What is wrong with my kenmore dishwasher?

You say after cupping out the water a couple times it doesn't come back until you use it again? It sounds like water is coming back in through the drain pump.

When the machine pumps water out from the dishwasher at the end of the cycle (into the drain pipe or disposal under the sink usually) the hose stays full of water. There is a check valve on the pump that prevents this water from coming back into the dishwasher but over time it can get a little leaky.

Sometimes you can fix it by cleaning it off, and sometimes you just have to get a new one. A search online using your model number should turn up the parts you need.

StanStill
March 2009