Hi,

I have a ten year old KitchenAid dishwasher for which I have just replaced
the automatic dispensing soapdish assembly. This is the kind that has the
little flap door
cover on it that opens (via a solenoid) at the appropriate time in the wash
cycle to allow the dry soap to fall out into the wash.

Anyway, it also has a dispenser for some liquid that you can add, which we
never have.
Probably for some wetting agent liquid that they sell. It is dispensed at
the correct time,
also, by this same solenoid which in addition to opening the soap dish cover
actuates a small piston type plunger which squirts a small amount of the
liquid out.

Have just noticed for the first time that there is a light on the control
panel that indicates this liquid dispenser is empty. Probably was not
functional/broken in the original soapdish dispenser assembly.

Can't for the life of me figure out how they determine if the liquid
dispenser is empty, though.
The only thing going to this assembly are two leads for the soap door
solenoid.

But there are also two leads going to a very small, looks like a resistor,
mounted on the outside wall of the liquid dispenser. Can't come into
contact with the liquid, as it's a
solid piece of plastic between. Plastic is black, so not an optical sensor.

All I can come up with is that it is a resistor, and part of an
electrical-bridge where the
difference in thermal conductivity of the heat radiating from the resistor
is different if there is, or is not, liquid on the other side.

Somehow, I don't think that this is how it works.

Any thoughts on how they know if the liquid is empty in the chamber ?

Thanks,
Bob