The dishwasher, like all appliances, can malfunction. Some breakdowns can be resolved easily by your own efforts, others require a visit to a service center.   If the dishwasher won’t start, first carry out a diagnostic check:   Visual inspection – note the integrity of the cables and plugs. Make sure that the cord is plugged into the appliance and that the plug fits snugly into the socket.   Check the power supply – there is often insufficient voltage at the sockets to operate the appliance. Voltage fluctuations occur because of heavy loads on the power grid from appliances or because of faulty wiring. You can check this with a multimeter.   The door is not closed properly. The water tap is blocked. If the machine is equipped with a self-diagnosis function, use it. The software will perform a test and detect faults if any are present.  

Causes for the dishwasher not to switch on

1. the power cable is damaged

Use a multimeter that has been set to ohmmeter mode to perform a diagnosis. Connect the probe of the multimeter to the damaged area and read the reading. If the dishwasher does not switch on due to a burnt-out cable, it must be replaced with a new one.  

2. The fuse is blown

The circulation pump of the machine is fitted with fuses. To check these parts, you will need to disassemble the dishwasher. Measure the resistance of the fuses. If necessary, the old parts are replaced with identical new ones.  

3. Broken door lock

If this is the case, the door simply stops closing. This fault can be rectified by a service technician. Trying to replace the defective lock yourself is not advisable.  

4. The “Start” button does not work

In this case, the key may either fall in or out. The key will need to be replaced with a new one. You may be able to carry out this repair yourself.  

5. The program unit is defective

If the machine draws water but no program starts, the program unit may be defective. It is very expensive to replace or repair. In addition, it is not possible to replace a part of the program block.  

6. The motor and the relay have burned out

If the relay has burned out, the dishwasher is quiet but does not run. If the motor has burned out, the dishwasher will not start at all. The parts are checked for electrical continuity. If they are found to be faulty, they are very expensive to replace. It is better in this case to buy a new dishwasher.  

7. The leakage protection system has been triggered

Any dishwasher has a drip tray leakage protection system. The system is in the form of a drip tray with a float sensor that monitors the dishwasher’s watertight casing. If the cabinet is leaking, water flows into the drip tray and the float soon floats up. At this point, the inflow of water into the machine is blocked. In this case, the dishwasher stops working until the fault is completely rectified. In this case, you would also have to look for the place of the leak.  

8. The circulation pump has malfunctioned

This part is responsible for heating the water. If the pump is damaged, the dishwasher will not start as there is nothing to heat the water. Check the pump with a multimeter. To do this, the underside of the dishwasher is disassembled and the old part is replaced with a new one. Service technicians can carry out these operations.   Modern dishwashers are “smart” machines, so if a malfunction occurs, they activate the safety mechanisms which prevent them from working. There are lots of causes for these malfunctions – dirty filters, heating element breakage, and so on. It’s not always the case that a malfunctioning dishwasher results in a costly repair.   If a self-test of the dishwasher did not help to identify the problem, contact a service center. The appliance repair service in San Diego County will respond quickly to your request and fix the problem   Contact us (619) 719-5005 [email protected]