3 Things You Can Do If Your Dishwasher Will Not Start

Posted on: 10 July 2020

You have your dishwasher loaded to the brim with dishes, filled up with soap, and ready to go. However, when you close the door and press the buttons to start the washing cycle, nothing happens. If your dishwasher isn't starting, there are a few things you need to check. 

Check the Door Latch

The first thing you are going to want to do is to check the door latch. If the door latch is not working properly, your dishwasher is not going to run. Your dishwasher is designed to only work once the door is firmly latched shut.

You are going to want to turn off your dishwasher. Then, you will need to take off the inner door panel so you can access the door latch assembly on the top of the dishwasher. Take the door catch and make sure it latches onto the door latch assembly.

You can use a multimeter to check the door latch to make sure the terminals are working correctly. The terminals should create a reading of zero or nearly zero if the electrical components on the dishwasher are working properly.

Check the Timer

If the door is latching properly, the timer for the dishwasher may not be working correctly. When you turn on your dishwasher, a drain motor should start running in order to remove any water on the bottom of the dishwasher.

If you don't hear the drain motor running, you are going to want to check the timer for your dishwasher, which may not be working properly. The timer is located in the control panel. You need to find out what wires control the timer. 

You want to take a multimeter and set it to Rx1000 and test the wires that control the timer. If the timer is working, you should get a reading of around 2000 to 3500 ohms. If you get a lower reading, the timer needs to be replaced.

Check the Main Pump Motor

The main pump motor may not be working correctly. You are going to need to access the motor start relay inside of your dishwasher. You are going to want to test the wires for the motor with your multimeter when it is set to Rx1. If the motor is working correctly, you should get a reading of zero. If you don't get a reading of near zero, you will need to replace the main motor pump.

If you can't get your dishwasher to start up again, give your local appliance repair technician a call. They will be able to easily troubleshoot the issue, and provide you with a quote for repairs. If you agree with the quote, they will quickly repair your dishwasher and get it working again.

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