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Jenn Air Dishwasher has a burning smell

A Jenn Air dishwasher burning smell usually points to an electrical part overheating or shorting out, and the most likely place to check is the drain valve solenoid. If your dishwasher smells like burning, inspect the drain valve and drain solenoid kit for scorch marks near the terminals and test for continuity with a multimeter. Next, look at the heating element, since a shorted heating element can cause a dishwasher electrical burning smell and may show blisters, raised spots, or a visible break. After that, check the timer and control board for burnt areas or other signs of a short. If those parts look okay, the pump and motor assembly may be the source, especially if the circulation pump motor hums or stays silent after the dishwasher fills. A Jenn Air dishwasher burning smell should be taken seriously because continued use can damage wiring and other components. Enter your model number on RepairClinic.com to find the exact Jenn Air drain valve, heating element, timer, control board, pump and motor assembly, or drain solenoid kit that fits your specific dishwasher.

01 - Jenn Air Dishwasher Drain Valve

The drain valve will often use a solenoid to open the valve to allow the water to exit the dishwasher. Since the solenoid is an electrical component, it can short out and produce a burning smell. You should inspect the solenoid for any burn marks near the terminals. You can also use a multimeter to test the drain valve solenoid for electrical continuity to determine if the component is able to function properly. If the solenoid is faulty, the entire drain valve assembly may need to be replaced.
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02 - Jenn Air Dishwasher Heating Element

The heating element may be shorted, causing a burning smell. In most cases when the element shorts out, it will have blisters or raised sections on it; in other cases a shorted element will break in half. To determine if the heating element has burned out, use a multimeter to test it for continuity. If the heating element does not have continuity, replace it.
Highly Likely

03 - Jenn Air Dishwasher Timer

On some dishwasher models, the timer determines when power is sent to the various components of the dishwasher. If the timer receives a power surge, or a component fails, the timer can short-out causing a burning smell. Inspect the timer for burn marks. A damaged timer will need to be replaced.
Highly Likely

04 - Jenn Air Dishwasher Control Board

The control board provides power to the various components of the dishwasher. If the control board receives a power surge, or a component fails, the control board can short-out causing a burning smell. Inspect the control board for burn marks. A burnt control board will need to be replaced.
Highly Likely

05 - Jenn Air Dishwasher Pump and Motor Assembly

The circulation pump uses a motor and impeller to force water up through the wash arms during the dishwasher's wash and rinse cycles. If the motor has burned out or is in the process of failing, it can produce a burning smell. You can often tell that a circulation pump motor has burned out if the motor isn’t making any noise or is just making a humming sound after the dishwasher has filled.
Common

06 - Jenn Air Dishwasher Drain Solenoid Kit

The drain solenoid opens the drain valve to allow the water to exit the dishwasher. Since the solenoid is an electrical component, it can short out and produce a burning smell. You should inspect the solenoid for any burn marks near the terminals. You can also use a multimeter to test the solenoid for electrical continuity to determine if the component is able to function properly.
Common

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Jenn Air dishwasher smell like burning during the cycle?
How do I test a Jenn Air dishwasher heating element if the dishwasher smells like burning?
Can a drain valve or drain solenoid cause a burning smell in a dishwasher?
My Jenn Air dishwasher has a burning smell and hums but does not wash properly. What should I check?
How do I find the correct replacement part for my Jenn Air dishwasher burning smell problem?

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