How to Replace a KitchenAid Dishwasher Drain Pump

Has your KitchenAid dishwasher got a faulty drain pump that needs to be replaced? No need to stress. It’s a common repair and thankfully very straightforward.

This repair guide gives you detailed, step-by-step instructions for how to remove your faulty drain pump and then install your new one.

Before attempting this repair, you need to make sure that you have the manufacturer-approved replacement drain pump for your specific model of KitchenAid dishwasher. It’s also important that you are either a trained technician or you have some experience working with electronics before attempting this repair, as it can be quite dangerous if you don’t take precautions.

This guide covers most KitchenAid dishwasher models, including:

4KPDI620T0

4KPDI620T1

4KPDI620T2

4KPDI620T3

4KUDA220T0

4KUDA220T1

KUDS30IXBL0

KUDS30IXBL1

KUDS30IXBL8

KUDS30IXBL9

KUDS30IXBLA

KUDS30IXBT0

KUDS30IXBT1

KUDS30IXBT8

KUDS30IXBT9

KUDS30IXBTA

KUDS30IXSS1

KUDS30IXSS9

KUDS30IXSSA

KUDS30IXWH9

KUDS30IXWHA

Preparations

Before attempting this repair, the first thing you need to do is to turn the power off to the dishwasher.

The safest way to do this is to:

1. Pull the dishwasher’s power cord out at the wall.
2. Turn the water off and remove the drain hose from the sink or the waste disposal unit.
3. Make sure that the dishwasher is empty. Remove any water with a container and sponge if necessary.

Remove the Old Drain Pump

Now that the power is safely switched off, you can remove the old drain pump from your dishwasher. For most KitchenAid models, you can carry out this repair without having to pull your dishwasher out from the wall since you can access the drain pump by taking off the bottom panel.

Here’s how to remove the old drain pump:

1. Use a Phillips-head screwdriver to remove the screws on the lower access panel on the dishwasher. Once removed, place the access panel to the side.
2. Remove the inner panel followed by the installation. Set them aside.
3. Unthread the screws on the terminal box so you can release the terminal box from the right-hand side support railing. You don’t need to disconnect the terminal box; you just need to take it off the railing to get it out of the way.
4. Unthread the screws that secure the control board mounting bracket. Once unscrewed, you can move the bracket out of the way. You will now be able to have access to the drain pump.
5. Disconnect the drain pump wire connector and then depress the retaining lever.
6. Once that is done, you can remove the broken drain pump by rotating it counterclockwise until it comes out from the sump. And that’s it! You have successfully removed the old drain pump.

Install the New Drain Pump

Now that the old drain pump is removed, it’s time to install the brand-new drain pump.

To do this, you basically do everything you did to remove the old one but in the opposite order:

1. Place the new drain pump in place on the sump and rotate it around by hand clockwise until it’s firmly in place. Make sure you double-check this so you can avoid any chance of leaks once you turn it back on.
2. Reconnect the wire connector back up to the new drain pump. Make sure that the plug is firmly in place.
3. Reposition the control board mounting bracket on its frame, and then screw the screws back in to secure it in place on the frame.
4. Realign the terminal box on the support rail, and then thread the screw back in so it is firmly in place.
5. Realign the installation where it was before, and then put the inner panel back into place.
6. Secure the outer panel back in place with the screws that you took out earlier. And there you have it! You have successfully installed a new drain pump into your KitchenAid dishwasher.

Restart the Dishwasher

Now that the drain pump has been replaced you can now push the dishwasher back into place if you had to move it. Once in place, it’s time to get it going again.

To do this:

1. Turn the power back on at the wall, and reset the circuit breaker if you turned it off.
2. Once the dishwasher is turned back on, it’s a good idea to run it through a cycle to test that the new drain pump is working correctly. If you find that it is running correctly, it is all fixed up.