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Frigidaire dishwasher won't start cycle
Common reasons your Frigidaire dishwasher won't start cycle
The most common reasons your Frigidaire dishwasher won't start a cycle are a defective electronic control board, damaged power supply board or a failed door switch.
31% of the time it's the Electronic Control Board
17% of the time it's the Power Supply Board
16% of the time it's the Door Switch
36% of the time it's the Something else
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Most common repairs needed to fix a Frigidaire dishwasher
Electronic Control Board Replacement
When your dishwasher won’t start 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.
Power Supply Board Replacement
A damaged power supply board could be causing the problem when your dishwasher won’t start a cycle. The power supply board provides the electrical current needed to operate components such as the fill valve and pumps in the dishwasher. A damaged power supply board won’t provide power to components to operate the dishwasher. When your dishwasher won’t start a cycle, have a Sears Home Services Technician check the power supply board and replace it if it’s damaged.
Door Switch Replacement
When the dishwasher won’t start a cycle, a failed door switch may not be detecting that the dishwasher door is shut. Microswitches in the door switch assembly can break or short out. If the control doesn’t detect that the dishwasher door is closed, the dishwasher will not fill with water and start washing. Because the door switch is hard to access and test, have a Sears Home Services Professional visit your home and repair your dishwasher when you suspect that the door switch failed.
Why won't my Frigidaire dishwasher run a cycle?
First, follow the tips in the owner’s manual for your Frigidaire 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 Frigidaire dishwasher won’t start a cycle:
Test the dishwasher door switch
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.
Other causes for your Frigidaire dishwasher not starting a cycle
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 Frigidaire dishwasher.
What to expect when you experience a Frigidaire dishwasher won't start a cycle issue
How is the won't start a cycle problem fixed?
Correcting most won't start a cycle problems usually involves replacing the electronic control board, power supply board or door switch. 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.
Sears Home Services recommendations for a dishwasher that won't start cycle
When the dishwasher won't start a cycle 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.
What to look out for with a dishwasher won't start a cycle diagnosis
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.
A Frigidaire dishwasher stuck on standby mode may have a faulty door switch or an unresponsive control board. This prevents the wash from beginning, leaving dishes uncleaned. Rather than wasting time on repeated resets, find a dishwasher fix near me. Getting the cycle to start properly restores your easy dish-cleaning routine.
What our customers say about us
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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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Repair Dishwasher Resources
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If the dishes in your dishwasher are no longer getting clean, it could be the spray arm is clogged.
Glossary Terms
A dishwasher impeller is a rotating component within the dishwasher's pump that circulates water throughout the unit during a wash cycle, ensuring efficient cleaning by spraying water at high pressure.
A dishwasher sump is located at the bottom of the dishwasher, serving as a collection point for water during the wash cycle. It houses the main pump and filter, facilitating the recirculation and drainage of water, essential for the cleaning process.
A dishwasher turbidity sensor is an advanced feature that measures the level of food particles and debris in the water, allowing the dishwasher to adjust the wash cycle length and water usage for optimal cleaning efficiency.
Hard water is water that contains high levels of dissolved minerals, particularly calcium and magnesium. It contrasts with soft water, which has lower concentrations of these minerals.