Why Won’t My Dishwasher Turn On?

Discovering your dishwasher is broken isn’t a great way to start your day, particularly if you are also faced with the cost of phoning a repair person as well as staying home to let them in just to determine the issue.

Fortunately it’s very feasible to diagnose and often resolve a number of machine issues by yourself without having to call for dishwasher repair, particularly if you have a multimeter.

You might realize you are able to fix the issue quite easily by yourself, especially if you are good at DIY, and if not at worst you will be better placed to describe the issue when you eventually do phone an engineer.

What To Do If Your Dishwasher Won’t Turn on

In advance of searching for a replacement machine there are a number of possible faults you can troubleshoot without too much issue.

Safety Warning: Always make sure your dishwasher is unplugged before testing or replacing any electrical components.

Common Dishwasher Issues That Will Prevent Your Machine From Turning On

In advance of going through the following list of possible issues ensure that it hasn’t been 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 hasn’t been activated as well as try resetting your machine.

You will often require the user manual to do this due to the fact that machines are all different but the child lock is usually quite easy to put on accidentally. Similarly, if the dishwasher has lights however will not run, the solution may be as easy as resetting the program.

When you have eliminated these issues it’s time for the real detective work to start.

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

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

Testing the Door Latch as well as the Door Latch Switch

The initial thing to check is the door latches and door latch switches. Your machine is designed not to run if these are broken for understandable reasons. You wouldn’t want begin the dishwasher without meaning to with the door open.

A defective switch will stop your dishwasher from starting and completing a cycle. You can check the switch with a multimeter. The switch is generally located under the front door panel or control panel.

Make sure the dishwasher is disconnected before removing 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 to replace them.

Testing the Timer

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

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

If your machine is controlled electronically as opposed to mechanically then it might have to be checked while connected, in which case you should call a repair person.

Checking the Selector Switch

The selector switch is the component that chooses the cycle , it’s style and location will vary contingent on the make and model of your dishwasher. A faulty selector switch or even one that has not been fully pressed down may cause the machine not to start.

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

Checking the Motor Relay

The motor relay is another part that could result in your machine not starting, so this might be the issue if you have tested the control panel and have discovered that there should be power going to the main pump.

To investigate this you need to locate the motor as well as find the relay that should be located next to the motor. This can then be taken out as well as checked with the help of a multimeter and it could need to be replaced.

Examining the Thermal Fuse

Once you have tested the above issues and are still looking for the fault the next component to check is the thermal fuse. This may or may not be present and is there to stop the control board overheating.

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

Checking the Drive Motor

The final component you should be able to test that could prevent your dishwasher from working is the drive motor. This is the component that circulates the water to wash your dishes.

When you have checked the other electrical components but still aren’t getting anywhere this could be the cause of the problem particularly if you noticed a loud humming coming from the machine.

You can usually gain access to the motor by removing the lower access panel. Check it by using a multimeter then replace if broken.

When to Get in Touch With a Repair person

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

If you are happy to perform the above checks then you might well be able to sort out the problem without assistance. Yet if you are unsure it might be easier to contact an engineer.

Plus have a look at your warranty plus your home cover as dishwasher repairs could be covered meaning the expense may be less than you were expecting.