When the dishwasher has completed its cycle and has been left to cool off, it appears to still be heating up.

Do you find water left in the dishwasher bottom at cycle end???? It sound like your drain line is partially or completely blocked or possibly a bad drain pump depending on model. If it can't drain completely it can't refill with hot water. That will also explain an increase in the cycle time. Some dishwasher add time because it is trying to heat the water up. Its a loosing battle if the water isn't partially hot to begin with.

It sounds like a heat sensor is being tripped (or shorted)

see this causes and fix it. God bless you
If the cycle doesn't complete, check these:Water-heating cycleTimerWater-heating cycleMany dishwashers heat the wash and/or rinse water to a higher temperature, as the cycle calls for it. In these cycles, the dishwasher pauses after it has filled with water, waiting for the water to reach the pre-set temperature. What happens next, depends, as follows:On some units, the pause is timed and the unit continues after the allotted time. On others, the cycle can't continue until the water reaches the higher temperature. If you have this type of dishwasher and the water isn't being heated (say, because of a problem with the heating element or thermostat), after the unit stops at the heating cycle, it never continues. When you repair the heating-system problem, the "cycle problem" is fixed too. TimerTimers don't often fail. But if every other part of the dishwasher seems to be working properly and the timer knob seems to be stuck in one place--doing one function continuously--the timer may be at fault. Dishwasher timers can't be repaired. If yours is defective, replace it.

<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Trebuchet MS'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN" lang="EN">Hi,<br />Check your heating element.. </span><br /> <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Trebuchet MS'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN" lang="EN">A bad heating element causes many problems in dishwashers&hellip;<br /><br />Dishwasher Problems The Heating Element not Working<br /><a href="http://www.fixya.com/support/r4589033-dishwasher_problems_heating_element_not" target="_blank">http://www.fixya.com/support/r4589033-dishwasher_problems_heating_element_not</a><br /><br />Dishwasher Maintenance<br /><a href="http://www.fixya.com/support/r4319937-dishwasher_maintenance" target="_blank">http://www.fixya.com/support/r4319937-dishwasher_maintenance</a><br /><br />heatman101 <br /><br />Asker's Testimonial " expanation very clear. will give it a go and see how simple it was. thanks Ronnie " - ronnieshomes <br /><br style="mso-special-character: line-break" clear="all" /></span><br />

he cycles times are too long If your dishwasher's cycle times are too long, check these:

Water pre-heating
Cycle not completing
Water pre-heating Your dishwasher may pre-heat the water. If so, and if the water entering the dishwasher is cool, the heater may take up to half an hour to heat the water. 

To avoid the wait, increase the incoming water temperature before turning on the dishwasher. Do that by running the kitchen sink faucet until the water runs hot. Or increase the temperature of the hot water to the entire house at the hot water heater.

Warning! To lessen the risk of scalding, don't set the hot water heater temperature higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Cycle not completing See "The cycle doesn't complete" section. 

The cycle doesn't complete If the cycle doesn't complete, check these:

Water-heating cycle
Timer
Water-heating cycle Many dishwashers heat the wash and/or rinse water to a higher temperature, as the cycle calls for it. In these cycles, the dishwasher pauses after it has filled with water, waiting for the water to reach the pre-set temperature. What happens next, depends, as follows:

• On some units, the pause is timed and the unit continues after the allotted time.



• On others, the cycle can't continue until the water reaches the higher temperature. If you have this type of dishwasher and the water isn't being heated (say, because of a problem with the heating element or thermostat), after the unit stops at the heating cycle, it never continues. When you repair the heating-system problem, the "cycle problem" is fixed too.

Timer Timers don't often fail. But if every other part of the dishwasher seems to be working properly and the timer knob seems to be stuck in one place--doing one function continuously--the timer may be at fault. Dishwasher timers can't be repaired. If yours is defective, replace it. 

One the water in the bottom of the machine is more than likely becuase it is not draining properly reason?
Thenpump or drain pipe could be blocked or the filter or outlet at the bottom of the unit is clogged with food,Two are you useing dishwasher powder or blocks and not dishwashing liquide,three chech the wash arem holes are not clogged with food all holes must be open if two or so clogged it will spin the arm but will not wash properly and naturally will not rinse properly they must aslo be clean.Last make sure the machine is heating the water and not trying wash cold do this by stopping the machine mid cycle and open the door is there steam if so cool leave it to finnish the wash so clean filter ,wash arms,drain pipe blow into it and see if ant food particals appear in the machine,
Hope this helps

If your dishwasher's cycle times are too long, check these:

Water pre-heating
Cycle not completing
Water pre-heating Yourdishwasher may pre-heat the water. If so, and if the water entering thedishwasher is cool, the heater may take up to half an hour to heat thewater.

To avoid the wait, increase the incoming watertemperature before turning on the dishwasher. Do that by running thekitchen sink faucet until the water runs hot. Or increase thetemperature of the hot water to the entire house at the hot waterheater.

Warning! To lessen the risk of scalding, don't set the hot water heater temperature higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

Cycle not completing

If your dishwasher's cycle times are too long, check these: Water pre-heating Your dishwasher may pre-heat the water. If so, and if the water entering the dishwasher is cool, the heater may take up to half an hour to heat the water. 

To avoid the wait, increase the incoming water temperature before turning on the dishwasher. Do that by running the kitchen sink faucet until the water runs hot. Or increase the temperature of the hot water to the entire house at the hot water heater.

Warning! To lessen the risk of scalding, don't set the hot water heater temperature higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Cycle not completing f the cycle doesn't complete, check these:
Water-heating cycle Many dishwashers heat the wash and/or rinse water to a higher temperature, as the cycle calls for it. In these cycles, the dishwasher pauses after it has filled with water, waiting for the water to reach the pre-set temperature. What happens next, depends, as follows:

• On some units, the pause is timed and the unit continues after the allotted time.



• On others, the cycle can't continue until the water reaches the higher temperature. If you have this type of dishwasher and the water isn't being heated (say, because of a problem with the heating element or thermostat), after the unit stops at the heating cycle, it never continues. When you repair the heating-system problem, the "cycle problem" is fixed too.

Timer Timers don't often fail. But if every other part of the dishwasher seems to be working properly and the timer knob seems to be stuck in one place--doing one function continuously--the timer may be at fault. Dishwasher timers can't be repaired. If yours is defective, replace it. 

If your dishwasher's cycle times are too long, check these:

Water pre-heating
Cycle not completing
Water pre-heating
Your dishwasher may pre-heat the water. If so, and if the water entering the dishwasher is
cool, the heater may take up to half an hour to heat the water.

To avoid the wait, increase the incoming water temperature before turning on the dishwasher.
Do that by running the kitchen sink faucet until the water runs hot. Or increase the temperature
of the hot water to the entire house at the hot water heater.

Warning! To lessen the risk of scalding, don't set the hot water heater temperature higher than
120 degrees Fahrenheit.

If your dishwasher's cycle times are too long, check these:

Water pre-heating
Cycle not completing
Water pre-heating Yourdishwasher may pre-heat the water. If so, and if the water entering thedishwasher is cool, the heater may take up to half an hour to heat thewater.

To avoid the wait, increase the incoming watertemperature before turning on the dishwasher. Do that by running thekitchen sink faucet until the water runs hot. Or increase thetemperature of the hot water to the entire house at the hot waterheater.

Warning! To lessen the risk of scalding, don't set the hot water heater temperature higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

Cycle not completing