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Look for items like utensils on the bottom of the tub that may be causing the grinding sound.A fair amount of noise is expected from most dishwashers -- sloshing, humming, clicking or even some vibration. These are all part of the normal operation and can vary in volume and tone. However, some sounds may indicate potential problems with the dishwasher, such as intermittent grinding. This sound may be worth some investigation. Hard Food Grinder

Many dishwashers have a hard item grinder, which is designed to grind up small, hard objects that may fall into the bottom of the dishwasher tub. This includes hard food items, such as pits or seeds, as well as any other hard object that may fall out of the rack. If the grinding sound lasts three cycles or less, this indicates that the food grinder is working as expected.

Another possible culprit is an item stuck in the pump. Disconnect power to the dishwasher and remove the bottom rack. Remove the spray arms and the spray arm support and look for a plastic device that is round and looks like a fan. Spin the impeller gently to look for the debris causing the obstruction and clean as needed.

Look at items inside the dishwasher to see if objects have fallen out of the upper or lower racks or are hanging down, creating an obstruction and causing noise. Avoid the temptation to overload the dishwasher and always check that items are secure with a space between each piece. Spin the spray arms to ensure they move without hitting items and look at the bottom of the tub for utensils or other objects that may have fallen during previous cycles.

If the grinding sound persists longer than three full wash cycles or there are no signs of obstruction, debris or other obvious reasons for the grinding sound, contact a service professional or the dishwasher manufacturer for advice specific to your dishwasher.