Whirlpool dishwasher food chopper W11246682 replacement

Is your Whirlpool dishwasher struggling to clean dishes despite countless cycles? The culprit might be a jammed or faulty food chopper assembly, leaving your dishwasher powerless against food debris. Don’t worry—fixing this issue is easier than you think! Scroll down to watch our step-by-step video and bring your dishwasher back to its cleaning glory.

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Is your Whirlpool dishwasher leaving behind food bits or just not cleaning like it used to? The food chopper assembly, part W11246682, might be jammed or damaged. This little part is what helps grind up food debris so it doesn’t clog up your wash system. Luckily, replacing it is a quick fix you can totally do yourself. Let’s walk through the process and get your dishwasher back to full power.

WATCH: How to replace food chopper

The information in this article may not apply to your specific appliance model. We recommend consulting your manufacturer’s documentation or contact us with any questions.

What You’ll Need

Gather the following tools and supplies:

• Philip screwdriver
• Flathead screwdriver
• 5/16-inch nut driver
• 5/8 open-end wrench
• Torque 25 screwdriver
• Zip tie
• Adjustable narrow band clamp
• Replacement part – Whirlpool/KitchenAid/Maytag dishwasher food chopper assembly #W11246682. Take the model number of your dishwasher to AppliancePartsPros.com to locate the correct part for your unit.

Safety first!

Safety comes first when working on any appliance. Here are some practical tips to help keep you safe:

• Always turn off the power by unplugging the appliance or switching off the circuit breaker before starting. This protects you from the risk of electric shock.
• Wear insulated gloves to protect your hands from sharp edges, pinching hazards, or debris.
• Take your time and work at a steady pace to avoid accidents or injuries.
• Make sure your workspace is well-lit so you can clearly see and access the parts you’re working on.
• Keep your area organized and free of clutter, and ensure children and pets are kept away from the workspace.
• Never handle internal parts with wet hands. Make sure both your hands and the work area are completely dry.
• Check your appliance’s user manual for specific instructions or safety guidelines related to your repair.
• Handle parts gently to prevent damaging the appliance or injuring yourself by using too much force.
• Wear safety glasses if you’re dealing with chemicals, dust, or large debris to protect your eyes.
• If the appliance was recently used, give it time to cool down before working on any heated components.
• Take photos or notes of wiring connections before disconnecting anything. This makes reassembly much easier.
• Avoid touching exposed wires or terminals. If you need to handle wires, use non-conductive tools or wear insulated gloves to reduce the risk of electrical shock.

Removing the dishwasher

Before you start any repair work on your appliance, make sure your appliance is unplugged from the power source or turned off at the circuit breakers. Also, make sure to turn off the water so there are no leaks.  

1. Remove side access panels: Pry off the side covers over the mounting screws using a flathead screwdriver. Take out the mounting screws along the top/sides.
2. Disconnect water line: Use a 5/8 open-end wrench to detach the water line from the fill valve. Place a towel underneath to catch leaks.
3. Disconnect drain hose: Loosen the drain hose clamp with a 5/16-inch nut driver. Carefully pull the hose off the air gap assembly. Again have towels ready to catch water.
4. Pull out dishwasher: With hoses/lines disconnected, carefully pull the dishwasher away from the cabinet to access the backside. Lay it on its side on a protective surface.

Remove the pump & motor

With the dishwasher out, you now have access to remove the circulation pump and motor:

1. Cut zip tie (if present): Cut away any zip tie bundling the drain hoses.
2. Disconnect heater: Unplug the heater wiring harness from the terminal block.
3. Remove pump/motor: Take off the retaining clamp at the top of the motor using side cutters. Twist and maneuver the assembly to disconnect it from the rubber grommet.
4. Separate pump & motor: Remove the clamp ring and then the 3 TORX screws securing the pump housing to the motor. Carefully split the pump housing to expose the impeller and chopper.

Replace the food chopper

Now you’re ready to remove the failing food chopper and install the new replacement:

1. Remove the old chopper: Take off the chopper cover and pull out the old food chopper assembly. Inspect and clean out the impeller compartment.
2. Install new chopper: Insert the new Whirlpool/KitchenAid/Maytag food chopper assembly #W11246682 into the pump housing, matched up with the impeller.
3. Replace cover: Put the chopper cover back in place, and line it up properly.

Reassemble dishwasher

You’re now ready to reassemble the components and slide the dishwasher back into place:

1. Rejoin pump & motor: Align the screw holes on the pump housing and motor. Reinstall the 3 TORX screws. Replace the retaining clamp on the drain hose.
2. Remount pump/motor: Reconnect the wiring harness. Maneuver the assembly back into place, reseating the drain hose and circulation pump.
3. Replace the dishwasher: Push the dishwasher back into the cabinet opening. Reconnect the drain line to the air gap and tighten the clamp. Securely thread on the water line.
4. Replace access panels: Put side covers back on and replace the mounting screws along the top/sides.
5. Turn the water supply back on and check for leaks.
6. Power on the dishwasher and run a test cycle.

More Information

Thanks for reading! We hope this article helped you replace the food chopper assembly in your Whirlpool, KitchenAid or Maytag dishwasher. If you still need some replacement parts, grab your model number and head over to AppliancePartsPros.com. We offer over two million parts and most orders arrive in two business days. If you need some help with finding the right part or placing an order, you can contact our team at 1 (877) 477-7278.

While you’re waiting for your new part to arrive, you can explore our DIY blog and watch thousands of video tutorials on our YouTube channel.

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