
Encountering dishwasher dilemmas like dishes refusing to dry or stubborn food residue can turn kitchen cleanup into a headache.
The most common reasons your Electrolux dishwasher is not starting are a defective electronic control board, damaged user interface control or a stripped wire connector.
50% of the time it's the Electronic Control Board
25% of the time it's the User Interface Control
8% of the time it's the Wire Connector
17% of the time it's the Something else
We can help! Our service technicians have repaired over 5,000 Electrolux dishwashers. We can fix yours no matter where you bought it.
When your dishwasher is not starting a cycle, a defective electronic control board could be causing the problem. The control board will freeze up and fail to start a cycle when its internal memory and logic is corrupted. A failed internal electronic relay or bad electronic part on the circuit board could be causing the control board to freeze up and not start a cycle. Determining whether a control board is defective is difficult. Have a Sears Home Services technician diagnose and repair your dishwasher when it won’t start a cycle.
When your dishwasher is not starting, a damaged user interface control could be causing the problem. The user interface control connects to the electronic control board through a wire harness and sends signals to the control board to help control the dishwashing cycle. A bad start key on the user interface control can prevent the dishwasher from beginning the cycle. Also, a stuck key on the user interface control can cause the electronic control board to stop all dishwasher operations and the dishwasher won’t work until the damaged user interface control is fixed. Have a Sears Home Services Repair Expert visit your home and replace the user interface control if it’s damaged.
When your dishwasher is not starting, a stripped wire connector between the user interface control and electronic control board could be causing the problem. The wire harness between the electronic control board and user interface control must also stay connected to keep the dishwasher working. The control board will stop the dishwasher and keep it from starting when that wire harness is damaged or disconnected. When your dishwasher isn’t working, have a Sears Home Services Repair Expert visit your home and fix the problem.
First, follow the tips in the owner’s manual for your dishwasher to find out why it won’t run a cycle.
If those basic troubleshooting tips don’t help, check for an item stuck underneath the mushroom float for the overfill switch. The dishwasher won’t start filling if that float is stuck in the up position.
Remove an item it you find it stuck underneath there.
Here’s a DIY troubleshooting video that provides additional expert tips on finding out why your dishwasher won’t start a cycle:
Following the steps in this diagnostic video may help you find and fix the cause of your dishwasher not starting the cycle.
A faulty door switch will keep the dishwasher from starting. If the door switch is stuck in the "open" position, the dishwasher won't start because it's waiting for you to shut the door—even if you did shut the door.
To test the door switch, check the resistance through the door switch with a multimeter. Disconnect electrical power to the dishwasher by shutting off the house circuit breaker or unplugging the dishwasher. Remove the Torx screws from the outer edges of the inner door panel. Support the outer door panel with one hand as you remove the final screws so it doesn't fall.
Separate the outer door panel and the control panel slightly from the inner door panel, and rest the outer panel on the floor while you disconnect the user interface control wire harness. Pull off the outer door panel and control panel.
Release the door latch assembly from the inner door panel and unplug the wire harness from the door switch. Carefully trip the door switch by pushing this lever, keeping your fingers away from the spring and latch. Press the door switch lever to simulate a closed door that's engaging the door switch.
With the multimeter set to check resistance, place a meter probe against each of the door switch prongs. You should measure near 0 ohms of resistance, or continuity, through a working door switch. If you measure infinite resistance, replace the door switch because it's defective.
If you measure continuity through the dishwasher door switch, it’s likely that a defective control board or a wiring failure elsewhere in the dishwasher is keeping the dishwasher from starting.
Schedule dishwasher repair service to have a Sears Home Services technician examine and repair your dishwasher.
Correcting most not starting problems usually involves replacing the electronic control board, user interface control or wire connector. However, there are many potential causes, so a thorough diagnosis is key to fixing the problem. An accurate diagnosis is essential to understanding how much the repair will be.
When the dishwasher is not starting it can be for many reasons. To avoid replacing unneeded parts we recommend having a Sears Home Services professional perform diagnostic tests to identify the root cause of the problem. Our technicians are experienced at diagnosing all types of dishwasher failures.
Diagnosing modern appliances without proper knowledge and training can be difficult. Without using proper diagnostic techniques, fixing your dishwasher problem will only be achieved through changing parts on a hunch. Appliances, especially in the last 10 years, have become extremely advanced, and many models have electronic parts that are difficult to test. DIY repairs on the latest appliance models are becoming increasingly difficult.
An Electrolux dishwasher that sits idle could have a broken door latch or misfiring control board. Without a proper launch, dishes stay dirty. Rather than playing guess-and-check, enlist a dishwasher repair service near me. Restoring the start function allows you to load up and let the machine handle the mess as intended.
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Thorough
James called to give an estimated arrival time. He was professional and personable. He had 2 professional ideas of the problem and found 1 was correct, but he didn't stop there. He did a thorough check of the appliance. 1 small part was needed. He ordered the part to my house. Fortunately, he was able to schedule for the next week, just before Thanksgiving. As before, he called ahead, arrived and quickly fixed the problem. My appliance is working perfectly.
Kirsten A, Oxford, PA
Service Call
Luke was great. Polite and knowledgeable even though the dishwasher was older than he!
James G, Hillsboro, MO
Daniel
Daniel went above and beyond to fix my dish washer. Very pleasant to deal with.
Paul F, Hghlnds Ranch, CO
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