Why Won’t My Dishwasher Turn On?

Discovering your dishwasher isn’t working isn’t a fun way to start your day, especially if you have to deal with the expense of phoning a professional and staying home to let them in just to determine the fault.

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

You could realize you are able to fix the fault quite easily alone, especially if you are good at DIY, and if you can’t at worst you will have a better idea of the fault when you eventually do call a repair man.

What To Do If Your Dishwasher Won’t Turn on

In advance of searching for a new machine there are a number of simple faults you should be able to troubleshoot fairly easily.

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

Everyday Dishwasher Problems That Will Prevent Your Dishwasher From Starting

Before you start checking your machine for faults make sure that your dishwasher hasn’t been accidentally unplugged, and 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 most likely require the user manual for this due to the fact that machines vary however the child lock tends to be fairly simple to engage accidentally. Similarly, if the machine has lights however will not run, the solution may be as easy as resetting the cycle.

Once you have ruled out these problems it’s time for the real troubleshooting to begin.

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

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

Testing the Door Latch and Door Latch Switch

The initial thing to check is the door latches as well as door latch switches. Your machine is designed not to run if the door latches are faulty for obvious reasons. There’s no way you would want to be able to accidentally begin the machine with the door not closed.

A broken switch will stop your machine from starting plus running. You may wish to check the switch with a multimeter. The switch will usually be found under the front door panel or control panel.

Ensure you have disconnected power to the machine prior to removing the door panel and testing for continuity to make sure you do not get an electric shock.

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

Testing the Timer

If you have tested your door latch as well as door latch switch and discovered they are operating correctly the next thing to check is the timer or electronic control.

This is the component that distributes power to all the different electrical components the machine needs to run such as the pumps, as well as the valves.

If your dishwasher has an electronic control as opposed to a mechanical timer then it may need to be checked 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 and will vary depending on the make or model of your dishwasher. A broken selector switch or one that has got stuck might result in the machine not to start.

You should be able to visually investigate to see if the buttons are going down all the way, or you may have to unplug the machine and have a look at the control panel to check the connections for continuity with the help of a multimeter.

Checking the Motor Relay

The motor relay is another component that can result in your dishwasher not starting, so this could be the problem if you have tested the control panel and thus have discovered that there should be power going to the main pump.

To investigate if this is the case you need to gain access to the motor and locate the relay that should be located next to the motor. This can then be removed as well as tested with a multimeter, if faulty you may have to replace it.

Testing the Thermal Fuse

If you have investigated all the above yet still haven’t found the fault the next component to test would be the thermal fuse. Note: Not all machines have a thermal fuse.

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

Testing the Drive Motor

The final component you can investigate that might prevent your machine from operating is the drive motor. This is the component that circulates the water to wash your dishes.

If you have checked the other electrical components but still haven’t discovered the issue this could be the cause of the problem particularly if your machine has previously been making a loud humming noise.

You can usually gain access to the motor by taking off the lower access panel. Test it by using a multimeter and replace if not working.

When to Contact a Repair person

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

If you are happy to undertake the above troubleshooting then you might well be able to fix the issue without assistance. But if you are unsure it’s always better to call in the professionals.

And examine your warranty as well as your home cover as appliance repairs might be covered meaning the costs could be less than you were expecting.