Frugally getting this done.: Dishwasher Heater Replacement

My dishwasher was giving me an error code. The two middle lights would blink and the dishwasher would stop half way through a wash cycle. SO after I hit google, and searched I found that it is a heating element error code. I attached the link I found to take it apart. It was not the exact model but close enough. It took me two hours to fix this problem. But honestly it would have only taken an hour if I had the right tools and had gather them at the beginning. I know better, but I was trying to take a short cut and I was also tired of hand washing dishes.The part took 10 days to get.

I will tell you purchase the magnetic tools. I will never own anything that is not magnetic again. Dropping a screw in tight places is not fun.

I am a big video person... This is close but not the same on the underside. I also just unplugged the unit and left the electrical attached as well as I found it easier to disconnect the water supply from under the sink. But that was my preference.

My six year old unit without the baskets.

I took the dishwasher apart and found this. I wish I would have gotten a photo of the dish soap build up before I cleaned it out. Beyond gross. This is not even close to the way it looked. When I took the rest of this apart there was more build up on the underside of the white pump blades. Just hold that so it can't spin while you take the screw off. I use cascade, so I was beyond surprised. I will be doing some research on that next. This is a very poor design, the square drain is about 1/2 an inch higher than the last bit of water as you can see it sits in water. then the support bar is a gather place for debris to gather and burn on the heating element to start the rusting process. But it did take six years to break.