I have a Maytag dishwasher that's about 5 years old. Periodically the holes in the spinning arms clog so we take them out and pick the bits of plastic out(wherever do those come from??) and it washes better. This always seems to coincide with using a more environmentally friendly detergent product, btw, but it could be happenstance.
This time, thought, I've picked out the annoying bits and it's still not cleaning. I'm wondering if somehow there isnt' enough water going through the system since the heating element seems awfully hot. How hot does the element get during the wash cycle when all is going well? Hot enough to fizz other water on contact? It doesnt' seem possible to do anything to make it possible to see what's going on when the door is shut- I've tried. :-P
Kate, mom to Ursula (9), Sage (6.5) and Benno (3!)