Why Won’t My Dishwasher Turn On?

Discovering your dishwasher is broken is never going to be the highlight your day, particularly if you are also faced with the expense of calling out a repair person and staying home to meet them just to determine the issue.

The good news is it’s very feasible to diagnose and often fix plenty of dishwasher faults by yourself without having to call for dishwasher repair, especially if you own a multimeter.

You could realize you are able to fix the problem quite easily yourself, particularly if you are quite handy, and if not at worst you will have a better idea of the fault when you do call an engineer.

What To Do If Your Dishwasher Won’t Turn on

Before you start considering a new dishwasher there are a few possible issues you should be able to identify without too much trouble.

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

Common Dishwasher Problems That Will Prevent Your Machine From Turning On

Before you begin going through the following list of possible issues ensure that your machine hasn’t been inadvertently switched off, and that none of the switches on the circuit breaker have tripped.

This is also an opportune moment to see if the child lock hasn’t been activated plus try resetting your machine.

You will most likely require the manual to do this due to the fact that models are all different but the child lock tends to be quite simple to put on accidentally. Similarly, the dishwasher might have power however will not start, in this case the solution could be as simple as resetting the program.

When you have eliminated these faults you can start the real troubleshooting.

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

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

Checking the Door Latch as well as the Door Latch Switch

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

A broken switch will prevent your machine from turning on as well as running. You should check the switch with a multimeter. The switch is generally found under the front door panel or control panel.

Make sure the machine is disconnected prior to accessing 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.

Checking the Timer

If you have tested your door latch and door latch switch and discovered they are working correctly the next thing to test is the timer or electronic control.

This is the part of the machine that distributes power to all the other components the machine requires to operate such as the motor, plus the valves.

If your dishwasher is controlled electronically rather than mechanically then it might have to be checked while connected, 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 chooses the program , it’s style and location will vary depending on the make and model of your dishwasher. A faulty selector switch or even one that has not been fully depressed could cause the machine not to turn on.

You can usually visually investigate to see if the buttons are depressing fully, or you might have to disconnect the machine in order to gain access to the control panel to check the connections for continuity with the help of a multimeter.

Testing the Motor Relay

The motor relay is another part that may result in your machine not running, thus this could be the problem if you have checked the control panel and so have discovered that there is power running to the main pump.

To check this you need to gain access to the motor plus find the relay that will usually be located next to the motor. This could then be taken out as well as checked with a multimeter and you may have to replace it.

Checking the Thermal Fuse

Once you have tested the above issues yet still haven’t found the fault the next part to check is the thermal fuse. This will only be found on some models and is designed to protect the control board.

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

Checking the Drive Motor

The final part of the dishwasher you can test that could stop your machine from working is the drive motor. This is the part of the machine that moves the water around to wash your dishes.

Once you have checked the other parts but still haven’t discovered the issue this may be the issue especially if you noticed a loud humming coming from the machine.

You should be able to access the motor by taking off the lower access panel. Test it by using a multimeter then replace if broken.

When to Get in Touch With a Repair person

Not everyone has a multimeter, or would know how to use one even if they do, in which case you will need to call a professional.

If you do have a multimeter and can perform the above tests then you could well be able to fix the issue without needing a professional. Yet if you are not sure it might be easier to call in the professionals.

Don’t forget to examine your warranty as well as your home cover as dishwasher repairs might be covered meaning the costs could not be as high as you think.