As a homeowner, it’s good to invest in knowing how to do some home repairs. For instance, knowing how to solve a Samsung dishwasher not starting problem.
Otherwise, you might end up spending more than you should on repair technicians – at times up to ¾ of the dishwasher’s cost.
In most cases, you will be surprised that the solution is to replace parts that cost less than 30 bucks.
So, read on to know what might be causing your Samsung dishwasher not to start, and how you can fix it like a pro.
Samsung dishwasher not starting – causes and possible solutions
One possible cause for your dishwasher not starting is if it’s not getting power (or not getting enough power).
How you can pinpoint the problem and fix it
Start by making sure that the power cord is properly connected to a working 120v AC outlet. And, if your power outlet is connected to a switch, ensure that you have turned on the switch.
While at it, check if the power cord is worn out… Of course, if it’s worn out, you should consider replacing it – get a replacement power cord at Amazon.
Next, confirm that the circuit breaker has not tripped – if it has, be sure to reset it.
If the above checks out, use a multimeter to confirm that the power outlet has 110-120v AC.
If it’s way below this range, connect your dishwasher to another 120v AC outlet and have an electrician fix the current one.
Finally, make sure you are not pressing the power button with wet hands since this might make the dishwasher not to recognize your touch.
Samsung dishwasher won’t start but has power (Samsung dishwasher not starting cycle)
Remember, once you start a dishwasher, it first attempts to drain the leftover water from the previous cycle.
This runs for approximately 35 seconds.
So, be sure to give your dishwasher some time.
It could be due to the settings you have chosen
If you have selected Delay Start, your dishwasher won’t start right away.
Instead, it will wait until the set time has elapsed before it starts a cycle.
It could be a software glitch on the control board
And this might be causing the board to act up.
The best way to fix this is to hard reset the dishwasher… Think of it like a computer – it needs to be reset once in a while.
To do so, disconnect the dishwasher from the power outlet (or trip the circuit breaker) and let it sit for at least five minutes.
Once done, turn on your dishwasher and try to run a cycle.
If this does not work, try the other steps below.
The door might not be latching/locking fully
As a result, it won’t complete the dishwasher’s circuitry (as it should) when you close it.
Possible solutions you can try
Start by making sure you’re loading the dishes correctly such that they are not preventing the door from closing fully.
Also, make sure that you are pushing the racks all the way in.
Next, confirm that the door is properly aligned – a misaligned door might get stuck against the cabinet when you try to close it.
For the most part, a misaligned door means the dishwasher is not level. So, make sure that yours is level.
Also, there could be gunk buildup along the door seal, and this is preventing it from closing all the way.
So, be sure to clean the gasket – wipe it using a soft moist cloth and mild detergent… Do not use abrasive cleaners as they might damage the seals.
Next, open the door and check if the latch is in the correct position as shown below:
However, if your latch looks like the one below, it means the latch mechanism is faulty:
In this scenario, disassemble your dishwasher and try to reset the door latch assembly.
If this does not work, your best bet will be to replace the latch assembly – shop for a replacement latch on Amazon.
Finally, test the connections on the door latch assembly for continuity… If they lack continuity, it means that the part is bad and should be replaced.
Control (child) lock might be on
When active, the control lock will render the other buttons (except power) unresponsive.
As a result, your dishwasher won’t run any cycle that you select.
How to deactivate Samsung dishwasher control (child) lock
To deactivate child lock in most Samsung dishwashers, press the button with a padlock icon below it for three seconds:
Alternatively, try the following options (model specific):
DW50R40* dishwasher models
- Close the door.
- Press and hold the Multi-tab button for three seconds:
- The dishwasher should now chime to indicate child lock has been deactivated.
DW60BB89* dishwasher models
- Press the option (settings) button.
- Use the left and right buttons to navigate to the Child Lock option.
- Press the start button to enter this submenu.
- Use the left/right button to navigate to the Off option.
- Press the start button to toggle child lock off.
Why is my Samsung dishwasher not starting – more possible causes plus solutions
The dishwasher might not be getting water
As a result, your Samsung dishwasher will turn on, make some sounds as it tries to fill with water, and then fail to start if it gets no water.
Possible solutions to this problem
Confirm that the water faucet(s) is fully open.
Next, straighten out any kinks that might be along the water inlet hose(s). And, if you note that the hose is worn out, get a new hose and swap out the old one.
Also, it could be that the water inlet valve is acting up.
With the dishwasher running, measure the voltage at the control board between the yellow CN101 and brown CN202 wires.
If voltage is not within 110-120v AC, the control board is bad – see current Samsung dishwasher control board prices.
Otherwise, test the inlet valve for continuity… If it lacks continuity, it means that it’s bad and will need replacing – Buy it on Amazon.
Finally, if your dishwasher is filling with water but stops filling after around one to five minutes, it means the water pressure is low…
Samsung recommends the water pressure be between 20 and 120psi. So, ensure that the water pressure to your dishwasher is at least 20 psi.
The dishwasher might not be draining
Some water is normally left inside the dishwasher after a cycle.
And, when the dishwasher starts a new cycle, it first drains this water.
If it can’t drain, it will fill with water thereby activating the float switch and this is preventing the dishwasher from starting.
Solutions you can try
- Clean the drain filter and remove any clogs that might be inside the sump assembly and the drain hose.
- Make sure the drain pump wire connections are good.
- With the dishwasher running, measure the voltage between the yellow CN101 and orange CN202 connectors on the control board… If voltage is not within 110-120v AC, it probably means that the control board is bad – shop for a replacement board.
Otherwise, it means that the drain pump is bad and should be replaced – Check Samsung replacement drain pump price on Amazon.
By the way remember to test for continuity between the drain pump terminals… No continuity typically means a bad drain pump so you may have to invest in a replacement.
The heater might be bad
This will result in the unit getting stuck in an endless loop as it waits for the water to get hot enough to run a wash cycle.
To test if the heater is to blame, measure the resistance between its terminals.
Pro tip: Be sure to have the dishwasher disconnected from the power outlet.
If the heater is good, you should get a reading that’s approximately 13.5Ω.
Otherwise, it is likely defective and the best fix is to change it out – Order on Amazon.
Something else: Also check the heater coil for cracks or burn marks which might indicate that it’s bad.
The control board might be to blame
Usually, it’s not easy to test the control board – unless testing for voltage at different connectors or the board has scorch marks.
Nonetheless, when the above troubleshooting steps fail, the control board is mostly usually to blame.
And, replacing it should fix your dishwasher (Buy on Amazon).
What about if your Samsung dishwasher starts then stops?
The most common culprits for your dishwasher stopping a few minutes after starting (or stopping mid-cycle) are:
- A water flow problem.
- The WaterWall reflector is not moving.
- Clogs in the sump assembly.
- Door lock problems.
- Bad wire connections.
- One of the motors might have failed.
- Faulty control board.
We have discussed these problems in detail in our other article: How to fix a Samsung dishwasher that stops after a few minutes. So, be sure to read it.
And what if your Samsung dishwasher keeps turning on and off?
At times, this is usually due to a software glitch which you can solve by resetting the dishwasher – unplug it from the power outlet for five minutes.
Other times, it could be due to loose/broken wire connections.
So, disassemble your dishwasher and make sure that all wire connectors are properly plugged into their harnesses.
And while at it, replace any wires that might be broken – more so the wires around the door.
Another common cause for your dishwasher to keep on turning on and off is a corroded cable… At times, moisture might find its way into the dishwasher parts and corrode some wires – mostly the wires connecting the display panel to the control board.
So, also be sure to check for corroded cables and replace them as necessary.
The final possible culprit is a bad control board.
Unfortunately, since it’s not possible to test it, it’s advisable to first try the above possible fixes… If they do not work, that’s when you should consider getting a new control board.
Samsung dishwasher not starting – parting words
When wiring a harness or fixing a broken wire, make sure to seal it completely so that water/moisture does not find its way to the wires.