Why doesn’t my dishwasher work at all?

WARNING!

To avoid personal injury or death, disconnect your appliance from its power source before you start any troubleshooting or repair work. Use caution when working inside any appliance.

Dishwasher Timer

If your dishwasher doesn't work at all, check the power supply, door latch switch, selector switch and timer, and the wiring. If your model has a child lock-out feature, verify that the feature is set to the Off position. Make sure cycle has ended. Make sure the Delay Start option is not set for a delayed start.

If you can, verify that you have power at the dishwasher. This might be difficult because many dishwashers are wired directly into the household wiring under the counter. Usually only the portable dishwashers get plugged into a wall outlet. You will also want to check your fuse box or circuit breaker panel for a blown fuse or tripped breaker.

The door latch switch is a safety switch that prevents the dishwasher from working if it is defective. When working properly, the switch doesn't allow power through it when the plunger is out, and it allows power when the plunger is in. If the plunger is broken or if the internal parts are not working properly, power is stopped at the switch and it needs to be replaced.

The timer and the selector switch are other possibilities. If one of these is defective, your dishwasher won’t operate normally, and the part will need to be replaced.

Running the dishwasher regularly may help prevent any seals from drying out and sticking. This includes the motor seals.

Visually inspect the wiring to see if any looks disconnected or burned. Repair or replace as necessary.

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Common Dishwasher Repair Problems and Solutions
1. Why does an error code display? 2. Why doesn't my dishwasher work at all? 3. Why are the dishes still dirty? 4. Should I pre-wash my dishes? 5. What's the best way to load the dishwasher? 6. Why aren't my dishes dry when the dishwasher finishes? 7. Why does the dishwasher seem like it is not advancing? 8. Why is there no water entering the dishwasher? 9. Is dishwasher detergent safe for my family? 10. Why doesn't the detergent cup open? 11. Why won't the dish water drain?		12. Why is my dishwasher leaking? 13. Why is there water dripping from a vent? 14. Why doesn't my dishwasher door close and latch? 15. How do I get the best cleaning from my dishwasher? 16. What should the water temperature be? 17. Why is my dishwasher beeping and lights blinking? 18. Why is the inside of my dishwasher discolored or stained? 19. Why does my dishwasher have an odor? 20. Why is my dishwasher filling with water when it is not being used? 21. Why is my dishwasher making noise? 22. How much and what kind of detergent should I use?		23. What can I do to get rid of spots on my glassware? 24. Why is my glassware scratched and cloudy looking? 25. Why do my racks roll in or out when the door is open? 26. What can I do to fix my rusty racks? 27. What do all the indicator lights mean? 28. Why do I smell plastic burning in my dishwasher? 29. What is the correct procedure for starting my dishwasher? 30. How do rinse aids work? 31. What is dishwasher salt? 32. Why aren't the sprayer arms turning? 33. Why is there still detergent in the dispenser when the dishwasher is done?

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