A guide · Editorially reviewed

Dishwasher won’t start

A dishwasher may not start because of power, door latch, controls, delay settings or a water-supply problem.

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What changes the diagnosis here

Confirm the door latch and control state before internal testing.

Confirm the door latch and control state before internal testing.

Free and low-risk checks first

What to check next

General problem order
1

Verify power and control state

Check power, delay, control lock and the documented reset.

How to check it safely
  1. Check the breaker once.
  2. Cancel delay and control lock.
  3. Close the door and hold Start as documented.
  4. Perform a power reset.

Why it helps: Control state is a fast no-part check.

$0–$05–15 minEasyLow
2

Inspect the door latch

Check that the door closes squarely and the latch is unobstructed.

How to check it safely
  1. Disconnect power.
  2. Remove debris.
  3. Check rack loading does not hold the door open.
  4. Do not bypass the latch.

Why it helps: A missing closed-door signal prevents a cycle.

$0–$17015–50 minModerateLow
3

Confirm water supply

Check the shutoff valve and inlet hose.

How to check it safely
  1. Open the supply valve.
  2. Inspect the hose for kinks.
  3. Look for a fill error after starting.

Why it helps: Some apparent no-start conditions are actually no-fill conditions.

$0–$1010–20 minEasyLow
4

Professional control and wiring diagnosis

Have the latch circuit, control and power path tested.

How to check it safely
  1. Record lights and codes.
  2. Stop if the breaker trips.
  3. Avoid speculative board replacement.

Why it helps: Electrical diagnosis should follow basic power and latch checks.

$130–$52060–120 minAdvancedPro only
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What matched FixEvidence outcomes show

No matched outcome sample yet

This page is currently based on reviewed diagnostic guidance and applicable rules. No moderated outcome matches this page closely enough to publish a rate.

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Is another repair worth it?

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Next relevant paths

Related diagnosis guides

Frequently asked questions

Should I replace a part based only on an error code?

No. A code identifies a detected condition, not necessarily the failed component. Rule out safe, inexpensive causes and confirm the exact model.

Why ask what I already tried?

The best next action changes when earlier checks fail. The engine removes repeated actions and applies prerequisite rules before ranking what remains.

Are success rates verified?

Every rate shows its denominator. Photo, receipt, invoice, technician and follow-up verification remain separate signals; none converts a small sample into high confidence.