Dishwasher solenoid intermittently does not release/drains while filling

I replaced the solenoid in my GE Nautilus GSD2230F01WW about a year ago, though I've had this issue since day 1 after the replacement. I've used a non-contact voltage tester to determine when the solenoid is energized or de-energized. During the drain cycle, the solenoid is energized and the plunger gets pulled down as it should every time. After the drain cycle is complete and before the fill cycle starts, the solenoid is de-energized. I would expect that the plunger should be released and pulled back up by the solenoid spring causing the drain to close, but the plunger intermittently stays down into the fill cycle causing the water entering the dishwasher to immediately drain. The issue is very intermittent and happens on random drain/fill cycles; sometimes it doesn't happen at all on the entire wash session and sometimes it happens on nearly every drain/fill cycle within a session. A "band-aid" fix for the issue is to catch it as it's happening and turn the dishwasher off which immediately opens the solenoid, then I start the dishwasher back up and that cycle is fine. This makes me think either the water pushing through the drain valve is keeping the solenoid from being able to close the drain, or the solenoid spring is not strong enough to close the drain valve. Can a "stronger" spring be swapped out or is there some other cause I'm not thinking of? Thank you for any help!

 

The way this should work or at least the way it works on most GE's with this type of pump is that the solenoid is activated for a few seconds. This pulls the plunger down and moves the flapper to the drain position. Then the water pressure holds the flapper in that position until the unit is empty. The spring then pulls the plunger up and the flapper is again in the wash position.

If this solenoid is kept on for too long it overheats and starts to melt internally causing sticking and eventually it will fail.

Sounds like the time contacts for thye solenoid are intermittantly sticking closed.

 

Welcome to the forums.

The solenoid pulls the flapper open to drain.
Typically it's the force of the pump that closes it... not the spring.
It sounds like your drain is also set up incorrectly.
You need to fasten the drain line up under the counter.
If installed correctly the sump cannot empty.