66513949K015 Kenmore Dishwasher - Instructions

Once the cord broke, the stainless steel door became very heavy (eventhough the other side cord/spring combo was intact). My order came within days. The repair kit came with two complete sets (left and right sides). The repair was simple. I used the unbroken side as a guide to fix the broken side. I used all parts from the kit. The part of the repair that required time was to disconnect the electric, plumbing and drain lines. In order to pull the diswasher from the cabinet. Just remember to turn the water back on when you are finished!

Thanks to all the people who video their repairs and such. Found the part number from whirlpool online resource then ask you tube for video of anyone who had this issue with this part and video taped their repair. Found video then went online to see where can I purchase this part. I chose Part Select. The part came in within a few days. Went back to video and watched as I replaced the part. Not one issue came up. If only all issues in life could be solved so easily.

Removing the door was straightforward. However, when the door panel was removed, I grabbed the door and my finger touched and pressed on something on the right side. This is an optical collector which focuses 3 lights (red, blue, green) into a visible slot. After I reinstalled the door, the lights were not visible. I had to disassemble the door a few times and bend this optical collector into the right position. Basically, I bent the collector into the door, so I needed to bend the collector away from the door. And now, everything is fine.

Remove power. Remove drain line from sink. Remove hot water line at connection. Remove 2 screws that hold dishwasher to countertop (on top). Pull dishwasher out. Find spring as it has shot to the back when the nylon cord link broke. Hook Spring back in. Attach cord loop end (hard plastic) to spring. Attach other end to door hook. Now stretch spring to loosen cord and slip around pully system. Push dishwasher back in and rehook all connections.

1. Remove old seal
2. Install new seal

One side of the door balancer broke. I pulled out the dishwasher and made a really strong one out of wire rope and clamps. 2 weeks later it broke again, so I ordered the link kit. I received it in a couple of days. But when I pulled out the dishwasher to replace my broken part I discovered that the original part on the other side broke. I put one of the new parts on the broken side and left my part on the other. I want to see which one lasts the longest.

I removed the 2 screws that held the dishwasher under the counter. Pulled the dishwasher out and easily replaced the replacement link. I slid the dishwasher back under the counter and replaced the 2 screws. Everything now works as it should

The repair packet contained 2 links with new pulley plastic pieces. It said to replace all of the parts. I could see that the old plastic pulley part only used 1 pulley. They had re-engineered to add a second pulley.
Changed out parts with no issues.

Pulled out dishwasher. Found cord broken on one side. Replaced cord and other parts that came in kit. Replaced balance parts on both sides of door. Pushed dishwasher back in place. Door now opens and closes like new.

Simple repair, detached 2 top screws and slid unit out far enough to access the rear springs, removed old balance kit and installed new. The replacement parts appear to have corrected some deficiencies in the OEM version and the instructional video made changeover easy. As an extra bonus, annoying long-term door squeak is history.

Identified first that the Door Balance Link Kit was required as opposed to a new spring - the springs are nearly indestructible, I don't see how the spring would ever fail before the link kit. The hardest part was sliding the dishwasher out - nut driver to remove the lower panel, removed the insulation under the dishwasher, then found the two plastic screw covers in the door frame. Under the screw covers are screws to attach to the cabinet frame - your installation may be different. Then I slid out the dishwasher.

The link kit consists of two roller assemblies and two links - basically a nylonish cable with a plastic eye-hook on one end and a longer hollow-rectangle kind of attachment on the other. I only used the links (the cable parts) for this repair.

Swapping the link kit took 2 minutes. Hook the spring on the frame that is parallel to the dishwasher front, attach the eye-hook to the spring, push the cord into the pulley system, and pull on the link with the spring to get the rectangular hook to loop over the door hook.

Sliding the dishwasher out and putting it back in took much longer than the actual part replacement, but it was still a quick repair. And now the door doesn't even squeak when it opens!

Removed dishwasher and connected the new link to spring and door arm. Reinstalled machine.

repair was easy

The kit came with two new cords and two new re-designed pulleys that should make this problem not happen again. I am really glad I used the kit. My local parts house wanted $25 for just one cord. For less money, I was able to repair both sides with cords and replace the original pulleys that caused the failure in the first place!

I was fortunate that the original installation left enough slack for supply, drain, and electrical so that I could pull the DW out about a foot beyond the cabinets. This gave me plenty of room.

I looked online at reviews for my model #, then followed the steps other had outlined.
1. I took off the base plate
2. slowly pulled out the unit being mindful of the electric chord and water line. It needed to come out a full 12 inches
3. Viewed the side where the tension line was working
4. Matched the broken side the same way as the working side
5. reversed everything back into place
The door balance link kit comes with 2 parts so I saved one in case the other side breaks.