Make it Start with a Door Switch Dishwashing Machine Repair
You wouldn't even understand your dishwasher had one up until it isn't working. These little switches are tucked inside the control panel of your dishwasher and most times are a part of the door latch. The door lock pulls the door firmly to the main body of your dishwashing machine and avoids water from leaking throughout a cycle. If your dishwashing machine doesn't start, it might be due to a malfunctioning door switch.
How the door switch works
When the dishwashing machine door is open, the switch is off. Inside your dishwasher tub will be a metal or plastic prong. Close and latch the door. The prong will depress the door switch entirely and the circuit will close permitting the dishwashing machine to begin. Inspect the prong to make sure it's not loose or bent and it's effectively triggering the door switch.
It is essential to disconnect the dishwasher from its power source before trying any repair. You can unplug the dishwashing machine from the outlet, get rid of the fuse from your circuit box, or flick the breaker switch on your circuit panel. This will prevent you from getting an electrical shock.
What a door switch looks like and where it's located
Typically a dishwasher door switch is an inch long. It can be black or red and has actually metal prongs canberra plumbing tips called terminals extending from the body. Some door switches have two terminals and some have three.
The terminals can be a typical terminal (COM), generally closed terminal (NC) or an usually open terminal (NO). Changes with only two terminals will either have a COM and a NO, or a COM and an NC. Door changes with three terminals have COM, NC, and a NO.
Your dishwashing machine's door switch will be behind the control board on the front of the system. It might be required to eliminate the inner panel of the door first. You can do this by getting rid of a couple of screws. The screws at the bottom of the door are for the hinges. You do not need to get rid of the whole door for this repair.
Once the inner panel is eliminated you might find another smaller sized panel covering the back of the control panel kept in place with screws or clips. By eliminating this panel you will get to the lock assembly housing the door switch.
How to eliminate the switch
Carefully usage needle nose pliers to pull the wires leading from the harness off the terminals. For door changes that have a locking clip, depress the lever as you carefully pull the harness far from the terminal.
Take your time while getting rid of switches that are a part of the lock assembly or that have a bracket. If you rush and break the switch's housing you will end up having to change more parts.
How to evaluate your door switch
Use an ohmmeter to check the switch for continuity. This test is for door switches with 3 terminals.
1. Set your ohmmeter to measure resistance at a scale of Rx1.
2. Touch the metal tips of the test leads together and zero your ohmmeter by changing the thumbwheel in the front of the meter up until the needles reads "0" on the scale.
3. expert plumbing tips Touch one meter result in the COM terminal and the other lead to the NO terminal. Do not push in on the actuator.
4. Your meter needs to offer a reading of infinity, meaning the circuit is open, and there is no continuity.
5. Without moving the meter's leads, press down on the actuator up until you hear a 'click'.
6. With the 'click' of the actuator, the meter should produce a resistance reading of zero ohms. This suggests the circuit is closed and connection is present. (You will just hear this click with a door switch with 3 terminals.)
7. Keep the meter lead that is touching the COM terminal in location, however move the other meter lead from the NO terminal to the NC terminal.
8. When the actuator is released, you should receive a resistance reading of absolutely no ohms.
9. Now set your ohmmeter to its highest resistance scale and touch one meter cause the NO terminal and the other meter cause the NC terminal.
10. The resistance reading in between these 2 leads must be infinite.
11. Lastly take a resistance reading from both the NC terminal and the NO terminal to any metal installing hardware that is a part of the switch assembly. You must get a normal reading of infinity.
Any readings that differ from the tests above are indications of a defective door switch that will require to be replaced.
Replace the old switch with a new one, using the very same procedure as discussed above. Reassemble the inner door panel and reconnect your dishwashing machine to its power supply. Don't forget to change your fuse or turn the breaker switch back on. Run your dishwasher through a cycle to ensure it's working effectively.