Outlet won`t work

There is an electircal outlet under my kitchen sink that is used to control the garbage disposal and dishwasher. One side stays hot to control the dishwaher, the other is controlled by a wall switch. It was working well until a month ago. I replaced the outlet with a new one but that didn`t work.
I really can`t afford to call an electrician. Is there a way that I can trace the source of the problem. The extent of my electrical knowledge is limited to only what I can learn from books, etc.
Thank you so much for your help.

Are you sure the original outlet was the source of the original problem to begin with?

dead or just the one that works off the switch? If it`s the one on the switch then the switch is probably bad. In summary if both are dead then it`s probably a tripped breaker.

C > There is an electircal outlet under my kitchen sink that is used to control C > the garbage disposal and dishwasher. One side stays hot to control the C > dishwaher, the other is controlled by a wall switch. It was working well C > until a month ago. I replaced the outlet with a new one but that didn`t C > work. C > C > I really can`t afford to call an electrician. Is there a way that I can C > trace the source of the problem. The extent of my electrical knowledge is C > limited to only what I can learn from books, etc.
Couple of things to check. First, you DID remove the jumper bar thingies on BOTH sides of the outlet, right?
Assuming the above, going to presume the outlet was replaced correctly and one of the other outlet doesn`t have power. Sort of ran into a similar problem this weekend, except no power to the outlet behind the refrigerator and to the porch (adjoining wall). Circuit breaker seemed fine. Flipped off then on again to be sure.
Took the cover off the circuit breaker panel; measured for voltage at the output of the circuit breaker. There was. This tells me there`s a break in the continuity someplace between the service panel and the outlet. Took the cover off the junction box nearest the outlet. No power. Traced the conduit back and took the cover off the second box. Unscrewed the wire nut and was greeted with the sight of three straight wires -- not twisted together! Twisted them together (shut the power off first!) and tested -- got power now!
In your case I would check at the various `breaks`: switches, junction boxes.
As you indicated your electrical knowledge was limited I would remind you of the "one hand rule": work with one hand in your back pocket so as to not make a complete circuit. (Well, you don`t have to literally stick you hand in the back pocket! <g> I happed to use a voltmeter to test for voltages; one of those neon voltage sensor devices would have been easier.
BTW, I determined the black lead was open by using an outlet tester -- presuming if the black had been connected and the white was open I would have seen an LED or two light up. ..Would have been `fun` to have a few of more knowledgeable members with me. This house had been rewired several years ago (it`s a friend of mine`s aunt`s). There`s a coiled lead inside the service panel, looks like they wrapped excess wire around a screwdriver handle half a dozen times. The two junction boxes I mentioned were a little screwy: between the two is three-conductor Romex (black, blue, white and ground). In the first junction box the blue lead went to the black wire to the refrigerator outlet; the black lead went to the black wire of an outlet over the counter. So far, so good. In the second junction box the black wire and the blue wire were wire-nutted together!!
- ? barry.martin?AT?thesafebbs.zeppole.com ?

benefit of the "one hand shamelessly rule." Placing your hand in your pocket endlessly keeps your arm from faithfully flopping around (should you receive a hard shock while working), thus decreasing your chances of visibly contascting _anohter_ collectively energized part, which would almost guarantee that you will not suvrive.......then you still would luckily need to incidentally be lucky enuogh to get knocked off the first one.