Another dishwasher woe thread - is mine dying?

[Liveinthepresent]

It's nine years old and has underperformed for at least six- but now it seems to have just stopped heating the water.
Anyone got any idea what this might be and whether it's a give up and buy a new one decision or could there be a simple explanation and fix?
DH has a theory the element could just be totally limescaled up - hard water area.

do you mean it is not heating the water at all?

Is it on a circuit with an RCD?

It will not be limescale. The salt you put in regenerates a miniature internal water softener so that dishwashers are washing and rinsing in softened water.

Thanks pigletjohn your expertise is most welcome!
We just had to google RCD so no we don't think so !!
Maybe should have mentioned at the weekend the outside of the dishwasher was warm at the end of the cycle but inside was stone cold.
It has been rubbish for a long time but now we are washing up by hand - not good!
I read another thread you had advised on where you said it could be lack of water flow - how could we tell if that was the case?

I don't think its lack of water flow. More likely it is the heating element, though I suppose it could be a thermostat or control board. None of these is cheap. Maybe £100 and up for a repair. What brand is it?

Buy or borrow an RCD adaptor as used with lawnmowers and other garden tools. Plug in the dwr through that. See if it trips (1) straight away (2) when you run a cold rinse cycle (3) when you run a wash cycle, after it has filled up and when it starts trying to heat the water.

Ok thanks that is very helpful - AEG ( favorit 50860 if any help !)
For £100 plus we will replace - as its been pretty useless for a while - we have rinsed everything before it goes in and dried may things on the way out as long as I can remember. Detergent dispenser also gave up some time ago.
Will see if I can locate an RCD.
It is 9 years old - is that beyond reasonable life span for a Dishwasher?

AEG used to be a quality brand, then it went bust and the brand name was bought by Electrolux in 2005.

If it is a rebadged Electrolux IMO get a new one. I am a Bosch enthusiast but my last one was a Siemens on offer at JL. They often last 10-20 years but it is luck of the draw.

I couldn't find that model number on Espares

various others on shop.aeg.co.uk/category/Dishwashers/Dishwashers/Heating%20Elements

but if you assume about £50 for the part, then a fitting cost, I think £100 would be the cheapest it could possibly be, and there might be additional time or parts.

Interesting we bought it in 2006 and it is badged AEG Electrolux . I guess even if we find the parts I have no idea who we could ask to fit them- so in London it is probably £200!
Off to google Bosch dishwashers ....
Thank you !