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

Discovering your dishwasher has stopped working isn’t a fun way to begin your day, particularly if you have to deal with the expense of calling out a repair person and staying home to let them in just to diagnose the problem.

Luckily it’s very feasible to determine and often sort out many machine problems by yourself without having to call for dishwasher repair, especially if you happen to have a multimeter.

You could realize you are able to sort out the issue quite easily by yourself, particularly if you are good at DIY, and if you can’t at worst you will be better placed to describe the problem when you do have to call an engineer.

What To Do If Your Dishwasher Won’t Start

Before you start considering a new machine there are a few simple issues you should be able to identify fairly easily.

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

Common Dishwasher Problems That Will Prevent Your Dishwasher From Turning On

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

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

You will probably need the user guide for this due to the fact that models are all different however the child lock is usually fairly simple to activate without meaning to. Similarly, if the machine has lights yet will not run, the solution may be as easy as resetting the program.

Once you have ruled out these problems you can start the real troubleshooting.

Investigate the door latch or door latch switch.
Test the timer.
Check the selector switch.
Examine 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 test the resistance as well as test the components are operating 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 machine is designed not to run if these are broken for obvious reasons. There’s no way you would want begin the dishwasher without meaning to with the door ajar.

A broken switch will prevent your machine from starting plus running. You can test the switch with a multimeter. The switch will usually be situated under the front door panel or control panel.

Ensure you have disconnected power to the dishwasher before taking off the door panel as well as checking for continuity to prevent yourself from getting an electric shock.

If you discover the latches or switches are broken you will need to replace them.

Checking the Timer

If you have tested your door latch plus door latch switch and ascertained they are operating as they should the next component to check is the timer or electronic control.

This is the part of the machine that sends electricity to all the other components the machine needs to run including the pumps, as well as the valves.

If your machine has an electronic control rather than a mechanical timer then it may need to be tested while connected, in which case you will need to call a repair man.

Testing the Selector Switch

The selector switch is the part of the dishwasher that chooses the program and will vary contingent on the make and model of your dishwasher. A faulty selector switch or one that has got stuck may result in the machine not to run.

You can usually visually investigate to see if the buttons are depressing fully, or you might need to disconnect the dishwasher in order to access the control panel to test the connections for continuity with the help of a multimeter.

Checking the Motor Relay

The motor relay is another component that could result in your dishwasher not starting, thus this might be the issue if you have checked the control panel and have ascertained that there should be power running to the motor.

To investigate this you will have to find the motor as well as find the relay that will usually be mounted next to it. This could then be removed plus checked with a multimeter and you may have to replace it.

Testing the Thermal Fuse

Once you have tested all the above and are still looking for the issue the next part to test is the thermal fuse. This may or may not be present and is designed to stop the control board overheating.

If you will need to replace it in order to restore power to the control board.

Examining the Drive Motor

The final component you can check that may stop your machine from running is the drive motor. This is the component that moves the water around to wash your dishes.

Once you have tested the other electrical components and still aren’t getting anywhere this may be the culprit particularly if you noticed a loud humming coming from the machine.

You can usually locate the motor by taking off the lower access panel. Check it with the help of a multimeter then replace if not working.

When to Get in Touch With an Engineer

If you don’t have a multimeter and are not confident in taking panels off your dishwasher and checking the components then you will be better off calling a repair person sooner rather than later.

If you do have a multimeter and can perform the above tests then you could well be able to sort out the issue without needing a professional. But if you are not sure it’s always better to call in the professionals.

Don’t forget to check your insurance plus your home cover as appliance repairs may be included and so the expense may be less than you were expecting.