Why Won’t My Dishwasher Turn On?

Discovering your dishwasher has stopped working isn’t a good way to begin your day, particularly if you have to deal with the expense of phoning a professional as well as staying home to let them in just to pinpoint the problem.

The good news is it’s possible to pinpoint and often fix plenty of dishwasher problems yourself without needing to call for dishwasher repair, especially if you own a multimeter.

You might realize you can sort out the issue quite easily alone, especially if you are good at DIY, and if not at worst you will have a better idea of the fault when you do have to phone an engineer.

Things To Do If Your Dishwasher Won’t Turn on

In advance of considering a replacement dishwasher there are a few simple problems you can troubleshoot fairly easily.

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

Routine Dishwasher Faults That Will Stop Your Dishwasher From Turning On

In advance of investigating your machine for problems ensure that it hasn’t been inadvertently unplugged, as well as that none of the switches on the circuit breaker have tripped.

At this point you can also check that the child lock hasn’t been activated and try resetting your dishwasher.

You will often need the user guide for this as models vary but the child lock tends to be quite simple to engage inadvertently. Similarly, if the machine has lights but will not run, the answer might be as simple as resetting the cycle.

Once you have eliminated these issues you can start the real troubleshooting.

Investigate the door latch or door latch switch.
Examine the timer.
Check the selector switch.
Examine the motor relay.
Check the thermal fuse.
Test the drive motor.

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

Checking the Door Latch as well as the Door Latch Switch

The initial thing to check is the door latches as well as door latch switches. Your machine is not designed to run if these are not working for obvious reasons. You wouldn’t want to be able to accidentally start the dishwasher with the door not closed.

A broken switch will prevent your machine from starting plus operating. You can check the switch using a multimeter. The switch is generally found under the front door panel or control panel.

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

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

Testing the Timer

If the door latch as well as door latch switch, are working as they are meant to the next component to check is the timer or electronic control.

This is the component that distributes power to all the other parts the machine requires to operate including the pumps, plus the valves.

If your machine has an electric control rather than a mechanical timer then it may need to be tested while live, this can be dangerous and should only be done by someone who is professionally trained.

Checking the Selector Switch

The selector switch is the part of the machine that selects the cycle and will vary depending on the make or model of your machine. A faulty selector switch or even one that has not been fully depressed might result in the dishwasher not to run.

You should be able to see if the buttons are depressing fully, or you could need to disconnect the machine in order to gain access to the control panel to check the contact points for continuity with the help of a multimeter.

Checking the Motor Relay

The motor relay is another component that could cause your dishwasher not to run, so this might be the problem if you have tested the control panel and thus have discovered that there should be power running to the main pump.

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

Testing the Thermal Fuse

Once you have investigated the above issues but still haven’t found the problem the next part of the machine to check is the thermal fuse. This may or may not be present and is designed to stop the control board overheating.

If you locate the fuse and discover it is blown you will need to replace it in order for the control board to get power.

Testing the Drive Motor

The final part of the machine you should be able to investigate that may prevent your dishwasher from working 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 but still haven’t discovered the issue this may be the issue particularly if you noticed a loud humming coming from the machine.

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

When to Contact a Repair person

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

If you are happy to undertake the above troubleshooting then you might well be able to sort out the issue without assistance. Yet if you are con confident it might be easier to contact an engineer.

Don’t forget to check your insurance as well as your home cover as dishwasher repairs might be included and so the expense might not be as high as you think.

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