Whirlpool dishwasher top rack not clean and dishes with residue

[rickstark]

Model Number: GU1500XTL02
Brand: Whirlpool
Age: 6-10 years

I have paid for a repairmen to check out our dishwasher.. It won't clean well and seems as though the top sprayer doesn't spray or rinse the top shelf dishes. .... I paid a repairman to replace the pump and it worked ok for one wash... after contacting him many times with no call back haven't used it in years... we had another repair man look at it only telling us it needed to be cleaned.... did so with his expensive cleaner and still not working.I am going to attempt the repair myself.... think it might be the area inside the dishwasher that needs to be cleaned or checked.... can you tell me if this is difficult for a woman to try to repair or should I just give in ....

[Doc Ryan]

There are many things that can cause the top rack not to clean well. One of the flaps on the feed tube that feeds the middle and top spray arm can still open and cause the water pressure to be low. Also, the sump and inlet protector can get clogged up with food and miscellaneous things causing low water pressure to the upper spray arms. The food chopper can break and get clogged up. If everything else checks out, then the circulation pump is bad and it will need to be replaced.

With the power shut off to the dishwasher, this is how to take the pump apart to check things out:

Remove bottom rack
Remove bottom spray arm
Remove plastic tube that goes from the pump to the feed tube that feeds the middle and top spray arms.
Remove the 4 torxs screws and pull up on the accumulator to remove.
Remove the torxs screw to the inlet protector, and pull up to remove and expose the food chopper.