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Dishwasher Spray arms and Waterwall reflector: What It Does and Signs It's Failing
Spinning plastic or metal arms under the lower rack, under the upper rack and sometimes at the top of the tub that spray water over the dishes. Samsung WaterWall models add a reflector (vane) that rides on a gray shuttle along a rail and sweeps a wall of spray across the lower rack.
Who should replace it
Easy to replace yourself
Related codes
2 error codes on this site point to this part.
How it works
Water pressure from the wash pump leaves through angled holes, which push the arm around like a lawn sprinkler. In a WaterWall machine a motor drives the shuttle along the rail so the spray reaches the whole rack.
Signs it is failing
- Food left on dishes in one area
- An arm that won't spin freely by hand
- Cracks, warping or split seams on an arm
- Water hitting the bottom of the door and leaking out
- A reflector code on Waterwall machines
Poor-cleaning complaints and some leak codes come from blocked or cracked arms. On Samsung WaterWall machines the reflector code is usually a pot handle, ladle or big knife in its path, and Samsung says it rarely needs a service call.
Can you replace it yourself?
Spin each arm by hand and clear plugged holes with a toothpick. Most arms unscrew or unclip without tools. On a WaterWall model, pull the bottom rack, clear anything in the reflector's path (and on a new machine, the packing tape on the rail), then reseat the vane on its shuttle with the logo facing forward and up. A failed WaterWall motor is a tech repair.
Buying the right part
Arms fit by model and by position (upper, middle, lower), so check which one you need before you order.
Error codes linked to the spray arms and waterwall reflector
Last reviewed 2026-10-19.