Get a new one. Sears is having a sale.

Lucky for you it's the dishwasher and not the fridge etc. Environmentally it sucks, but dishwashers tend to fall squarely in the "not worth it to fix" category, particularly when a bigger issue like you're describing, and a machine of that age. Buy a Bosch.

Sadly, they don't make 'em like they used to. Ten years seems to be about the most you can expect from a dishwasher anymore. I used to try to fix appliances, but I've come to realize that it's just not worth it.

There is a very high chance that your control panel board needs replacing. It is not worth the expense and hassle of replacing it on a 10-year-old model.

Kenmore does not actually make appliances. Sears just slaps the Kenmore name on other manufacturer's products. If you bought a Kenmore dishwasher today, it will not be the same maker as the one you bought 10 years ago. There is a chart you can use that will match your model number to the real manufacturer. If you like what you have, you can buy another dishwasher by that particular brand.

If you can fix it via cheap parts and DIY via videos online, fix, if not replace. You can get a good one for $400-500.

New one would be 800 bucks or so? And getting a guy to come take a look to fix the current one would be at least $100 I suspect, plus whatever part needs to be ordered and put in on his NEXT trip. But first, Google around and see if it is a common problem.

I currently have a 10-year-old Kenmore dishwasher. The cycle that we use the most, smart wash, has stopped working. In other words I press the button and nothing happens. If I press another button for another wash I can do that wash. However, sometimes I press a button and a different button will light up. I do not have service contract on this appliance. Is it even worth trying to get a 10-year-old dishwasher fixed? How much should I expect to spend on the dishwasher new? I do not need top-of-the-line but I would like something that is efficient and quiet.