Make it Start with a Door Change Dishwasher Repair
Make it Start with a Door Switch Dishwasher Repair
You would not even know your dishwashing machine had one up until it isn't working. These little switches are tucked inside the control panel of your dishwashing machine and most times belong of the door lock. The door lock pulls the door safely to the main body of your dishwashing machine and prevents water from dripping throughout a cycle. If your dishwashing machine does not start, it might be due to a malfunctioning door switch.
How the door switch works
When the dishwasher door is open, the switch is off. Inside your dishwasher tub will be a metal or plastic prong. Close and latch the door. The prong will depress the door switch totally and the circuit will close allowing the dishwasher to begin. Inspect the prong to ensure it's not loose or bent and it's effectively activating the door switch.
It is important to disconnect the dishwashing machine from its source of power before attempting any repair. You can unplug the dishwashing machine from the outlet, remove the fuse from your circuit box, or flick the breaker turn on your circuit panel. This will prevent you from getting an electrical shock.
What a door switch looks like and where it's located
Typically a dishwashing machine door switch is an inch long. It can be black or red and has metal prongs called terminals extending from the body. Some door switches have 2 terminals and some have three.
The terminals can be a typical terminal (COM), generally closed terminal (NC) or a generally open terminal (NO). Switches with only 2 terminals will either have a COM and a NO, or a COM and an NC. Door switches with three terminals have COM, NC, and a NO.
Your dishwasher's door switch will be behind the control board on the front of the unit. It may be needed to remove the inner panel of the door first. You can do this by getting rid of a few screws. The screws at https://www.umass.edu/facforms/sites/default/files/webform/Common-House-Plumbing-Issues_0.pdf the bottom of the door are for the hinges. You do not need to remove the whole door for this repair.
Once the inner panel is eliminated you might find another smaller panel covering the back of the control panel kept in location with screws or clips. By removing this panel you will get to the lock assembly housing the door switch.
How to eliminate the switch
Carefully usage needle nose pliers to pull the wires leading from the harness off the terminals. For door switches that have a locking clip, depress the lever as you carefully pull the harness far from the terminal.
Take your time while removing switches that belong of the latch assembly or that have a bracket. If you hurry and break the switch's housing you will wind up having to change more parts.
How to evaluate your door switch
Use an ohmmeter to check the switch for connection. This test is for door switches with three terminals.
1. Set your ohmmeter to measure resistance at a scale of Rx1.
2. Touch the metal ideas of the test leads together and zero your ohmmeter by adjusting the thumbwheel in the front of the meter till the needles reads "0" on the scale.
3. Touch one meter cause the COM terminal and the other lead to the NO terminal. Do not press in on the actuator.
4. Your meter should provide a reading of infinity, suggesting the circuit is open, and there is no continuity.
5. Without moving the meter's leads, press down on the actuator until you hear a 'click'.
6. With the 'click' of the actuator, the meter ought to produce a resistance reading of absolutely no ohms. This indicates the circuit is closed and continuity exists. (You will only hear this click with a door switch with three terminals.)
7. Keep the meter lead that is touching the COM terminal in place, however move the other meter lead from the NO terminal to the NC terminal.
8. When the actuator is launched, you must receive a resistance reading of zero ohms.
9. Now set your ohmmeter to its greatest resistance scale and touch one meter cause the NO terminal and the other meter result in the NC terminal.
10. The resistance reading between these two leads should be infinite.
11. Finally take a resistance reading from both the NC terminal and the NO terminal to any metal mounting hardware that belongs of the switch assembly. You should get a typical reading of infinity.
Any readings that vary from the tests above are indications of a malfunctioning door switch that will need to be replaced.
Replace the old switch with a new one, utilizing the very same procedure as explained above. Reassemble the inner door panel and reconnect your dishwashing machine to its power supply. Don't forget to change your fuse or turn the breaker switch back on. Run your dishwashing machine through a cycle to make sure it's working appropriately.