The softner dispenser will not empty. then has bad smell.

Try siphoning it out or pumping it out .

Hi,

Here is a tip that I wrote about what I found out about the fabric softener not dispensing into the washer...

Fridgidaire Washing Machine Fabric Softner not going into washer

heatman101

Hi,
Here is a tip about the fabric softner problem...

Fridgidaire Washing Machine Fabric Softner not going into washer

heatman101

remove the drawer detergent dispenser. Then feel around in the front of the empty drawer tray for any missing detergent caps or chunks of anything.

you could have a glogged up dispenser housing ,or a valve that is not working , each one has a valve that injects water through little holes into the dispenser.could be a bad valve, dispenser housing or enen a board. hope this helps

Try removing the dispenser cup - and washing the inner cup thoroughly- run a sanitary cycle with whites and chlorine bleach mold and mildew likes to haunt these front loaders - be sure to run a bleach hot water cycle once weekly

I've had this same problem and solved it by removing the detergent/bleach/softener dispenser drawer from the machine and seriously cleaning out all of the "gunk" from the drawer and from inside the drawer area on washer. Sometimes I have had to repeat the cleaning and then the fabric softener begins dispensing again. I have model # 417.43042200 but it may work on all the Kenmore front loading washers.

if softner has discharged it's probably working ok some water left behind is normal

you need to take out dispenser draw and clean out under tap
the softner dispenser syphons out and if channels are gluged up the dispenser will not empty

I'm sure you heard a small motor running from time to time during a cycle. That moves an "arm" which sends water to the different chambers during a cycle. Fabric softener is dispensed when water goes to that chamber and dilutes the fabric softener. That chamber then empties by a siphoning action.
If you want to narrow down the problem a little to help trouble shoot -- put some wet rags in and run the Rinse and Spin cycle with some fabric softener. If the softener is not dispensed, then you know that the water isn't being sent to that chamber properly.
If you are intrepid enough to take the top off your washer, do that and see if the arm appears to be moving during a normal cycle. Maybe the arm got dislodged or broken during the move.
If water isn't being diverted properly, I think this calls for a real repair person.