Dishwasher Won’t Start

Fixing A Dishwasher That Won’t Start

When a dishwasher doesn’t start, you will find it the most frustrating thing to ever occur in the kitchen. A serviceman will also come at a price you had probably not budgeted for, and it may force you to do the repairs yourself. In this article, you will find the most common parts used to fix a dishwasher that will not function properly. The information will play a vital role in assisting you in knowing how to fix the dysfunctional part of the dishwasher. At the same time, remember that dishwasher repair is fundamental to prevent further destruction.

In case a dishwasher is not starting, the problem could be the switches or door latch. The door latch is assembled to close the door tightly during circulation to prevent water spillage. If it’s proving difficult for the door to close, it will be impossible for the dishwasher controls to receive power; hence, the washer will not start. This is a sign that the latch assembly, such as the switches, needs to be inspected, as they could be defective.

Note that the door latch is found behind the inner door panel

Steps for opening the door latch

1. Remove the screws used for securing the inner door panel
2. Separate the outer and inner door
3. Since the door latch has two switches wired in a series, activate the switches by manually putting the catch into the latch assembly.
4. If both switches are working, remove power from the appliance, then commence the repairs.

Check the timer or electronic control after the door latch starts functioning properly and the dishwasher fails. The first step when using a dishwasher is removing stagnant water in the tub. If the drain pump motor is not producing sound when running, check the timer to ascertain it is not the cause. The timer uses some electrical contacts that are motioned by a small motor, all inside the timer housing. The timer contacts should also be examined to determine which contacts control the inlet valve circuits. Always switch off power from the appliances before embarking on these repairs. This is a live voltage check that only an expert should carry out.

A selector switch is used to determine the removal of hot or cold water as per the preference of the person washing the dishes. This switch sometimes causes the dishwasher not to start if it is defective. Ensure the switch is properly depressed before starting disassembling. With the competition in this industry, many dishwasher models have come up, and some use a starter relay on the main pump. Sometimes, it could be the reason a dishwasher is not starting. Therefore, you can manually activate it for continuity by turning it upside down and allowing the plunger to drop.

Among other things that could cause the dishwasher not to start are a thermal fuse and a drive motor. After identifying most of the things that could cause a dishwasher to malfunction, you will figure out the nature of the repair required. And please read our last article about what to do if the dishwasher won’t turn on.