This is the complete Whirlpool Dishwasher troubleshooting guide you’ll ever need.
We’ll looks at all the dishwasher issues and their possible DIY fixes and you won’t need to consult a professional if your machine stops working.
Whirlpool dishwasher troubleshooting guide identifies a problem and suggests a suitable solution. You can examine and fix a faulty control board, bad buttons, incorrect washing cycle, doors that fail to close and latch, and so much more. Get into diagnostic mode, get the error code, and fix the issues.
I’m a sucker for dishwashers that work without a hitch. But even with the best brands, such as Whirlpool, it’s likely you’ll run into problems every occasionally.
In this troubleshooting guide for Whirlpool dishwashers, we’ll focus on the most prevalent problems and show you exactly how you can fix them.
Whirlpool Dishwasher Troubleshooting Guide: 7 Common Problems and Solutions
The following table is a summary of the most common Whirlpool dishwasher problems and their recommended solutions.
| Whirlpool Dishwasher Problem | Suggested Solution | |
| 1. | Dishwasher won’t start, run, or work | Reset the dishwasher. Deactivate control lock and turn off sleep mode. |
| 2. | Dishwasher not filling with water | Water supply could be off, so turn it on. Fix the improper drain connection and replace the float switch if it’s not working properly. |
| 3. | The dishwasher’s pump not pumping | Fill and cancel the drain to clear the foam |
| 4. | Dishwasher not dispensing detergent | Remove dishes from the dishwasher and load them properly or replace the dispenser lead if it’s not working properly |
| 5. | Faulty control board | Get a new control board such as Whirlpool W10811169 Touchpad and Control Panel to fix the problem |
| 6. | Whirlpool dishwasher won’t wash | Close the leaky sump check valve using a bent wire |
| 7. | Failure to drain at the end of a wash cycle | Check for blockages from the sump check valve and do some cleanup. |
In the following section, I’ll highlight 7 of the most common problems in detail and share with you some easy-to-follow DIY solutions.
1. Whirlpool Dishwasher Won’t Start, Run, or Work
Your Whirlpool dishwasher won’t turn on, run, or work as expected because of any of the following reasons:
- You turned the control lock ON.
- The dishwasher is in sleep mode and therefore won’t start.
- You didn’t close the door properly.
- You had the dishwasher set to the delayed wash option.
We’ve written an in-depth guide on troubleshooting a Whirlpool dishwasher that won’t turn on. The guide addresses all these problems and suggests the most appropriate solution to fix the errors.
2. Whirlpool Dishwasher Won’t Fill With Water
Is your Whirlpool dishwasher not filling with water? And is the machine making noise whenever you try to fill it with water?
- Check if the water supply is ON and if the supply line is adequate. Turn off the water supply if it’s off, and change the water supply line if you have to.
- Inspect the water line and the fill-valve inlet screen for dirt and debris. Clean thoroughly if you see dirt and debris.
- Check if the float switch is working correctly. If it needs a replacement, get LONYE dishwasher float switch for a quick fix.
If the suggestions above don’t help to fix the problem, the harness between the fill valve and control could be loose or broken, the fill valve could be defective from overheating, or the control board may be faulty.
Fix or replace any parts as necessary.
3. Whirlpool Dishwasher’s Pump Not Working
Is the wash pump of your Whirlpool dishwasher not doing its work? There are a few reasons why this happens:
There’s excessive foam in the pump due to too much detergent or wrong rinse aid in the dishwasher. To fix this issue:
- Fill and drain the dishwasher to clear foam
- Inspect the dispenser operation, adjust to proper setting, and ensure it’s running as it should
The pump motor windings of the dishwasher could be open, or there may be a loose connection in the wash pump circuit. To fix this issue:
- Unplug the dishwasher from the power source
- Inspect the pump motor windings’ resistance and then fix and replace accordingly
The pump motor may have sized up. You can fix this issue by:
- Disconnecting the dishwasher from the power source
- Inspect the rotation of the impeller by rotating the chopper blade. If the current blade is difficult to rotate, replace it with Seneca River chopper blade for Whirlpool dishwasher.
The pump may fail to work because the door switch fails to make proper contact. More often than not, a sloppy assembly is often the leading cause of the problem. Test the resistance and replace the door switch if you find the resistance too high.
You may be dealing with a dead motor start capacitor or defective wash pump drive circuit.
If the motor capacitor is dead, unplug the dishwasher, disconnect the capacitor leads, check the resistance across the terminal, and replace if necessary.
For a defective drive circuit for the wash pump, run a Whirlpool dishwasher diagnostic mode and check the operation of the wash pump. Replace if it’s not working properly.
4. Whirlpool Dishwasher Not Dispensing Detergent
If your Whirlpool dishwasher isn’t dispensing detergent, you may be dealing with a blocked lid, mechanical binding, lid latch binding, loose connection on the dispenser circuit, or a defective drive circuit on control.
Fortunately, these issues are easy to fix.
If the dishwasher can’t dispense detergent because of a blocked lid, check if there are items in the lower rack blocking the lid. Remove the dishes from the unit and then reload them the right way.
For mechanical binding of the lid, unplug the dishwasher, inspect the mechanical performance of the lid, and replace the lid if it has a problem.
The TOMOON washer lid lock latch is worth checking out. It’s a decent replacement part for the lid because it detects if the lid of the dishwasher is open or closed, and it helps to keep the unit from spinning and agitating if the lid is open.
If the dishwasher isn’t dispending detergent because of excess detergent, clear the excess soap, refill the dispenser, and run it again. If the coil on the dispenser solenoid is open or loose, disconnect the unit from the power source, and check and fix the resistance of the coil.
5. Whirlpool Dishwasher Control Board Problem
Is your Whirlpool dishwasher acting up because the control board is acting up? You need to troubleshoot the control board, fix it, or replace it with a new one to fix the problem.
To begin with, you need to determine whether the control board of your Whirlpool dishwasher has a problem in the first place.
You know that the dishwasher has a problem if:
- Wash cycle not starting, delays starting, or only runs selected cleaning cycles
- You see a flashing lights or error codes on your dishwasher
- The dishwasher fails to run completely
The next thing is to start the troubleshooting process. Disconnect, inspect, and reconnect the wires that connect to the slots on the control board. While you’re at it, look for loose or broken wires, pinched wires, and wires not pressed correctly into the connectors.
Try reconnecting the wires to see if that solves the problem.
In some cases, reconnecting the wires help to fix the problem. However, if the solution doesn’t fix the issue, there could be another underlying problem with the control board, so it’s important to test the keypad operation.
- Unplug the dishwasher and open its door
- Open the console and disconnect the keypad’s ribbon connection form the control’s connection slot
- Inspect the condition of the connections to determine if they’re working correctly
- Re-assemble the console without closing the door
- Plug the unit to the power source
- Wait 5 seconds, close the door, and observe how the control responds
If the control is fine, the machine shouldn’t short with the keypad unplugged. The drain motor should turn on for about 120 seconds.
An indicator here is that the keypad has a problem and will need to replace it to get the unit to start working again.
6. Whirlpool Dishwasher Won’t Wash
There’s nothing more disappointing than tuning your Whirlpool dishwasher on only to realize that it won’t wash your dishes. Fortunately, we can troubleshoot this issue and get the unit back to the normal operation state.
The machine may not wash because the sump check valve is leaky. To fix this, access the chopper system, check if the valve is leaky, and close it by using a bent wire.
Your Whirlpool dishwasher may fail to do your dishes because you selected the wrong wash cycle. In this case, try the “High Temp” option to give the unit a wash performance boost.
The unit may be having an issue with a fractured chopper. Disconnect the unit from the power source, access the chopper system, and replace it.
7. Dishwasher Won’t Drain After Wash Cycle Ends
If you notice a failure to drain at the end of a wash cycle, the drain hose or path may have obstructive objects. Check for blockages from the sump check valve to the plumbing and do some cleanup.
Also, the drain pump motor may have open winding. In this case, it helps to inspect the resistance of the drain motor windings and fix or replace them accordingly.
Sometimes the dishwasher fails to drain at the end of the wash cycle because the diameter of the drain hose is too small. Simply replace the hose with a proper one to fix the problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do you reset Whirlpool dishwasher?
Whirlpool dishwasher doesn’t have a reset button on the control panel, but there’s an easy way to reset it.
Disconnect the unit from the power source. Wait 60 seconds and then plug it back to the power outlet. This should do the reset for you.
2. How do I run a diagnostic on my Whirlpool dishwasher?
You can run a diagnostic mode on your Whirlpool dishwasher by pressing a combination of three keys in the 1-2-3 sequence.
Keep in mind that the keys you press should be exclusive of the Start, Delay, or Cancel buttons. Also, make sure that the delay between one key press and the other is not more than a second.
Final Words
I hope this Whirlpool dishwasher troubleshooting guide has helped you to fix some of the most common problems that you have had to deal with in the past.
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