How to Repair a Dishwasher that Won't Start

When your dishwashing machine won’t start, you will need to repair the dishwasher at the earliest opportunity. Before you can fix the appliance, however, you need to establish why it won’t start and fix that specific problem. In many instances, you’ll be able to solve the problem yourself and repair the dishwasher without having to spend money on a professional plumber.

Step 1 - Check Power

If your dishwasher won’t start, the first thing to check is whether it’s receiving power. Make sure it’s plugged in and that the outlet is working (plug in another appliance to test the outlet). If it’s not, look at the circuit breaker or the fuses to make sure everything is on. If necessary, switch the circuit breaker back on or replace the fuse.

Step 2 - Door Switch

If the power is fine, the next thing to look at is the door switch. If this is broken or not operating properly, the dishwasher won’t start. Check to make sure the door switch is intact and moves smoothly. You will also need to check that it’s not stuck or snapped off. Replace if necessary.

Step 3 - Timer Assembly

With other things working, it may be necessary to look at the timer assembly to try and repair the dishwasher. It will either be behind the kickplate at the bottom of the dishwasher or in the control panel at the top. Before you investigate the timer assembly, unplug the dishwasher. You will need to test the timer motor. Depending on the model, it might have two of them with the second being a rapid advance motor. If you don’t know which motor controls what, test them both.

Two wires will connect to the motor housing. Remove them carefully, holding on to the connectors with your needle nose pliers. Now, set your ohmmeter to the Rx1000 setting. Use the probes on the terminals and check the reading; it should be in the range of 2000 ohms to 3500 ohms of resistance. If the reading you obtain is different, you’ll need to replace the motor. It can be easier and cheaper to just replace the motor to repair the dishwasher rather than replacing the entire timer assembly.

Step 4 - Cycle Selector Switch

If the timer motor is working, take a look at the cycle selector switch. There are 3 of them controlling the temperature of the water for washing and for drying purposes. If one of them isn’t working, the dishwasher won’t start.

Again, you’ll need to disconnect the wires from the switches by pulling on the connectors, not on the wires. Label each one so you can replace them properly after you repair the dishwasher. Touch the probes of the ohmmeter to the terminals of each switch to check if there’s any resistance. If the reading is zero or infinity, the switch will need to be replaced.

When you’ve replaced the parts that don’t work, reassemble the dishwasher and check again to make sure the wires are on the correct terminals. Plug the dishwasher back in and test to make sure the dishwasher will start.