[ 2023 ] Dishwasher issue

[WinniWoman]

Our GE dishwasher is less than 4 years old. Came with our new house at the time. The past few months it would not come on when we pressed start. No lights. Nothing.

We’d check the breaker. It was ok. (except only one time it was in the off position. Baffling.) Then we’d flick it back and forth, hit start on the dishwasher, and sometimes that would do it and sometimes not. Got to the point we had to empty the dishwasher and wash the dishes by hand.

Got an idea and we unplugged the dishwasher and plugged it into a different outlet with an extension chord and voila! It worked! We figured it must be the breaker so hubby replaced it.

The dishwasher then worked, but then it didn’t the next time. But then it did.

So we used it about twice after that, then tonight I hit start and nothing! Hubby checked the breaker. It was on. He flicked it back and forth and then we hit start on the dishwasher and it’s worked again!

Does anyone have any insight as to whether this could be an electrical problem somehow or if it’s a dishwasher problem itself?

I had initially called a repairman and he was very nice but made it clear on the phone that he’s not an electrician. I cancelled the appt. after my husband replaced the breaker because we were sure that was it.

So not sure if I should call the repairman or not. If this is a control panel issue I’m sure it wouldn’t be worth fixing it. But the new dishwashers are so darn expensive these days!

 

[Luanne]

@WinniWoman New dishwashers are not only expensive, they are hard to get. We had to replace ours fairly recently. Went to Home Depot. The first three we were interested in were not available. We finally bought something they knew they had in stock.

But sorry, I can't help you with your issue. Ours was doing something weird like that. It would run, then it wouldn't.

 

[VacationForever]

I don't have an answer but do have a similar problem, although it is not happening as frequently as yours. Our built-in microwave will "short" sometimes if I hit stop before the timer is done, the light on the display is still on, showing time left to complete microwaving of the food, but no light inside the microwave and none of the controls would work. The circuit breaker is still in the on position but when I reset it by flicking it to off and back to on, the microwave oven would work again. It has happened 3 times since we bought our home almost 3 years ago.

 

[oceanblue2]

Try rebooting it by unplugging it and plugging it in again. We have to do that on occasion with ours. If you can't easily access the electrical outlet just flick the breaker as you have been doing. So much for high tech gadgets!

This happened to us with a brand new dishwasher several years ago. We called for service and when the tech came he was irritated that the call centre hadn't suggested that we try that before sending him out.

 

[Carolinian]

These new "smart" appliances are a dumb idea, but forced on us by government regulation that makes them both more expensive and more prone to break down. We are restoring an 1890 house that is adjacent to our home, and bought a dishwasher for it just before the latest round of regs on dishwashers. These things keep getting worse not better.

We found out we have a computer in our "smart" washing machine, which has already caused three repair calls. The repairman detailed how the current washing machines are more fragile than the older mechanical versions, and told us a local source of refurbished older mechanical machines.

 

[davidvel]

If it consistently works in the outlet via extension cord (not recommended for an appliance), it is most likely the outlet or wiring causing a short. This could be a dangerous situation.

 

[DaveNV]

Is the dishwasher on its own circuit, or is it on a combined "kitchen" circuit? If it's on its own circuit, and tripping the breaker resets it, does it still fail if you have it plugged in (via that risky extension cord) to a completely different circuit? If it fails that way, then the issue is the dishwasher. If it "never" fails when plugged into the different corcuit, the issue is the outlet or wiring connected to that outlet where the dishwasher is normally plugged in. It should be fairly easy to see where the trouble is.

If the dishwasher fails the same way no matter which circuit it's on, then the issue is the machine.

Dave

 

[WinniWoman]

Try rebooting it by unplugging it and plugging it in again. We have to do that on occasion with ours. If you can't easily access the electrical outlet just flick the breaker as you have been doing. So much for high tech gadgets!

This happened to us with a brand new dishwasher several years ago. We called for service and when the tech came he was irritated that the call centre hadn't suggested that we try that before sending him out.

Well as I wrote we’ve been doing that with the breaker, but it’s getting old fast. It only started doing this in the last few months. It’s under 4 years old. Never did this before.

 

[WinniWoman]

If it consistently works in the outlet via extension cord (not recommended for an appliance), it is most likely the outlet or wiring causing a short. This could be a dangerous situation.

We only used the extension cord one time to test it. The lights came on when we hit start but we didn’t run the dishwasher on that outlet with the extension chord.

 

[WinniWoman]

Is the dishwasher on its own circuit, or is it on a combined "kitchen" circuit? If it's on its own circuit, and tripping the breaker resets it, does it still fail if you have it plugged in (via that risky extension cord) to a completely different circuit? If it fails that way, then the issue is the dishwasher. If it "never" fails when plugged into the different corcuit, the issue is the outlet or wiring connected to that outlet where the dishwasher is normally plugged in. It should be fairly easy to see where the trouble is.

If the dishwasher fails te same way no matter which circuit it's on, then the issue is the machine.

Dave

It’s on its own circuit.

 

[easyrider]

Our GE dishwasher is less than 4 years old. Came with our new house at the time. The past few months it would not come on when we pressed start. No lights. Nothing.

We’d check the breaker. It was ok. (except only one time it was in the off position. Baffling.) Then we’d flick it back and forth, hit start on the dishwasher, and sometimes that would do it and sometimes not. Got to the point we had to empty the dishwasher and wash the dishes by hand.

Got an idea and we unplugged the dishwasher and plugged it into a different outlet with an extension chord and voila! It worked! We figured it must be the breaker so hubby replaced it.

The dishwasher then worked, but then it didn’t the next time. But then it did.

So we used it about twice after that, then tonight I hit start and nothing! Hubby checked the breaker. It was on. He flicked it back and forth and then we hit start on the dishwasher and it’s worked again!

Does anyone have any insight as to whether this could be an electrical problem somehow or if it’s a dishwasher problem itself?

I had initially called a repairman and he was very nice but made it clear on the phone that he’s not an electrician. I cancelled the appt. after my husband replaced the breaker because we were sure that was it.

So not sure if I should call the repairman or not. If this is a control panel issue I’m sure it wouldn’t be worth fixing it. But the new dishwashers are so darn expensive these days!

It might be that a wire nut came loose under the dishwashers electrical connection to the plug in cord. This would be where the cord connects to the dishwasher in a small box near the bottom front.

Bill

 

[DaveNV]

It’s on its own circuit.

And when you connect it via extension cord to a different circuit, it still fails? Then the problem is the dishwasher, and not the original outlet or breaker. Chances are, the controller board inside the dishwasher is failing. Coin toss between the cost to replace the board, or the dishwasher. Assuming you don't have an extended warranty, of course.

Dave

 

[artringwald]

How old is you kitchen? Do you have a ground fault outlet that's resetable with a button on the outlet? We have a heated bird bath. The cord is usually protected, but if it gets wet it can trip the ground circuit. We found out that all the wall outlets in the kitchen are on the same circuit as the outdoor outlet. If the bird bath trips the ground fault, the toaster won't work. It took us awhile to figure out that one.

 

[davidvel]

B

How old is you kitchen? Do you have a ground fault outlet that's resetable with a button on the outlet? We have a heated bird bath. The cord is usually protected, but if it gets wet it can trip the ground circuit. We found out that all the wall outlets in the kitchen are on the same circuit as the outdoor outlet. If the bird bath trips the ground fault, the toaster won't work. It took us awhile to figure out that one.

But she never mentioned resetting the GFCI to get it working again.

 

[WinniWoman]

And when you connect it via extension cord to a different circuit, it still fails? Then the problem is the dishwasher, and not the original outlet or breaker. Chances are, the controller board inside the dishwasher is failing. Coin toss between the cost to replace the board, or the dishwasher. Assuming you don't have an extended warranty, of course.

Dave

No. The one and only time we did that and pressed start the dishwasher lit up. That’s why we were sure it must be the breaker that connects to the original outlet.

I suppose we should test it with the extension chord again in an alternate outlet, but this time multiple times.

Will also try what Bill suggested.

For sure if it’s the dishwasher control board I wouldn’t fix it. No extended warranty.

But how would we even know if it is the control board. That’s the next million dollars question. Lol!

 

[davidvel]

We only used the extension cord one time to test it. The lights came on when we hit start but we didn’t run the dishwasher on that outlet with the extension chord.

I would try it with the extension cord for awhile to see if it continually works. That will narrow it down one way or the other .

 

[WinniWoman]

How old is you kitchen? Do you have a ground fault outlet that's resetable with a button on the outlet? We have a heated bird bath. The cord is usually protected, but if it gets wet it can trip the ground circuit. We found out that all the wall outlets in the kitchen are on the same circuit as the outdoor outlet. If the bird bath trips the ground fault, the toaster won't work. It took us awhile to figure out that one.

It’s a new house. Less than 4 years old.

 

[jacknsara]

Is the dishwasher on its own circuit, or is it on a combined "kitchen" circuit? If it's on its own circuit, and tripping the breaker resets it, does it still fail if you have it plugged in (via that risky extension cord) to a completely different circuit? If it fails that way, then the issue is the dishwasher. If it "never" fails when plugged into the different corcuit, the issue is the outlet or wiring connected to that outlet where the dishwasher is normally plugged in. It should be fairly easy to see where the trouble is.

If the dishwasher fails the same way no matter which circuit it's on, then the issue is the machine.

Dave

I am not a licensed electrician but used to do such work in an industrial setting and did my own work. It sounds like you have an intermittent open circuit that jostling is reclosing. If so, this is dangerous if not found and fixed. I once discovered this happening in my wife's parents' basement before we were married. The person they hired years prior to finish the basement had twisted wire connections together with no wire-nuts and covered it with electric tape. Over the years, the connection heated up enough to melt the wire insulation just enough to wick into the twisted wires and open the circuit. One day several rooms of their house went dark. They were lucky their house hadn't caught fire.
Given that jostling is reclosing the circuit, the first places to look are the connections within the outlet by the dishwasher or in your circuit breaker box.
Jack

 

[davidvel]

No. The one and only time we did that and pressed start the dishwasher lit up. That’s why we were sure it must be the breaker that connects to the original outlet.

I suppose we should test it with the extension chord again in an alternate outlet, but this time multiple times.

Will also try what Bill suggested.

For sure if it’s the dishwasher control board I wouldn’t fix it. No extended warranty.

But how would we even know if it is the control board. That’s the next million dollars question. Lol!

Yes, your description was that the problem was intermittent, which a single attempt wouldn't disclose.

 

[davidvel]

I am not a licensed electrician but used to do such work in an industrial setting and did my own work. It sounds like you have an intermittent open circuit that jostling is reclosing. If so, this is dangerous if not found and fixed. I once discovered this happening in my wife's parents' basement before we were married. The person they hired years prior to finish the basement had twisted wire connections together with no wire-nuts and covered it with electric tape. Over the years, the connection heated up enough to melt the wire insulation just enough to wick into the twisted wires and open the circuit. One day several rooms of their house went dark. They were lucky their house hadn't caught fire.
Given that jostling is reclosing the circuit, the first places to look are the connections within the outlet by the dishwasher or in your circuit breaker box.
Jack

Or the connection from the plug to dishwasher as Bill notes. I doubt it is anything in the circuit box.

 

[dioxide45]

Certainly check the electrical connection to the dishwasher. Be sure the breaker is off when you do this. As Bill mentioned, should be on the bottom behind the panel with a couple of those twist on wire connectors. If that doesn't work, you may want to try doing a YouTube search of the issue. Lots of videos out there on how to fix stuff. I saved probably a $500 or more repair on our dishwasher. I am sure a repair person would have said to replace it. We were gone for several weeks on travel, we returned and the dishwasher would come on, fill up but not wash the dishes. I determined that the circulation pump wasn't working. I watched a couple YouTube videos, took apart the insides and cleaned everything. It still didn't work. I then decided to just dump a jug of distilled white vinegar in the bottom and leave it overnight. Sure enough, the next day it was working again. I suspect the water sitting in the bottom while we were gone created a buildup of scale in the pump that the vinegar removed. While the YouTube videos didn't suggest this, they can sure help you save a bundle if you are in the least bit handy.

 

[Passepartout]

I think you need a new technician who is used to dealing with the complicated electronics in modern appliances. They should be able to check the various voltages on the board that controls the machine. The plumbing is but a small part in how modern dishwashers work.

Good Luck!

Jim

 

[SmithOp]

I agree with @jacknsara it sounds like faulty wiring or outlet on the dedicated dishwasher circuit, since you already replaced the breaker. Since your house is a recent construction it will be up to code that requires dedicated circuits for several of the kitchen appliances.

It should be easy to determine if it's the circuit or the dishwasher by using a short extension to a different outlet, the dedicated disposal outlet under the sink should be close by. Use a power tool extension, not those lightweight lamp cord extensions.

 

[WinniWoman]

Thanks everyone for your great suggestions! As Bill and others recommended Hubby did check the wires on the bottom of the dishwasher behind the panel and all was good with that. He also checked the main outlet once again and nothing funky there that he could see.

So next step should this keep occurring (which I’m sure it will because nothing has changed) will be to get the extension chord and plug it into another outlet for a week or so to see what occurs.

One thing I do know- after this if it is determined to be the dishwasher I’m going to try to get it repaired because the new dishwashers are so expensive. Worth it to have it checked at least.

 

[easyrider]

Thanks everyone for your great suggestions! As Bill and others recommended Hubby did check the wires on the bottom of the dishwasher behind the panel and all was good with that. He also checked the main outlet once again and nothing funky there that he could see.

So next step should this keep occurring (which I’m sure it will because nothing has changed) will be to get the extension chord and plug it into another outlet for a week or so to see what occurs.

One thing I do know- after this if it is determined to be the dishwasher I’m going to try to get it repaired because the new dishwashers are so expensive. Worth it to have it checked at least.

It could be a bad outlet. Turn off the breaker and pull the outlet out of the box. Some outlets have a wire push in connection and sometimes the wire isn't pushed in enough.

Bill