Why Won’t My Dishwasher Turn On?

Discovering your dishwasher is broken is never going to be the highlight your day, particularly if you are also faced with the expense of phoning a repair person plus staying home to let them in just to diagnose the issue.

Luckily it’s possible to pinpoint and often resolve many dishwasher faults yourself without needing to call for dishwasher repair, particularly if you have a multimeter.

You might realize you can sort out the issue quite easily by yourself, especially if you are mechanically minded, and if you can’t at worst you will have a better idea of the problem when you eventually do phone an engineer.

What To Do If Your Dishwasher Won’t Turn on

Before you begin considering a new machine there are a few possible problems you can identify fairly easily.

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

Routine Dishwasher Faults That Will Prevent Your Machine From Starting

In advance of going through the following list of possible faults ensure that your dishwasher hasn’t been unplugged, plus that there are no tripped switches in the circuit breaker.

This is also an opportune moment to see if the child lock isn’t on as well as try resetting your dishwasher.

You will probably need the user guide for this due to the fact that machines vary however the child lock is often fairly easy to activate without meaning to. Likewise, if the machine has lights however will not start, the solution could be as simple as resetting the program.

When you have ruled out these issues you can start the real troubleshooting.

1. Check the door latch or door latch switch.
2. Check the timer.
3. Test the selector switch.
4. Examine the motor relay.
5. Check the thermal fuse.
6. Examine the drive motor.

To test these parts you will need a multimeter, or VOM (volt-ohm-milliammeter) to measure the resistance plus test the electrical components are working as they are meant to.

Testing the Door Latch and Door Latch Switch

The first place to start is the door latches and door latch switches. Your dishwasher is designed not to start if these are broken for obvious reasons. There’s no way you would want begin the machine without meaning to with the door open.

A faulty switch will stop your dishwasher from starting and completing a cycle. You may wish to test the switch with a multimeter. The switch is generally found under the front door panel or control panel.

Double check the dishwasher is disconnected prior to accessing the door panel and checking for continuity to prevent yourself from getting an electric shock.

If you discover the latches or switches are broken you will need a replacement door latch assembly.

Testing the Timer

If the door latch plus door latch switch, are working as they should the next thing to test is the timer or electronic control.

This is the part of the machine that distributes power to all the different components the machine requires to operate including the pumps, as well as the valves.

If your dishwasher is controlled electronically as opposed to mechanically then it might have to be tested while plugged in, 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 cycle , it’s style and location will vary depending on the make or model of your machine. A broken selector switch or even one that has not been fully depressed may result in the dishwasher not to run.

You can usually visually investigate to see if the buttons are going down all the way, or you could have to unplug the dishwasher and have a look at the control panel to test the connections for continuity with the help of a multimeter.

Checking the Motor Relay

The motor relay is an alternative component that may cause your dishwasher not to start, and this may be the fault if you have checked the control panel and know that there is power going to the main pump.

To test if this is the case you will have to gain access to the motor and find the relay that will usually be mounted next to the motor. This can then be removed as well as tested with the help of a multimeter and you may have to replace it.

Examining the Thermal Fuse

If you have tested the above issues but still haven’t found the fault the next part of the machine to test would be the thermal fuse. This may or may not be present and is designed to stop the control board overheating.

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

Examining the Drive Motor

The final component you can test that might prevent your dishwasher from running is the drive motor. This is the part of the machine that moves the water around to wash your dishes.

When you have checked the other components and still aren’t getting anywhere this might be the culprit particularly if you noticed a loud humming coming from the machine.

You can usually locate the motor by removing the lower access panel. Test it by using a multimeter then replace if not working.

When to Get in Touch With a Repair person

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 professional.

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. Yet if you are not confident it’s always better to call in the professionals. Click for availability from G&C.

And check your warranty as well as your home cover as appliance repairs may be covered and so the costs may not be as high as you think.