the door and confirm the Cancel/Drain light is off.

If it still will not drain (common causes)

If the tub still has standing water after the cancel/drain sequence, the issue is usually a blockage or a drain-path problem.

• Check for a kinked or pinched drain hose under the sink.
• If connected to a disposer, confirm the disposer inlet knockout plug was removed.
• Check for food or debris in the drain area and filter area.
• If your setup uses an air gap, clean the air gap cap and passage.
• If the drain pump hums but does not move water, the pump may be jammed or failing.

Parts that are often involved

If troubleshooting points to a failed component, these are common drain-related parts for this model:

Symptom	What to inspect	Model-compatible part
Hums but no drain	Drain pump impeller/pump	Dishwasher drain pump WPW10531320
Slow drain or backs up	Drain hose routing/condition	Dishwasher drain hose 8269144A

Why it matters

Forcing a drain helps prevent odors, protects the motor from running with standing water, and makes it easier to diagnose whether the problem is control-related (won’t enter drain mode) or mechanical (can’t move water).

Last updated: January 2026