Discovering your dishwasher is broken isn’t a great way to start your day, particularly if you are also faced with the cost of phoning a repair person plus taking time off work to let them in just to pinpoint the fault.
The good news is it’s possible to pinpoint and often resolve many machine problems by yourself without having to call for dishwasher repair, especially if you have a multimeter.
You might find you can sort out the problem quite easily alone, particularly if you are quite handy, and if you can’t at least you will be better placed to describe the issue when you eventually do phone a repair man.
Before you start searching for a new machine there are a few possible issues you can identify without too much issue.
Safety Warning: Never attempt repairs while your dishwasher is plugged in.
Before you start going through the following list of possible faults make sure that your dishwasher hasn’t been inadvertently unplugged, and that none of the switches on the circuit breaker have tripped.
At this point you can also check that the child lock hasn’t been activated plus try resetting your machine.
You will probably require the user guide to do this as machines vary but the child lock tends to be fairly easy to engage accidentally. Likewise, the dishwasher might have lights however will not start, in this case the solution could be as easy as resetting the program.
Once you have ruled out these issues it’s time for the real troubleshooting to start.
To test these parts you will need a multimeter, or VOM (volt-ohm-milliammeter) to measure the resistance plus test the electrical components are working as they should.
The first thing to check is the door latches and 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 ajar.
A defective switch will stop your machine from starting as well as running. You may wish to check the switch using a multimeter. The switch will usually be found under the front door panel or control panel.
Ensure you have disconnected power to the machine before accessing the door panel as well as checking for continuity to ensure you do not get an electric shock.
If you discover the latches or switches are not working you will need to replace them.
If the door latch as well as door latch switch, are working as they are meant to the next thing to check is the timer or electronic control.
This is the part of the machine that sends power to all the other electrical components the machine requires to run such as the pumps, and the water inlet valve.
If your dishwasher is controlled electronically as opposed to mechanically then it could need to be checked while live, this can be dangerous and should only be done by someone who is professionally trained.
This is the part of your machine that selects the cycle , it’s style and location will vary depending on the make as well as the model of your machine. A faulty selector switch or even one that has not been fully pressed down may cause the machine not to turn on.
You can usually visually investigate to see if the buttons are going down all the way, or you may need to unplug the dishwasher in order to access the control panel to check the connections for continuity using a multimeter.
The motor relay is another component that can cause your dishwasher not to run, thus this might be the fault if you have tested the control panel and so have discovered that there is power going to the main pump.
To test if this is the case you will have to gain access to the motor plus locate the relay that should be located next to the motor. This may then be removed and checked with a multimeter, if broken it could have to be replaced.
Once you have tested the above issues and are yet to find the fault the next part to test is the thermal fuse. This will only be found on some models and is there to protect the control board.
If you will need to replace it in order to restore power to the control board.
The final component you could check that might stop your machine from running is the drive motor. This is the part of the machine that moves the water around to wash your dishes.
When you have checked the other parts and still haven’t discovered the issue this might be the culprit especially if you noticed a loud humming coming from the machine.
You can usually gain access to the motor by taking off the panel at the bottom of the machine. Check it using a multimeter then replace if broken.
If you don’t have a multimeter and are not confident in taking panels off your dishwasher and testing the electrical components then you will need to call an engineer.
If you are happy to undertake the above troubleshooting then you may well be able to fix the fault without needing a professional. But if you are unsure it might be easier to call in the professionals.
Plus have a look at your insurance as well as your home cover as appliance repairs may be covered and so the expense could be less than you were expecting.
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