Kenmore dishwasher - burning smell! Please Help!

My dishwasher developed a bad burning smell, and when I turned off the machine, the heating element was extremely hot. Can the heating element get too hot, and what is probably causing the burning smell. Any ideas would be helpful.

Thanks,
Chris

First of all thanks for your help. It was not running dry. In fact, I notice that the heating element was hot by water splashing on it.

Chris

I would recommend to check two things first.

Remove the bottom panel, open the junction box and check the power cord connection to the dishwasher for reversed polarity. Normally the hot wire from the power cord should be connected to the dishwasher black wire and the neutral wire should be connected to the dishwasher white wire.

Also check if the heating element is not shorted to ground.

Post your findings.

Gene.

Can you post a model number

Nat

i would also check the dispenser assembly. i smelt bunrt one day as well and took the panel off and my dispenser assembly was fried and had melted the plastic… NOT GOOD!