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

Discovering your dishwasher isn’t working is never going to be the best part of your day, particularly if you are also faced with the expense of phoning a repair person plus staying home to meet them just to determine the issue.

Fortunately it’s often easy to determine and often sort out plenty of dishwasher issues alone without needing to call for dishwasher repair, particularly if you happen to have a multimeter.

You might realize you can sort out the fault quite easily yourself, especially if you are mechanically minded, and if you can’t at least you will be better placed to describe the issue when you eventually do phone a repair man.

What To Do If Your Dishwasher Won’t Turn on

In advance of considering a new machine there are a number of possible problems you should be able to troubleshoot without too much trouble.

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

Everyday Dishwasher Problems That Will Prevent Your Machine From Starting

In advance of checking your machine for issues make sure that it hasn’t been unplugged, 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 often need the user manual to do this due to the fact that machines are all different but the child lock is usually quite easy to engage inadvertently. Likewise, if the machine has lights however will not run, the answer could be as simple as resetting the cycle.

When you have eliminated these problems you can start the real troubleshooting.

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

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

Examining 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 start if the door latches are not working for obvious reasons. You wouldn’t want start the machine without meaning to with the door open.

A faulty switch will prevent your dishwasher from starting plus operating. You should test the switch using a multimeter. The switch is generally found behind the front door panel or control panel.

Make sure you have disconnected power to the dishwasher before accessing the door panel as well as checking for continuity to prevent yourself from getting an electric shock.

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

Checking the Timer

If your latch mechanism is working as it should the next component to check is the timer or electronic control.

This is the component that sends power to all the other electrical components the machine needs to run including the pumps, as well as the water inlet valve.

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

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 broken selector switch or even one that has not been fully depressed may cause the machine not to run.

You can usually see if the buttons are going down all the way, or you may have to unplug the dishwasher in order to have a look at the control panel to check the connections for continuity using a multimeter.

Checking the Motor Relay

The motor relay is an alternative component that can cause your dishwasher not to start, thus this may be the problem if you have checked the control panel and so have ascertained that there is power running to the main pump.

To test this you need to locate the motor and locate the relay that should be mounted next to the motor. This may then be taken out plus tested with the help of a multimeter, if faulty you may have to replace it.

Testing the Thermal Fuse

If you have investigated the above issues but still haven’t found the problem the next part to test would be the thermal fuse. Note: Not all dishwashers have a thermal fuse.

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 part of the machine you can investigate that may stop your machine from running is the drive motor. This is the part of the machine that moves the water around to wash your dishes.

Once you have checked the other parts but still haven’t discovered the issue this may be the issue especially if you noticed a loud humming coming from the machine.

You can usually locate the motor by removing the panel at the bottom of the machine. Check it by using a multimeter then replace if broken.

When to Get in Touch With an Engineer

If you don’t have a multimeter or are not confident in taking panels off your dishwasher and testing the components then you will need to call an engineer.

If you are happy to perform the above troubleshooting then you could well be able to resolve the problem without assistance. Yet if you are con confident it might be easier to call in the professionals.

Don’t forget to have a look at your warranty and your home cover as appliance repairs may be included meaning the expense may not be as high as you think.