Turning on your Hotpoint dishwasher and realizing it won’t start is frustrating. The thought of doing the dishes by hand doesn’t sit well with most homeowners. It is tedious and time-consuming.
Fortunately, the most common problems stopping your Hotpoint dishwasher from starting are easy to fix. These problems often come from a faulty thermal fuse, a damaged timer, a broken door latch or switch, a faulty main control board and control panel, and touchpad issues.
This guide interrogates the reasons why your Hotpoint dishwasher won’t start and how to fix it easily at home.
Why Won’t the Hotpoint Dishwasher Start?
1. Power Supply Issues
One main reason your Hotpoint dishwasher won’t turn on is power supply problems. Your power may be weak and unstable, so the power cuts the machine off.
This is common for Hotpoint dishwashers to run on a faulty power supply and where there are frequent power interruptions. You may also experience power supply blockage using a long extension cord.
Fix – Plug the Dishwasher Directly to a Wall Socket
- Use a voltage tester to check if enough power is coming into your Hotpoint dishwasher. Typically, dishwashers need at least 10 amps of power to run effectively. So, your breaker should have a higher rating than your dishwasher for safety reasons. If your voltage is okay, you have a faulty breaker, so you must replace it with the right rating.
- Remove the lengthy extension cords and plug the dishwasher into the wall socket. This way, you can eliminate potential power blockages and the loss of power due to resistance in the wire.
- In cases where you experience frequent power outages, you can replace the power supply or install an uninterruptible backup power system (UPS), which makes a more reliable power source. The UPS provides a constant source of electricity that will keep your dishwasher running if there is a power cut or surge in your line
2. Faulty Door/ Latch
Even Hotpoint dishwashers misbehave if they have faulty doors/latches. That means that every time you close your dishwasher door, the appliance thinks it’s open. In this case, the fuse or circuit breaker must have tripped, or the door is not closing correctly.
Fix – Reset Circuit Breaker, Repair Latch, and Tighten Hinges
- Inspect the door’s circuit breaker to see if it has tripped. If it is, reset it and see if the problem persists.
- Check the door hinges to see if they are loose. If they are, tighten them back to normal using a screwdriver.
- Adjust the door latch by pulling it out and tightening or loosening its screws.
- If you have repaired the latch and the problem persists, replace its mechanism by purchasing the right replacement part from Hotpoint stores. If you do all these and it still doesn’t work, do not force the door to open, or else you will damage the appliance. Instead, contact the Hotpoint customer service for assistance.
3. Timer Issues
Most electrical kitchen appliances have timers that control how they work. Hotpoint dishwasher’s timer has settings such as cold, hot, rinse, and wash.
When you command it to run a cycle, the machine will do precisely that- depending on the time you set it to run for. For example, if you set it to run a cold wash cycle at 5 a.m., it will start then and finish exactly that time. But if the timer has issues, the machine will fail to run the cycle as it is meant to.
Hotpoint dishwasher timer issues occur due to either
- Mechanical wear and tear leads to damage and turning problems at specific points in the cycle.
- Timer motor malfunction interferes with the dishwasher’s cycles (wash, rinse, and dry).
- Burned contacts due to arcing. This disrupts the timer’s electrical connections needed for proper functioning.
- Water leaks into the timer area and causes corrosion on the electrical components.
Fix – Repair and Replace Damaged Parts
- Remove the timer for examination and check if the coated paper in the timer housing is burnt or arcing. If it is, replace it with a new one
- Check for water leaks by inspecting underneath and around the dishwasher for leaks and dry water. If you find any leaks, repair the area or replace all the parts affected by the water.
- Replace/Clean all electrical contacts on the timer and around its housing to fix crackling sounds when starting or stopping your dishwasher- particularly during rinse cycles.
- If your timer is still faulty after examination and do-it-yourself repairs, call a professional to replace the timer with a new one.
4. Little or No Water Supply
All dishwashers must have sufficient water supply to start, if not the washer won’t turn on. That is an average of 3.2 gallons of water per minute. Yet, sometimes, you may experience problems that lead to little or no water supply in your dishwasher. These issues include
- Blockage in water inlets can occur due to clogged valves.
- Blocked water supply lines causing water flow interruptions
- Low water pressure
- Faulty plumbing
Fix – Clean, Unclog, Repair, and Replace
- In the case of the clogged inlet valves, you must remove the valve and clean it with a soft brush or pipe cleaner. You can also use a compressed air gun to clear out the blockage. Hold the gun’s nozzle close to the opening of the valve and press its trigger. It will pressurize the air and push it through the valve to clear all dirt and debris.
- For the blocked water supply lines, hire a professional plumber to unblock the lines. He will also inspect if the water pressure is sufficient to run your dishwasher.
- If the water pressure is low, install a pressure regulator valve to ensure a steady water pressure in your dishwasher.
- Faulty plumbing means the mini stop valve was disconnected from the supply pipe. In this case, the plumber can move the stop valve closer to the supply pipe to restore water flow or replace both parts. It could also mean that there has been a blockage in the plumbing system, and the plumber can unblock it.
5. Engaged Control Lock
Hotpoint dishwashers have a control lock that prevents you or your child from accidentally starting a cycle. For example, touching the machine’s door while running, automatically activates the lock and stops all cycles. The control lock often engages in case of a power failure or during a wash cycle due to the program selection mode.
However, sometimes the control lock gets stuck in this position and does not disengage even if you press any programs and buttons. If this happens, your appliance fails to start.
Fix – Disengage the Control Lock
Hold the heated dry pad for a few seconds and wait for the lights to go off to disengage the control lock. If this does not work, try not to force the lock by pressing down on its knob. This can damage the lock and render it non-functional.
6. Faulty Control Board
Your dishwasher receives power from the control board. If your board has problems such as a blown fuse, defective contactor, voltage regulator, or relay, it may not circulate power to your washer components. This makes it impossible for the dishwasher touchpad to respond when you press it, which can prevent it from starting.
Fix – Test and Replace the Control Board
- Turn OFF the power to your dishwasher
- Access the control board and inspect it for any burning signs or a shorted-out component
- You can also use a multimeter to test incoming power. Set the multimeter to volt AC and restore power to the dishwasher
- Using the voltmeter wiring diagram, determine which terminals/ wires on the board timer are receiving power
- Contact the black meter led to one of the incoming terminals or wires and the red lead to the other terminal or wire
- The meter display should indicate at least 120 volts of AC if power is reaching the component
- If power reaches the board or timer and you’ve confirmed the other dishwasher parts are working properly, then the board is probably defective, and you should replace it.
You might have a dishwasher with working buttons, a door latch, and a control panel. Yet, you still wonder why it has power and a working timer control and is still not working. It might be a simple wiring problem or a loose electrical connection that prevents the dishwasher from receiving power.
Moreover, you might also have a broken pump or motor responsible for circulating water and cleaning the dishes. If the motor or pump is faulty, the dishwasher may not start because it can’t perform its primary function.
How To Fix Faulty Internal Components
- Locate the pump at the bottom of the dishwasher. You can easily access it from the front or rear of the appliance.
- Disconnect the washer from the power.
- Remove the access panel on the rear/front part of the dishwasher using a screwdriver to remove the screws holding it in place.
- Disconnect hoses and use a towel and bucket to catch water that may spill out
- Use a wrench or pliers to remove any mounting bolts or screws holding the pump in place. Master the orientation of the pump for reinstallation.
- If the pump is in a bad state, replace it with a new one. Ensure that you tighten any mounting bolts or screws.
- Reattach the new pump hoses and ensure you secure them safely
- Put back the access panel and also secure it tightly and safely with screws
- Plug the dishwasher back in or turn on the circuit breaker and run a test cycle to ensure the pump functions correctly.
- After the test cycle, check for leaks around the pump and hoses. If you find any, tighten connections as needed. If everything is fixed, you can start using your Hotpoint dishwasher again.
