Kenmore elite dishwasher leaking water from underneath

I have a Kenmore Elite dishwasher Model # 665.12793K311 Serial # F42514518 that I purchased in 2015. It has started leaking water when the unit was operating. The water was leaking under the dishwasher from the diverter motor assembly . I found online that the most probable cause was the diverter motor shaft seal. So I started looking for a replacement seal online. The first placed that I looked was the Sears Parts Direct.com The part # for the Sears diverter motor seal is WPW10195677/W10195677--however they say that this part is no longer available!!!! I Googled the part and found that Amazon had the seal in stock, so I purchased it. I installed the Amazon seal into the dishwasher, but it still leaks. ( The Amazon seal seemed to slide into the housing too easily--no force was needed to install it--that that was the first thing that I noticed--the second thing that I saw was that the seal was taller than the original)

I have found several places online that talk about this problem. However, most of them have made me MORE confused!!!! At this point I have ordered another seal from Amazon from a different supplier. I will know more next week when it gets here!!!

Has anyone found a new source for these seals??? One that really works to stop the leak???

The diverter seal is only available with the sump housing.

You can order the sump housing here:
WPW10457989 Sump

Jake

So I guess that ALL of these people who are advertising that they have the right seal are full of s--t???

Basically yes, those are aftermarket parts on amazon that lie and say they will work fine, but nope they don't.

ANY place that tries to sell you everything under the sun is not a good place to buy from when it comes to buying appliance parts.

Jake

Thanks Jake--you are right!! I ordered another seal from a different seller and it came today. It is the exact seal that I bought the first time!! Same numbers & manufacture!.

I will be buying the pump sump housing as you recommended.

Thanks again Jake

Ok Fred, let us know how it goes after you replace the sump assembly.

This video gives you the general idea of how to replace it:

Jake

I ordered the sump assembly & it arrived today--I was surprised!!!!

I have another question--I saw this on the Appliance Parts Pro website: Leak was from the diverter motor shaft internal seal leaking. Replaced the diverter motor which fixed the leak.

I also saw this: Replaced the motor and sump assembly because each of the shaft seals had failed. The seal inside the motor slid down out of position and the seal in the sump where the shaft motor goes through was suspect. Replaced both and the discharge motor seal. Parts were awesome. Delivery time awesome and everything works as it should

So, is there another seal that could be causing this leak? I would hate to go through replacing the sump assembly and find out that it still leaks!

I am having trouble understanding the first review: "Leak was from the diverter motor shaft internal seal leaking. Replaced the diverter motor which fixed the leak."

Does the diverter motor assembly have a seal that only comes with the motor assembly?

If that seal goes bad, does it cause a water leak?

The second review: "Replaced the motor and sump assembly because each of the shaft seals had failed. The seal inside the motor slid down out of position and the seal in the sump where the shaft motor goes through was suspect. Replaced both and the discharge motor seal. Parts were awesome. Delivery time awesome and everything works as it should"

I don't know which motor he is talking about?

And where is the seal that "slid down out of position and the seal in the sump where the shaft motor goes through was suspect"?

I realize that you did not write these reviews, so you may not have any idea what they are talking about. But if you have any thoughts please reply.

I am having trouble understanding the first review: "Leak was from the diverter motor shaft internal seal leaking. Replaced the diverter motor which fixed the leak."

I saw that too, I think they meant to say Replaced diverter motor and sump which fixed the leak, because the diverter motor does not have the seal on it, the sump does.

Here's the diverter motor in case you need it too:
Diverter Motor W10843811

I really can't explain all the reviews, lots of people are in a hurry and sometimes don't say it right.

But as long as the sump fixed yours that's all that counts.

Jake

Thanks Jake

I've just about got the dishwasher out from under the cabinet--I'll let you know how the rest goes! My 77 year old body is starting to feel the pain!!

Ok Fred, sounds good.

Yes, after 45 years of moving and working on appliances, I know that pain well now too, but I got it younger at 55, but feel 77 when I'm moving and working on appliances now.

45 years of moving and working on appliances 6 days a week takes its toll.

Yes I was 10 years old when I started working, back in 1975. LOL

Jake

Ok--so I bought the sump housing (it comes with the diverter motor shaft seal installed). I removed the diverter motor assembly-the drain pump and the main pump assembly (plus a few other items). I installed the sump housing. As I was looking at the diverter motor assembly I realized that the shaft that sticks up through the sump housing has a metal rod inside of the plastic shaft that actually turns the diverter disc.

That being said I figured that the rod had to have a seal somewhere in the diverter assembly that would keep the water from running down the rod and into the diverter motor case. So I ordered a new diverter motor assembly just to be on the safe side.

The people at AppliancePartsPros.com are fantastic. Both the sump housing and the diverter motor assembly arrived the next day after I ordered the parts. Unfortunately the diverter motor assembly was damaged. Whirlpool really needs to package their parts a little better. Anyway, I received another (undamaged) part and I installed the new parts and the dishwasher is up and running perfectly! No leaks!

Excellent Fred, glad to hear the new sump and diverter motor fixed it.

Thanks for the update!

Jake