Mike G for Model Number KitchenAid KUCC151LSS0 Trash Compactor My trash compactor was working fine but on the return up it started making a strange kind of clunking sound. I tried it again but it didn't happen. Then my wife said the noise happened when she used it. I tested it one more time and it made the noise and then a little bit of white smoke started coming out of the compactor and it smelled of melting plastic/electronics. I haven't taken it apart yet but I'm assuming the motor is dead now - is there anything else I should be looking at? Thanks!
Answer Mike, You'll need to remove the compactor from the counter, remove the top panel and check the "power screws" WPW10451272 on each side of the ram assembly. It's not unusuall for plastic bags or strings and the like, to wrap around the power screw and cause an "overload" on the motor when the residue gets stuck to the power screws or power nut assembly and cause the noise and actions you described. Read More... Answered by AppliancePartsPros.com | Monday, November 18, 2013