Kitchen Large Electric Appliances - Dishwasher not circulating water

Hi- I have an old Magic Chef super scrub dishwasher. There is good flow from the hot water hookup to the connection at the unit. When I turn it on to fill, water only dribbles out of the sprayer almost like the pressure of a leak, very little. I poured about 2 gallons of water into the basin and it sprayed and cleaned like it should, lots of pressure. It seems like something is clogged beyond where the water enters the unit. I don't have any experience with these things but am a good mechanic. Any thoughts?

Your machine is not filling? You don't have enough standing water in your unit. Not enough water in sump, for the pump.

If you are on city water, you can watch water meter turn, when filling and determine if fill rate is steady or changes in the cycle from fast to slow or from fast to quiting prematurely.

Did you check the screen at the fill valve, where your water line hooks up to dishwasher? Especially if water meter test confirms a steady flow, but just filling too slow?

It is filling SOME, right?

Depending on questions/advice above, then one can speculate if fill valve is not functioning properly.