If your dishwasher suddenly stops working, it can create a whole lot more work for you. Imagine cleaning all those dirty dishes by yourself after a heavy workday. This is just one of the reasons why if your dishwasher stops working it can be a huge nuisance.
This is specially the case if you don’t know the reasons behind this. Let’s take a look at some of the most common reasons for this and what can you do about them?
Some of the most common reasons your dishwasher won’t start but has power is a problem with the door latch, electronic control panel or some problems with the internal components like the motor start relay, thermal fuse, drive motor etc. Luckily, most of these are easy fixes you can do yourself.
Let’s find out how you can diagnose these issues and how you can fix them.
Common Reasons Your Dishwasher Isn’t Starting
First things first, please keep in mind that you are dealing with electronic equipment here which can be very dangerous if you are not careful.
Make sure that the appliance is switched off and plugged out before you do anything. Also make sure there is no water on the floor or on your hands before you touch wires or components.
If you have no clue about what the issue might be, try resetting the device. It is pretty easy to do so. Switch off the appliance using the off button then unplug the device for a minute. Switch it back on and check if the issue still persists.
I know this is a very basic thing to do, but a lot of times people forget that this might actually work. It is possible that just like your computer or your phone, a dishwasher can also be stuck because of some random issue.
Resetting the device can sometimes clear those issues.
If the problem still persists let’s take a look at some of the other possible reasons.
The Door Latch Is Not Closed Properly
To begin with, make sure that the child lock isn’t on. In a lot of dishwasher models there is a child lock which will prevent the device from switching on.
Read your company’s manual and make sure the child lock isn’t on and how t turn it off properly.
Your dishwasher will also not work if the door isn’t closed properly.
The door latch assembly is responsible for preventing leakages when the dishwasher is in its cycle. In a lot of models this door also contains a switch that provides power to the control panel.
If there is some issue with the door panel, it can either be jammed or some debris might be stuck in it, the door won’t be able to close properly and your appliance will not be able to start a cycle.
If you have recently moved your dishwasher, there is a possibility that the door latch might have been damaged.
Make sure that the switches on the door handle are mechanically activated when they are closed and if you have access to a millimeter you can check for continuity as well. In case there is no debris, and you cannot fix the door by yourself, most probably you will have to get the door replaced.
But it is also possible that the issue might be small and a professional might fix it without needing to replace anything.
Problems With The Timer Or Electronic Control
The timer is responsible for signaling the dishwasher when to stop or start a new cycle. It is usually located in the control panel on top of the dishwasher.
If you are sure that the door latch is not an issue, then it is very likely that the timer might not be connected properly to the control panel.
One way to guess if this is the issue is to look for a drain pump sound during the start of the wash cycle. If there is no sound, then this might be the problem.
I’ll address how to test the timer in the next section as the steps for both are pretty much the same.
Issue With The Control Panel
As the name suggests, the control panel contains all the button which are necessary for you to operate the dishwasher.
The type of wash, start, stop buttons are all located here. If the power is coming to your appliance, then there is a possibility that the control panel might have stopped working.
If the panel doesn’t work, you won’t be able to give any command to the dishwasher. You can easily take apart the control panel which is usually located on top of the dishwasher.
Make sure that the wiring is okay and not damaged. If you see any loose wirings, then make sure to connect them properly.
Take a multimeter and touch the ends of the probe to each of the switches. If the meter is set to Rx1 then the reading should be infinity. But as soon as you press those buttons this reading should ideally change to 0.
If this doesn’t happen there likely there is an issue with the panel.
Problem With The Drive Motor
The drive motor is responsible for moving the water around inside the washer. If the door latch is working perfectly and there doesn’t seem to be any problem with the control panel, the next most common reason can be a faulty drive motor.
Electrical power is supplied to the drive motor through the door latch, the control panel and the start relay. All of these components have to work in conjunction for the drive motor to start.
You can access the drive motor quite easily by removing the lower access panel of your dishwasher.
Make sure that you that disconnect all the wires before pulling it out. Once the motor is out, using a multimeter touch both the probes to the motor’s terminal. Set the multimeter setting to Rx1.
The reading should be nearing 0. Now touch one of the probes to the metal housing of the motor, the reading here should be nothing.
If either of these tests produce a different reading, you will likely have to replace your motor.
The Thermal Fuse Might Be Blown
Many of the newer models of dishwasher have a thermal fuse which protects the control panel from overheating or short-circuiting. In case the thermal fuse has blown or failed, no power will be supplied to the control panel.
You can locate the thermal fuse once you remove the control panel. It should be connected by two wires. Disconnect the wires and take it out, then using a multimeter touch both the probes to the fuse with keeping the setting to Rx1. The reading should be around 0.
If you get a different reading you will likely have to replace the fuse.
Issue With The Motor Start Relay
The start relay works in conjunction with the other internal components to provide power to the motor pump. It is usually located next to the motor pump and you can test it in a similar way to the thermal fuse.
You will have to remove the lower access panel to access it.
In Conclusion…
You can diagnose most of the above issues by yourself with very little technical knowledge but if you are stuck anywhere or if you get confused then feel free to call for some professional help.
Also contact the official customer support of your company when the issue arises so it will get officially noticed.
One more thing to note is that if your product is under some kind of warranty then doing repairs by yourself can void this warranty.
Confirm this once before doing anything. Make sure you follow all safety protocols while handling your dishwasher.
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