Tonight I had to repair my own dishwasher. After weeks of dishes coming out dirty, and after reviewing some references, I decided I probably had a bunged up inlet valve. After much disassembly, reassembly, and testing, I discovered:

• that even modern dishwashers still come with service technician notes behind the kickplate, though they no longer include exploded parts diagrams,
• that, if a chopstick breaks in half in the washer, it will melt partially, then drop into the chopper assembly, further mangling things,
• that rocks in the chopper assembly are also bad things, though the built-in plastic guard prevents them from becoming horrible things,
• that the rubber valve assembly in the tube that feeds the middle and upper spin arms is horribly specified, and easily sticks open,
• that by turning said valve assembly upside down, you can prevent a large leak (by mating the stuck-open hole with the normal position of the upper drawer – high or low),
• that increasing numbers of parts inside dishwashers are now plastic, grrrr,
• that plastic inlet valves are fragile, and moving them even the slighest bit for purposes of service can cause them to start leaking a bit during inrush of fluids (fixed for now with old absorbant facerag on floor),
• that someone had rearranged most of the hand tools in the basement (shakes fist), and
• that the built-in diagnostic mode for the dishwasher is fun to use.

I am waiting for the Good News that should come when the dishwasher ends its normal cycle in about 90 minutes, I open the door, and the dishes and utensils are actually clean.