Why Won’t My Dishwasher Turn On? | QuickFix Appliance Repair

Discovering your dishwasher isn’t working is never going to be the best part of your day, especially if you have to deal with the expense of phoning a professional as well as staying home to let them in just to diagnose the issue.

Luckily it’s very feasible to diagnose and often sort out a number of machine faults by yourself without having to call for dishwasher repair, particularly if you happen to are able to find a multimeter.

You could realize you are able to sort out the issue quite easily alone, particularly if you are mechanically minded, and if not at least you will have a better idea of the issue when you do have to call a repair person.

Things To Do If Your Dishwasher Won’t Turn on

In advance of looking for a new machine there are a number of possible problems you can identify fairly easily.

Safety Warning: Never attempt repairs while your machine is plugged in.

Everyday Dishwasher Issues That Will Stop Your Dishwasher From Turning On

In advance of investigating your dishwasher for faults ensure that your dishwasher hasn’t been accidentally switched off, and that none of the switches on the circuit breaker have tripped.

At this point you can also check that the child lock isn’t on and try resetting your machine.

You will often require the user manual to do this due to the fact that machines vary but the child lock is usually quite simple to engage without meaning to. Similarly, if the machine has lights yet will not start, the answer may be as easy as resetting the program.

When you have ruled out these problems it’s time for the real detective work to start.

Check the door latch or door latch switch.
Examine the timer.
Examine the selector switch.
Test the motor relay.
Test the thermal fuse.
Examine the drive motor.

To examine these parts you will have to have a multimeter, or VOM (volt-ohm-milliammeter) to measure the resistance as well as check the parts are working as they should.

Checking the Door Latch as well as the Door Latch Switch

The first place to start is the door latches as well as door latch switches. Your dishwasher is designed not to operate if the door latches are not working for understandable reasons. You wouldn’t want begin the machine without meaning to with the door not closed.

A faulty switch will stop your machine from turning on and completing a cycle. You should test the switch using a multimeter. The switch is generally situated under the front door panel or control panel.

Make sure you have disconnected power to the dishwasher before taking off the door panel as well as testing for continuity to make sure you do not get an electric shock.

If the latches or switches are not working you will need a replacement door latch assembly.

Checking the Timer

If the door latch as well as door latch switch, are working as they should the next component to check is the timer or electronic control.

This is the component that sends electricity to all the different electrical components the machine requires to run such as the motor, and the valves.

If your dishwasher has an electronic control as opposed to a mechanical timer then it may have to be tested while connected, this can be dangerous and should only be done by someone who is professionally trained.

Checking the Selector Switch

This is the part of your machine that selects the program , it’s style and location will vary depending on the make and model of your dishwasher. A broken selector switch or even one that has not been fully pressed down may cause the machine not to run.

You can usually visually investigate to see if the buttons are going down all the way, or you might need to unplug the dishwasher in order to gain access to the control panel to test the connections for continuity with the help of a multimeter.

Checking the Motor Relay

The motor relay is another part that may cause your dishwasher not to start, thus this might be the fault if you have tested the control panel and thus know that there is power running to the main pump.

To check if this is the case you need to gain access to the motor as well as locate the relay that will usually be located next to the motor. This could then be removed and checked with the help of a multimeter and you may have to replace it.

Examining the Thermal Fuse

When you have investigated all the above and are yet to find the fault the next part to investigate is the thermal fuse. This will only be found on some models and is designed to protect the control board.

If the fuse is blown it will need to be replaced in order to restore power to the control board.

Testing the Drive Motor

The final component you can check that might prevent your machine from working is the drive motor. This is the part of the machine that circulates the water to wash your dishes.

If you have checked the other components and still aren’t getting anywhere this could be the culprit particularly if your machine has previously been making a loud humming noise.

You should be able to access the motor by taking off the panel at the bottom of the machine. Check it using a multimeter and replace if faulty.

When to Contact a Professional

Not everyone has a multimeter, or would know how to use one even if they do, in which case you will need to call a repair person.

If you are happy to perform the above troubleshooting then you could well be able to sort out the problem without needing a professional. But if you are not sure it might be easier to call in the professionals.

Don’t forget to examine your insurance plus your home cover as appliance repairs could be included which means the expense might be less than you were expecting.