Dishwasher Won't Turn On

When the dishwasher is fully loaded with dirty dishes and then won't start the cycle and has no sounds, water, or lights, check the following guide to get it running again.

Verify the electrical plug still connected, and that the plug isn’t wet. The GFCI outlet can be reset directly on the outlet in the event that it was tripped and no longer glowing. Test another device — like a lamp — in the outlet or test the garbage disposal in another outlet with an extension cord to verify the outlet isn’t the issue.

If the circuit breaker has tripped, your garbage disposal won’t turn on due to a lack of power. Find your breaker box and see if any of your kitchen switches are in the ‘off’ or half tripped position. Switch them off and on again.

The door must be latched during the entire cycle. A defective door latch assembly may prevent the dishwasher from running when the door opens. Inspect the latch for any broken pieces or debris where the door makes contact.

The electronic switch may have failed as well. In some cases, the microswitch can be tested and replaced independently of the assembly. Test for continuity by depressing the switch. A resistance value outside of 0-1Ω needs replacing.

If the door has trouble opening or closing, the door strike and hinge can be visually inspected. Inspect for bent door strike, or the door opening too quickly. Replace parts as necessary.

Some machines have a thermal fuse to prevent damage from overheating. The fuse may be located by the control board, tank, or bottom of the machine. Remove or isolate the fuse by removing electrical connectors, and then test for continuity. If continuity reads 0-1Ω it's fine. In the event that you must replace the fuse, it's worth checking the continuity of the thermostat and heating element since failure of these parts could blow the fuse. At room temperature, the thermostat located behind the machine should have a resistance value between 0-1Ω. The heating element at the bottom of the machine should have a value between 0-50Ω.

If the display or control panel is illuminated and the button presses aren't changing the display, the touchpad or control may be defective. You can try cleaning the ribbon connector with an eraser first, though either the touchpad or control panel may need to be replaced.

A new drain pump should only take a few minutes to remove all water from your dishwasher. Taking longer to remove the water or leaving standing water in the machine is a sign of a bad pump. Low humming, grinding, or squealing noises also point to a pump problem. Pumps can fail both electrically and mechanically. Some models of dishwashers may have separate pumps to drain and circulate the water, so check both pumps. These pumps are normally on the bottom of your dishwasher.

If your the dishwasher adds water, heats, and empties water but the dishes are not clean, then the circulation pump is likely the issue.

Let's listen to our dishwasher.

A loud buzzing noise indicates a blocked or dirty drain pump or wash pump. If the pump is jammed, remove the blockage. You may have to replace the drain pump if there are no blockages.

A squealing or droning suggests a failing wash pump. Search for blockages to the pump, and replace the wash pump.

A scraping sound suggests a damaged impeller or impeller fin scraping against the pump housing. The impeller is inside of the pump and is what moves the water through the system. Replacing the impeller instead of the whole pump may be possible. Inspect the impeller. If it's broken, replace it.

A worn drain pump may also have a hole, crack, or worn bearings causing a leak. Replace the drain pump in this case.

If none of the above tones are evident, then disconnect the drain pump from the system, and test its continuity. If the measured impedance in Ohm (Ω) between terminals is 15-40Ω, your drain pump is likely fine.

If the pump just hums when it should be running, the entire pump assembly might need to be replaced.

The control board is responsible for every dishwasher operation. Before replacing the entire control board, verify that the screen and touchpad are working. Check the board for signs of burning or shorted out components.

Like the control board, the timer may have failed and need replacing. Inspect the board for signs of burning or shorted out components.

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