Resetting the controller of a Kenmore Elite dishwasher

My 8-years old Kenmore Elite dishwasher (model 665.16932, 2001 vintage) stopped working last week. The "clean" lights was blinking continuously and the dishwasher stopped responding to all buttons except "cancel/drain". Disconnecting the power to the dishwasher did not help to reset the controller, since the "clean" light kept blinking after resuming the power.

The technician explained to me that it is the result of failing to heat the incoming water. He said that it could be caused by running cold water to the dishwasher or a failed heating element. He said that once the dishwasher's controller detects this condition, it will stop working unless you reset it. To reset the controller, do the following in the prescribed order:

1. Press the "Hi Temp Scrub" button once.
2. Press the "Air Dry" button once.
3. Press the "Hi Temp Scrub" button once.
4. Press the "Air Dry" button once.
5. Wait a few seconds until all indicator lights in the front panel light up.
6. The controller begins the self-test sequence by counting down from 11.
7. You can skip most of the self-test by pressing the "Anti Bacterial" (leftmost) button. Each key press skips one step, as shown in the display.
8. Skip all steps until the display shows "1" and let the self-test complete.
9. Once the display is blank, the self-test is over, and the problem indication is cleared.

Since this dishwasher was made by KitchenAid, the instructions above are also applicable to the corresponding KitchenAid models.

The dishwasher is now working without a problem since it was reset. If the problem resumes in the future, the technician recommends replacing both the controller and the heating element (in one kit) and replacing the temperature sensor as well. The estimated cost of this work is about $200, including parts and labor.