Why Won’t My Dishwasher Turn On?

Discovering your dishwasher has stopped working is never going to be the highlight your day, especially if you are also faced with the cost of phoning a professional and staying home to let them in just to diagnose the problem.

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

You could discover you can fix the problem quite easily yourself, particularly if you are quite handy, and if you can’t at least you will have a better idea of the problem when you eventually do phone a repair person.

What To Do If Your Dishwasher Won’t Turn on

Before you start considering a replacement dishwasher there are a few possible issues you should be able to troubleshoot fairly easily.

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

Commonplace Dishwasher Problems That Will Prevent Your Machine From Starting

Before you begin checking your machine for faults make sure that your machine hasn’t been inadvertently switched off, plus 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 for this as models are all different however the child lock tends to be quite simple to engage without meaning to. Likewise, if the machine has lights however will not start, the answer might be as simple as resetting the program.

When you have ruled out these issues it’s time for the real investigations to begin.

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

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

Checking the Door Latch and Door Latch Switch

The first place to start is the door latches and door latch switches. Your dishwasher is designed not to start if the door latches are faulty for understandable reasons. You wouldn’t want begin the dishwasher without meaning to with the door ajar.

A broken switch will prevent your machine from starting plus running. You may wish to test the switch with a multimeter. The switch is generally situated behind the front door panel or control panel.

Ensure you have disconnected power to the dishwasher prior to taking off the door panel and checking for continuity to ensure you do not get an electric shock.

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

Testing the Timer

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

This is the component that distributes electricity to all the other components the machine requires to run such as the pumps, as well as the valves.

If your machine has an electric control as opposed to a mechanical timer then it could have to be tested while plugged in, 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 selects the cycle , it’s style and location will vary contingent on the make and model of your dishwasher. A faulty selector switch or one that has got stuck could cause the dishwasher not to run.

You should be able to see if the buttons are depressing fully, or you may need to disconnect the machine in order to access the control panel to test the contact points for continuity using a multimeter.

Checking the Motor Relay

The motor relay is another part that can result in your dishwasher not running, and this might be the issue if you have tested the control panel and thus have ascertained that there should be power going to the main pump.

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

Testing the Thermal Fuse

Once you have investigated all the above but still haven’t found the issue the next component to test is the thermal fuse. Note: Not all machines have a thermal fuse.

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

Examining the Drive Motor

The final part of the machine you should be able to test that might prevent your machine from working is the drive motor. This is the part of the machine that circulates the water to wash your dishes.

Once you have tested the other components but still haven’t discovered the issue this could be the issue particularly if you noticed a loud humming coming from the machine.

You can usually locate the motor by removing the lower access panel. Test it using a multimeter and replace if broken.

When to Get in Touch With an Engineer

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

If you do have a multimeter and can perform the above checks then you may well be able to resolve the problem without needing a professional. Yet if you are con confident it might be easier to contact an engineer.

Plus examine your insurance as well as your home cover as dishwasher repairs could be covered and so the expense could not be as high as you think.