Why Maytag Dishwasher Won’t Start? – 8 Common Causes and How to Fix them

One of the most frustrating things that can happen to a person is when their Maytag dishwasher won’t start. It’s usually not just one problem; it could be any number of issues. And if you’re in the middle of doing dishes, this has got to be really annoying! Here are some helpful solutions for Maytag dishwashers that don’t want to cooperate.

A dishwasher is a great appliance to have, but sometimes it just doesn’t work. There are many reasons why a dishwasher won’t start running, such as the water supply being turned off or the door not being closed correctly. In this article, we’ll go over what to do when your Maytag dishwasher is not starting.

Why Maytag Dishwasher Won’t Start? Troubleshoot and Diagnosis

If your Maytag dishwasher won’t start, there are a few things you can do to figure out why. Here’s what it could be and how to fix it:

Maytag Dishwasher Is Not Getting Power

If your Maytag dishwasher is not getting power, the problem could be as simple as a loose connection or blown fuse.

If you observe that Maytag Dishwasher Not Working, No Lights On The Panel, then the possible cause will be that your dishwasher is not getting power.

Check to see if any of those connections are loose, and tighten them up before turning on the water supply again. If this doesn’t work, you may need to replace the parts that connect it with newer ones. So, let’s check them.

Make sure It is Plug-In: Verify that the dishwasher is plugged in. The switch that turns the dishwasher on maybe accidentally switched to the off position. Find and check that it is in the ON position. If it’s not, plug it back in and make sure all of the connections are secure.

Check if you are using an extension cord: When you plug in your dishwasher, make sure that it is connected to a working outlet with the appropriate cord. Don’t be fooled by thinking an extension cord will work because they don’t conduct enough voltage for most appliances.

Dishwasher breaker tripped: Is the appliance breaker turned off? If you notice that the circuit breaker is tripped, turn it off by flipping it to OFF and then back on.

Blown Thermal Fuse: If the breaker has not been tripped and you notice that there is no power going to your dishwasher, then a thermal fuse may have blown. If the thermal fuse is defective or has been blown out, replace it with a new one.

Water Supply Issue

Check the water valve to ensure that it is fully open. The dishwasher will not start if there is no water pressure or flow, and a closed-off water supply line can cause this. One indication that the dishwasher’s water inlet valve might be malfunctioning is when it cannot open to let in water. This requires the replacement of the faulty valve.

If you notice a kink in the hose, this can lead to reduced water flow and pressure. A clogged or kinked hose will also prevent the dishwasher from starting up correctly. If possible, try turning off your home’s main supply valve for five minutes so that any excess water can drain away. Then open it again before using the dishwasher.

If you gently straighten or reposition the hose to allow water to flow, make sure that your dishwasher isn’t pinching it when pushed back in place. If this is unsuccessful and there are any signs of damage on the hose- such as a kink at its base – replace it immediately!

Child Lock is ON

If your child lock is ON, you’ll need to turn it OFF before the dishwasher starts. This can be found on page two of our Maytag Dishwasher Owner’s Manual, and steps for turning off Child Lock are also here:

• Press the “Child Lock” button until the light goes out OR press the power button three times within six seconds (see owner’s manual)
• Turn the key in the front panel clockwise. NOTE: Press the START or POWER buttons with a short delay after both switches have been turned from “Lock” to “Off” position – see Owner’s Manual for more details.

Door is Not Closed

First, check to make sure the door is completely closed. Make sure that there are no items in front of or behind the dishwasher preventing it from closing all the way. Suppose your Maytag Dishwasher has a built-in soap dispenser and you’ve recently used any cleaning products with a degreaser in them (such as Dawn). In that case, this could inhibit its ability to work properly until it dries out. The same applies if you have spilled food onto the floor near where your Maytag Dishwasher is located – simply clean up these spills quickly before proceeding.

The Maytag dishwasher is a little more complex than one might think. As for safety precautions, the machine won’t start if you neglect to close and latch the door properly fully. One common mistake people make when closing it up is forgetting that there may be an obstruction on top of your loaded rack, preventing them from retracting completely before shutting things down for good. Remember to push firmly against closed doors so they engage with all their strength.

Check Door Latch and Switch

The door switch will not allow the dishwasher to run if the door is open. If the door latch switch is defective, the dishwasher won’t start even when you close the door. To determine if the door switch is at fault, use a multimeter to test it for continuity. If there’s no continuity, then replace the switch.

If your Maytag dishwasher won’t start, the door might not be closing properly. If this is the case, check the latch and replace it if necessary.

Touchpad Issue

The touchpad is another common issue. If the touchpad isn’t responding to your commands, you need to replace it with a new one. The Maytag dishwasher won’t start when this happens because there’s no way of telling whether or not you’re ready for a wash and dry cycle without touching the screen.

If all else fails, try resetting the control panel (or “touchpad”) by unplugging the power from the appliance then plugging it back in again after five minutes. This should take care of any minor glitches that might be affecting performance. Just make sure everything is plugged firmly into place before turning things.

Incorrect Dishwasher Cycle Settings

When a Maytag dishwasher won’t start, it can be because the wash cycle is not selected. Press START/RESUME on the control panel only after selecting your desired function. Certain functions will hinder a Maytag dishwasher from starting immediately. Usually, these features include a light or an icon on the control panel that illuminates when enabled.

The following Maytag dishwasher functions can cause a dishwasher not to start:

• Delay Start (DELAY): Selecting this option will delay the start of a wash cycle to a preset later time. To turn off the delayed start feature, press CANCEL/DRAIN, then START/RESUME.
• Sleep Mode: Selecting this option will pause the dishwasher for a preset period of time. To turn off sleep mode, press CANCEL/DRAIN, then START/RESUME or CHECK WATER LEVEL, and manually start a wash cycle.
• Rinse Hold: Selecting this option will delay the water from draining so that dishes can be rinsed before they are washed. To activate the rinse hold, press RINSE HOLD on the control panel. Press it again to deactivate it when finished with the desired function
• Control Lock: Select this option to lock the control panel buttons. Selecting it again will unlock the controls for normal use
• Check Water Level: Checks if there are enough dishes in the dishwasher and alerts you when the rinse aid is low.

If your Maytag dishwasher won’t start, it could be due to a “cycle run” error. When this happens, there’s usually an issue with the wash and dry cycle settings. To fix this, open the control panel dial by turning it clockwise, then set all of the cycles back to default before running one more test cycle. If that doesn’t work, you may have a faulty sensor or timer, in which case you should replace them first before troubleshooting any further noises or issues.

Check Water Supply

Issues related to the water supply could also trigger a dishwasher not to start. Make sure that the valve is in on position, and check the water hose for any kinks or tears. You can straighten any kinks of hoses, but they will need replacing if there are leaks or cracks.

If your dishwasher won’t start, it may be due to a defective water inlet valve. This valve opens and closes to let in the correct amount of water at the right points during the wash cycle. We recommend that you consult with a professional about repairing or replacing this component.

Defective Timer

If the door latch assembly is working, but your dishwasher still won’t start, it might be that there’s a problem with the timer or electronic control. The first phase of the dishwasher cycle is typically a drain function to pre-emptively remove any standing water in the tub.

The Maytag dishwasher won’t start if the drain pump motor does not run. Check either the timer or electronic control to see what is causing it. For the Manual type of dishwasher, the timer controls power for the pump motor, inlet valve, and heater circuit. It also operates a separate drain pump at just the right times during the cycle. The timer is responsible for controlling a series of electrical contacts that are driven by a small motor, all of which are contained within the timer housing.

If the timer doesn’t provide power to the dishwasher, it might not turn on. Check out other potential problems before replacing a faulty timer.

Faulty Drive Motor

The drive motor is responsible for rotating part of the pump to create suction and flushes water into dishes. The drive motor might be faulty if it emits unusual noises when running or stops abruptly during operation without warning indicators such as an error code on the display panel or blinking lights on the control panel board.

A faulty drive motor can lead to overheating, which may cause an electrical fire hazard danger in extreme cases, so don’t forget about this possibility!

If you hear a loud humming sound coming from the motor, it could indicate that the motor has seized. Test the motor and if it is faulty, then replace it.

Reset Maytag Dishwasher

If the dishwasher is experiencing a problem with draining or not starting, you may need to reset it. This can be done by unplugging the appliance and flipping the power switch on for 30 seconds before plugging back in.

In order to do this, first, turn off water supply valves at both ends of your Maytag Dishwasher Hose Assembly (where it connects up between kitchen sink faucet and dishwasher); otherwise, when you open the “water valve” inside the dishwasher, there will suddenly come out an overflowing torrent from where the hose meets faucet).

Next, flip the power button on-off button located near the top left corner of the control panel board once for about one second, wait exactly 20 seconds, then hit the red power button to turn the water valve on and off. This will turn off power to the dishwasher, allow it to cool, and then reset all circuit breakers inside.