Why Won’t My Dishwasher Turn On? | Perry Appliance Repair

Discovering your dishwasher is broken isn’t a good way to start 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 determine the fault.

Luckily it’s often easy to pinpoint and often resolve plenty of dishwasher problems by yourself without having to call for dishwasher repair, particularly if you have a multimeter.

You may realise you can sort out the issue quite easily yourself, especially if you are good at DIY, and if not at worst you will have a better idea of the fault when you do phone a repair man.

What To Do If Your Dishwasher Won’t Turn on

Before you start searching for a new machine there are a few common faults you can identify fairly easily.

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

Common Dishwasher Issues That Will Stop Your Dishwasher From Turning On

In advance of going through the following list of potential faults ensure that your dishwasher hasn’t been inadvertently unplugged, as well as that there are no tripped switches in the circuit breaker.

At this point you may wish to also check that the child lock isn’t on and try resetting your machine.

You will probably need the manual to do this as machines vary however the child lock is often quite easy to put on without meaning to. Likewise, the dishwasher might have power however will not start, in this case the solution could be as easy as resetting the cycle.

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

Have a look at the door latch or door latch switch.
Check the timer.
Examine the selector switch.
Check the motor relay.
Test the thermal fuse.
Check the drive motor.

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

Checking the Door Latch and Door Latch Switch

The first place to start is the door latches plus door latch switches. Your dishwasher is not designed to operate if these are not working for understandable reasons. There’s no way you would want begin the dishwasher without meaning to with the door open.

A faulty switch will stop your dishwasher from turning on as well as completing a cycle. You may wish to test the switch using a multimeter. The switch is generally found under the front door panel or control panel.

Double check the machine is disconnected before removing the door panel plus testing for continuity to ensure you do not get an electric shock.

If you discover the latches or switches are faulty you will need a replacement door latch assembly.

Checking the Timer

If you have tested your door latch plus door latch switch and ascertained they are working as they should the next thing to check is the timer or electronic control.

This is the part of the machine that distributes electricity to all the other components the machine needs to operate including the pumps, as well as the valves.

If your machine is controlled electronically as opposed to mechanically then it may have to be checked while live, in which case you should call a repair man.

Testing the Selector Switch

The selector switch is the component that selects the program and will vary contingent on the make or model of your machine. A not working selector switch or one that has got stuck could result in the dishwasher not to start.

You should be able to visually check to see if the buttons are depressing fully, or you may be required to unplug the machine and have a look at the control panel to test the connections for continuity with the help of a multimeter.

Testing the Motor Relay

The motor relay is an alternative component that could result in your dishwasher not running, so this might be the fault if you have tested the control panel and know that there should be power going to the main pump.

To investigate this you will have to find the motor as well as find the relay that should be located next to the motor. This may then be taken out as well as tested using a multimeter, if faulty it may need to be replaced.

Checking the Thermal Fuse

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

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

Examining the Drive Motor

The final component you could check that might prevent your machine from operating is the drive motor. This is the component that circulates the water to wash your dishes.

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

You can usually access the motor by removing the lower access panel. Test it with the help of a multimeter and replace if not working.

When to Get in Touch With a Repair person

If you don’t have a multimeter or are not confident in taking panels off your dishwasher and checking the components then you will be better off calling a repair person sooner rather than later.

If you are happy to undertake the above troubleshooting then you could well be able to resolve the problem without needing a professional. But if you are not sure it might be easier to contact an engineer.

And have a look at your insurance as well as your home cover as appliance repairs might be included meaning the costs could be less than you were expecting.