Why Won’t My Dishwasher Turn On?

Discovering your dishwasher has stopped working isn’t a great way to start your day, particularly if you are also faced with the cost of phoning a professional as well as staying home to let them in just to pinpoint the issue.

Fortunately it’s often easy to determine and even resolve many dishwasher issues yourself without having to call for dishwasher repair, especially if you have a multimeter.

You may find you can sort out the fault quite easily alone, particularly if you are quite handy, and if not at worst you will have a better idea of the fault when you do call a repair man.

Things To Do If Your Dishwasher Won’t Turn on

Before you begin looking for a new machine there are a few possible faults you should be able to identify fairly easily.

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

Commonplace Dishwasher Faults That Will Prevent Your Machine From Turning On

In advance of investigating your machine for issues make sure that it hasn’t been accidentally unplugged, as well as that there are no tripped switches in the circuit breaker.

At this point you should also check that the child lock hasn’t been activated as well as try resetting your dishwasher.

You will probably require the manual to do this as machines are all different however the child lock tends to be quite simple to engage inadvertently. Likewise, the dishwasher could have power however will not start, in this case the solution may be as easy as resetting the cycle.

When you have ruled out these faults it’s time for the real troubleshooting to start.

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

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

Checking the Door Latch as well as the Door Latch Switch

The first thing to test is the door latches as well as door latch switches. Your dishwasher is not designed to operate if these are broken for obvious reasons. There’s no way you would want to be able to accidentally run the machine with the door not closed.

A defective switch will prevent your dishwasher from starting as well as running. You should test the switch using a multimeter. The switch is generally situated under the front door panel or control panel.

Make sure you have disconnected power to the machine before taking off the door panel and checking for continuity to prevent yourself from getting an electric shock.

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

Checking the Timer

If your latch mechanism is operating as it should the next component to test is the timer or electronic control.

This is the component that distributes power to all the different electrical components the machine needs to run including the motor, as well as the water inlet valve.

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

Checking the Selector Switch

The selector switch is the part of the dishwasher that chooses the program and will vary contingent on the make or model of your dishwasher. A faulty selector switch or one that has got stuck might result in the dishwasher not to run.

You can usually see if the buttons are going down all the way, or you might need to unplug the dishwasher in order to gain access to the control panel to check the contact points for continuity using a multimeter.

Testing the Motor Relay

The motor relay is an alternative component that may cause your machine not to start, thus this may be the problem if you have tested the control panel and so know that there should be power running to the motor.

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

Testing the Thermal Fuse

If you have investigated the above issues yet still haven’t found the issue the next part of the dishwasher to test would be the thermal fuse. This may or may not be present and is designed to stop the control board overheating.

If you locate the fuse and discover it 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 dishwasher you should be able to investigate that might prevent your machine from running is the drive motor. This is the component that moves the water around to wash your dishes.

Once you have tested the other electrical components but still haven’t discovered the issue this may be the issue particularly if your machine has previously been making a loud humming noise.

You should be able to access the motor by taking off the panel at the bottom of the machine. Test it by using a multimeter and replace if broken.

When to Contact a Professional

Not everyone has a multimeter, or would know how to use one even if they do, in which case you will be better off calling an engineer.

If you do have a multimeter and can perform the above tests then you may well be able to sort out the problem without assistance. However if you are not sure it’s always better to contact an engineer.

Plus examine your warranty plus your home cover as dishwasher repairs may be included which means the expense could be less than you were expecting.