[Debra]

Please Help! This dishwasher will not start. There is power to the unit. All circuit breakers are on and functional. The door of the dishwasher closes properly. The unit has not been abused, banged around or overloaded but it will not start when push buttons are pushed on the control panel. The last time is wwas used it washed beautifully , the complete cycle. Two days later it would not statr. Could the thermal fuse be the culprit? Does this fuse control the operation of the dishwashet? Can one test this fuse or just replace it? Can one purchase this fuse at any appliance store? What other reason could there be for this dishwasher not starting? Thank you.

[abadfish66]

Are there indications that the washer has power? lights, anything?

[Debra]

No lights on the panel but there is power to the unit.

[abadfish66]

ok, how can you be sure there is power to the unit? Sorry to ask what may seem like a stupid question, but there are reasons for them.

[Debra]

I had my plumber look at the dishwasher. He took apart the power switch to the dishwasher to be sure it was live and it was. All the circuit breakes were checked also and all were working properly. Thank you.

[abadfish66]

The first place I would look is at the junction box where the house wiring or power cord connects to the d/w, you may have a bad nuetral wire at the wire nut. Check for burn marks at the wire nuts.

[Debra]

I am confused. There is power coming into the dishwasher from the wall. The line is powering the dishwasher and the garbage disposal. If the line had a bad ground how would it affect the line if it is live? The "Junction box" to which you refer is at the back of the dishwasher in the wall. I don't know how to get to it. The dishwasher is hard wired to the house wiring there. There is no plug. Please explain further for me.

[abadfish66]

I didn't say bad ground Bad nuetral...There is a power cord from the wall outlet that connects to the dishwasher at the bottom front left side. This powercord has 3 wires, line nuetral and ground that connects to the diswasher black white and green wires in the little metal box. These wires are joined together via wire nuts. You need to remove the lower access panel of the dishwasher and locate the metal box on the left side. Take the cover off and there are your wires. make sure everything there looks good. You can have a loose connection there, and even though your Plumber said it was live, that does not mean there is not a problem there. Unplug the dishwasher first, then go to that little box and inspect the wiring connections. If the dishwasher is hard wired and not plugged into an outlet, turn power off at the breaker first.

[Debra]

I think the metal box to which you are referring is the one the plumber took apart, tested and rewrapped. He said everything looked fine there and the garbage disposal works fine connected to that box with its own separate on/offswitch. I can't unplug the dishwasher, it is hard wired into the wall at the back of the unit. We think the dishwasher has another problem.

[abadfish66]

ok, the very first thing that must be done is to verify indeed you have voltage there before I can go further. Sorry if I don't trust your plumber. Also the disposer has nothing to do with the D/W. It is totally seperate, so to proceed further you will need a volt meter, do you have one?