How to Troubleshoot & Replace Ge AP3728341 / WD18X10026 Dishwasher Sump Assembly

Looked up the part on AppliancePartsPros.com and WATCHED THE VIDEO! Replacement could not have been easier! GDWF160V40 

Stuck my cell phone camera under the dishwasher and captured where the water was coming from. Navigated to AppliancePartsPros.com and found the part that I needed to repair the dishwasher. After the parts arrived I pulled the dishwasher out and replaced the part. Put the dishwasher back in place and washed a load of dishes. The best part is that the water stayed where it was suppose to. 

I kept finding little white bits of what I thought was food in the holes on the ends of the spinners. After cleaning them out several times I decided to start taking more things apart. At the very bottom of the dishwasher is the sump, which has a bunch of connections to it. One of these connections is small and stands vertically, which I pressured sent water to the top tray where things weren't getting all that clean. When I touched the tube it was clearly cracked and breaking apart, and it was actually pieces of this tube that I was finding in my spinners. I ordered a new sump, since buying a new dishwasher was an unwelcome financial move. Replacing the pump was easy if you are handy. Shut the water and power off the dishwasher. Pull the dishwasher out from its cubby (usually have to remove small screws at the top and sides of the dishwasher which you can find with the door open. Once the dishwasher is out, tip it on its side. The sump is sitting there connected with hoses and hose clamps. Remove the old one, but be prepared for a cup or two of water to spill out. I then cleaned everything that needed it...like junk on the drain motor impeller, etc. Installed the new sump using the existing hose clamps. Put it back upright and then ran a rinse cycle to check for leaks. No leaks, so I pushed it back into its cabinet. Job done. It took me a couple hours, but if I did it again it would probably only take 30-45 minutes. 

According to this website it was likely to be one of two parts; the pump connector or the dishwasher sump. I replaced both. (Turned out that the sump had a tear in the rubber, near the top that wasn't visible until I removed it). Generally, the work was fairly easy with the video instructions and I think anyone with moderate mechanical skills can do this. IMPORTANT NOTE: For anyone replacing the pump connector. (https://youtu.be/l6XlYWZg1o4). RE: The internal part referred to as the 'hub' (reinstalled @ 6:48) I highly recommend that you perform this operation before you put the washer back beneath the counter and that you install the hub inside the washer and connect it to the internal "hose" FIRST (7:04). THEN attach the pump connector BEFORE attaching it to the pump. (Approach this like a regular nut and bolt assembly, the hub is basically a threaded bolt, the pump connector is basically a threaded nut).Why? If the you follow the instructions and you assemble it all before you align the hub with the "hose" you may not have enough thread left to spin it into place. That final turn to align the hub to the "hose" (7:04) broke the threads off my hub (and that part is not available for purchase). Again, I recommend carefully get all this aligned and tightened (hose, hub, pump connector) THEN attach the pump to the pump connector after everything is in place. 

I used the AppliancePartsPros.com website to find my part and also find a video to walk me through the repair. My dishwasher was not the plug in wall type, so I had to figure out how to disconnect power as the video didn't have that info. It was just 3 wire nuts tying the dishwasher to the electrical service coming out of my wall. Followed the video for everything else. Since I pulled the dishwasher out I could finally adjust the feet correctly so my upper dish shelf doesn't keep wanting to pull out when I open the machine. Also noteworthy and not discussed in the video was the fact my dishwasher was installed using screws drilled into the edges of the adjacent cabinets rather than up into the composite countertop that must've been too hard to drill into. I ended up needing my power drill to re-drill holes for the screws attaching the dishwasher to the cabinet wall. 

I watched video on maintenance. Removed racks, spray arms, filters to clean. At the very bottom after removing all this was inlet sump disintegrating. Ordered new inlet sump, lower spray arm (as I could not get all the gunk out of it) and silverware basket due to large holes in bottom of it. Had repair guy install inlet sump as I am a small older woman and that has to be replaced from underneath. So $100 plus for parts and $175 for sump inlet installation. Still cheaper than a new dishwasher and it cleans well now. Parts arrived in timely manner. 

Determined there was a crack in the sump; ordered a new one and it arrived the next day. It took less than 2 hours to replace. It kept a 12 year old dishwasher in service and running like new. Video of the replacement process was very helpful too. Thanks. 

Replaced the inlet sump, which was deteriorating, the drain pump assembly due to the concern of pieces from the inlet sump plugging the mechanism, and the flapper valve to be safe since it was cheap and easy to replace. Total repair, including disconnect and reconnect of the dishwasher and part removal and replacement took about 3 hours. Videos on Appliance Parts Pros site helped tremendously. 

Ordered a part from your company, $35. Turned off electricity to the washer and removed the dishwasher from the cabinet. Took photos of “sump and connections. Removed 3 connecting brackets to sump, drain, and temperature sensor. Cutaway sump from the bottom of the tub and removed all of the sump. Cleaned areas of connections and reinstalled heat sensor, bottom drain to disposal, and connected to drain line. Sump to tub connection requires a technique of fitting the sump and alternating tightening the clamp. Reset the washer into the cabinet, with all noise insulation in place and balance. It is now super quiet and works like new. Saved in excess of $1,000 for a new appliance that would match our GE Cafe appliances (10 years old). 

Installed new sump.