8 Reasons Why Kenmore Dishwasher Won’t Start – Let’s Fix It

Since Kenmore is a major appliance company, it’s no surprise that they’ve had their fair share of problems. But what should you do when your Kenmore dishwasher won’t start? You may think the problem is simple and easy to fix, but don’t be fooled!

There are many different things that could go wrong with Kenmore dishwashers, and all require specific attention in order to get them working again. That’s why we created this guide for Kenmore owners who are trying to figure out how to troubleshoot their dishwasher problems and get back on track.

Why Kenmore Dishwasher Won’t Start? Troubleshoot and Diagnosis

There are a variety of reasons your Kenmore dishwasher may not be working. However, here’s a list of the most common causes for Kenmore dishwashers to stop running.

Electrical Issues

One of the most common problems with Kenmore dishwashers is electrical-related. The problem may be as simple as a tripped breaker or blown fuse, but it can also mean something more serious, like an issue with your main power source into the house.

If you have intermittent lights elsewhere in the home and notice that when you start the dishwasher, the lights go out or dim significantly, you may have an issue with your main power source.

If the Kenmore dishwasher will turn on for a moment and then shut off again, check to make sure that your electrical circuit breaker is not tripped (or if it’s hardwired into the home). If this does not appear to be the problem, but there are no other signs of electricity in nearby areas, such as outlets working fine or light switches flipping on and off without difficulty, contact an electrician about how best to troubleshoot what can be causing these intermittent problems.

Also, check the Thermal fuse on the dishwasher’s control panel. If the dishwasher overheats, the thermal fuse shuts off power to it. A faulty thermal fuse runs the risk of preventing your dishwasher from starting. If you’re not sure if your thermal fuse is defective, use a multimeter to test for continuity.

Faulty Water Valve

If the Kenmore dishwasher is not starting, it may be because of a faulty water valve. The water inlet valve supplies hot water to the dishwasher and is controlled by a timer or electronic control.

The water inlet valve needs to be kept clean and free of debris so it can work properly. When the dishwasher is not filling, a common problem could be that there isn’t enough pressure coming into your house from the hot water source or even just an old hose leak.

To make sure you have enough hot-water supply for your machine and its plumbing system, run another faucet until cold becomes hotter than warm as this will indicate if there’s adequate pressure available at both ends of where things connect on either side of valves like these ones here.

Clogged or Kinky Water Hose

If you are sure there is enough pressure coming into the house from your hot water source, then it may be something else. A common problem could be that either a hose or an inlet valve has become clogged with debris. You may be able to solve this by removing the debris; if not, then you will need to replace it.

When you’re checking out the water supply line, make sure it’s not kinked or bent anywhere where they connect inside of your machine because this can cause issues with pressure forces together as well. Open up any pipe clamps so it’ll have room to move around when under pressure! This should clear most problems!

Child Lock is ON

This is a common Kenmore Dishwasher issue. The dishwasher has a child lock, and often times it can get activated without the owner knowing about it! To turn off the child lock, press the cancel button located on top of your machine for five seconds. Now you should be able to start up your appliance as normal if no other problems are preventing this from happening.

Door is Not Closed Properly

Make sure that the dishwasher door is closed securely. If the door is not closed, it can prevent your Kenmore dishwasher from starting.

Make sure nothing is blocking the door. Loading dishes correctly can ensure that the door will close and latch properly. Next, check to make sure the door is closed completely and the latch has engaged.

Check Door Latch and Switch

If the door latch and switch are not working, your Kenmore dishwasher won’t start.

The door latch assembly is a mechanical component that holds the dishwasher door closed and prevents water from leaking. It also has electrical parts in it that power the control buttons on the inside of your dishwasher. If the dishwasher door can’t close correctly, or if the latch assembly is broken, then it won’t start. So inspect both the latches and switches for possible problems.

Incorrect Dishwasher Cycle Settings

If the Kenmore dishwasher won’t start, it’s possible you have incorrectly set a cycle. The indicator lights on your dishwasher show which cycles are running and when they’re finished. If one of these indicators is lit up, but the machine isn’t doing anything, that could be why it’s not starting correctly. Check to make sure all light indicators match with what you’ve programmed them for in your settings menu.

Touchpad Problem

If the Kenmore dishwasher won’t start, then it could have a touchpad problem. Some common problems with this type of product are that the buttons don’t work or they only work when you press them hard enough. If your Kenmore dishwasher has these symptoms, then there might be some pieces that need to be replaced for it to function properly again.

Try resetting the dishwasher and unplugging it for a few hours. You might be able to get your Kenmore dishwasher working this way again!

If none of these suggestions work, then you’ll want to contact the manufacturer or purchase an extended warranty plan so that you can have repairs done quickly and easily. If the warranty does not cover them, please contact other options like contacting companies specializing in appliance repair.

Defective Timer

Kenmore dishwashers have a timer that counts down the minutes and seconds for each cycle. The problem might be in this part, where you would replace any defective timers.

You’ll need some basic knowledge of how Kenmore dishwashers work before taking apart your own dishwasher, so please consult an appliance repair company if you’re unsure about what’s going on with yours!

Faulty Drive Motor

Kenmore dishwashers have a drive motor that rotates the turntable for washing and drying dishes. The problem might be in this part, where you would replace any faulty drive motors.

If your dishwasher won’t start after the start relay sends power to the motor, this could mean that either there is a problem with your drive motor or it may be seized. You can make sure which one by checking for loud humming noises coming from within the machine as you turn on and off buttons at different points in time throughout the operation of rinse/dry cycles.

Kenmore Dishwasher Reset

If you have a Kenmore dishwasher and your problem might be in the control panel, it is possible to reset the dishwasher without any tools. Instead, pressing a few buttons should do the trick!

Press one of these three options: Power – Cancel – Normal Wash- Rinse. This will cancel out unwanted settings that could be causing problems with your machine, or press the Off/On Toggle Button (that’s located where you plug in) until no more lights are flashing on display. Next, wait for the appliance to finish powering off before unplugging the power cord from the outlet. This action resets some models as well as clears up programming errors caused by unintentional changes made during previous use of controls.