How To Tell Whether The Touchpanel Or Control Board Is Bad In A Whirlpool Dishwasher
Entry posted by Samurai Appliance Repair Man·July 8, 2013
Many times when troubleshooting a Whirlpool-built dishwasher , you’ll have a problem that looks like it could be either a bad touchpanel or the control board, but you can’t really be sure. Examples include:
– Normal light keeps blinking but the dishwasher won’t run
– none of the lights on the panel work and the dishwasher won’t run
Could take on lots of other variations but the thing they’ll all have in common is that dishwasher won’t run.
The conundrum you face is which part to replace: the touchpanel or the control board?
Experience says that it’s almost always the touchpanel that goes bad in these cases– a keypad gets stuck closed or worn on the inside so it no longer makes contact.
Fortunately, there’s a way to tell for sure without any guesswork!
Remove the kickpanels below the door and you’ll find a tech sheet in a plastic pouch . Therein it is written this simple procedure for determining whether the touchpanel or control board is the culprit:
How To Reset The Dishwasher:
Much like a computer, resetting the dishwasher control can sometimes solve the issues you are experiencing. To reset the dishwasher control panel, it needs to be disconnected from the power source for one minute. If your dishwasher is plugged into an outlet, simply unplug the unit for one minute and then plug the unit back in. If the dishwasher is hard wired to the power supply, turn the breaker off at the home electrical panel that powers the dishwasher for one minute and then turn the breaker back on.
Try To Reset The Control Board
The next step is to reset the control board. The control board can become faulty and stop your dishwasher from working properly, especially if there has been a power outage or surge. Sometimes, a simple reset of the control board will solve whatever problems youre having with your Whirlpool dishwasher.
Heres how to reset the control board:
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Whirlpool Dishwasher All Lights Stay On
When all the dishwashers lights stay on, its often because one or a combination of buttons was pushed by mistake. To solve the problem, start by shutting off the power at the circuit breaker and waiting a minute before turning the dishwasher back on. Doing this resets the unit.
If that doesnt work, try resetting the control board. To do this, follow these steps:
How To Enter Diagnostic Mode
Heres everything you need to know about entering the Diagnostics Mode for your KitchenAid or Whirlpool dishwasher.
What it is: The Diagnostics Mode, sometimes called the Service Diagnostics Cycle, is when the dishwasher goes through a thorough list of automatic tests.
Depending on your dishwasher model, that process can take up to 20 or more minutes to complete.
As part of the cycle, the dishwasher may display error codes to inform you when something isnt working correctly.
How it works: Typically, the Diagnostics Mode will trigger your dishwasher to test a complete list of features.
That may start with testing the various lights including the Cycles, Options, and Status LEDs.
Then, the appliance will run checks on its various sensors and components, like its vent, wash motor, and heating element, among others.
As you might imagine, the more LEDs and features your KitchenAid or Whirlpool dishwasher has, the longer itll take the machine to finish testing all of them.
How to do it: As mentioned earlier, KitchenAid and Whirlpool tend to share the same methods of invoking or entering the Diagnostics Modes.
The exact methods may differ depending on the model you have, but theyre either the 1-2 sequence or the 1-2-3 sequence .
For either one, make sure the dishwasher is in Standby mode with the door closed.
To perform the 1-2 sequence:
- Press two buttons one after the other, with no more than one second between pressing each key.
- Repeat this for a total of ten times.
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Bosch Dishwasher Doesnt Work Try A Reset
Get to know this often-overlooked Bosch Dishwasher Feature to Avoid this Costly Professional Quick Fix.
For over the five years Ive repaired appliances professionally, there have been occasionsthrough no fault of my own!where Ive had to charge my customer a full diagnostic fee, just to perform a simple Reset for a Bosch dishwasher. Avoid this costly Customer Instruction service call by getting familiar with these dishwashers Reset Feature.
Most modern dishwashers pause the selected wash cycle when the dishwasher door is opened, say to add a dish to the wash load before the dishwasher releases the soap. For many brands and models, the paused wash cycle will automatically start back up where it left off once the door is latched closed. Sometimes machines get old and must be replaced with new ones, other times you move into a new home supplied with Bosch appliances. Some new Bosch owners discover, rather costly so, that many Bosch dishwashers models do not automatically start back up or un-pause when the door is shut.
The common complaint concerning this Bosch dishwasher problem is: the power button is red, but the dishwasher doesnt do anything. I turned the machine off and on, but that didnt fix it. I think the pump is broken. Before going for a replacement pump or motor, find out if a wash cycle was simply interrupted or paused.
The key dance is usually indicated by symbols on the machine control panel as in this example here:
Whirlpool Dishwasher Buttons Not Working
When the dishwasher buttons arent working its impossible to start your Whirlpool dishwasher. However, it can still light up and display error messages which can enable you to see what the issue is. So, to fix your Whirlpool dishwasher when the buttons arent working, heres what you want to do.
Generally, you want to put your Whirlpool dishwasher in diagnostic mode if it can. To do that press any three buttons other than the power button one after another. Then press the same three buttons in the same sequence another 2 times in a row.
That will put it in diagnostic mode and after it has run a check all the components it will display an error message. Even though the individual buttons dont work, it may still be able to be put in diagnostic mode.
It can take around 20 minutes for the diagnostic mode to run. So, a good first thing to try is to reset your Whirlpool dishwasher by turning it on and off again by pressing the power button.
After you try turning it on and off again, run diagnostic mode if the buttons still arent working. Sometimes after running it through diagnostics mode it will start working again once you clear the error message.
However, if it doesnt it usually indicates your control panel is faulty, and it needs to be replaced. It is fairly easy to replace the control panel yourself. Especially, if you have experience working with tools.
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Control Lock Is Turned On
Does this sound familiar? You use your Whirlpool washer and the next time you try to wash clothes, the Whirlpool Washer is locked, wont turn on, or displays an error code LC or lOC. This is an important error code that means the Whirlpool washer will not turn on. Its caused by the Control Lock feature, which locks all washer functions to prevent an accidental start.
Deactivating the Control Lock feature can be challenging, as every brand has a different process. The key requirement is to follow your user manuals deactivation steps to make sure you deactivate Control Lock. To ensure safe and easy removal of laundry load, make sure that Control Lock is deactivated before starting the washer or removing laundry.
How Do I Fix The Start Button On My Whirlpool Dishwasher
As mentioned earlier, a start button that doesnt work will make it difficult for you to use your dishwasher. The good news is that you can always use other means to activate a wash cycle. Even so, some methods may not be safe, convenient, and reliable. If you notice your Whirlpool dishwasher start button not working, use these tips to fix it.
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Test The Door Latch Switch
Remove the inner door panel to access the door latch assembly at the top of the door. Make sure the catch engages the door latch switch when it is inserted into the latch assembly. If all appears to work properly, use a multimeter to test the switches for continuity. With the multimeter set on Rx1, touch the probes to the switch terminals. The reading should be at or near zero. If your reading is different, replace the door latch assembly.
Inspect The Door Latch
When the door latch is not engaged, a switch prevents the dishwasher from starting. Listen for the sound of the latch clicking into place when you close the door. With the door closed, pull on the door to see if it is closed securely. Visually inspect both sides of the latch for anything that may be preventing it from engaging properly, and for broken parts. If the latch is broken, the switch may be also.
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Whirlpool Dishwasher 2 Lights Blinking
This problem often manifests as the Option and All Cycle lights blinking and usually signifies that the door opened in the middle of a cycle. The solution can be as simple as firmly closing the door until it latches. The lights should stop flashing, and the cycle should automatically resume shortly after. If not, try resetting the dishwasher.
Whirlpool Dishwasher Heavy And Normal Lights Blinking
Heavy and normal lights blinking on a Whirlpool dishwasher indicate that one or several of the key switch lines are shorted or stuck on the keypad or control board.
To determine whether the issue is a short on the control board, use the above video guide to test the control board. If its malfunctioning, replace it.
If the control board is okay, the issue is the keypad. Before you replace the keypad, check for any stuck keys and pop them back up with a pin.
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Your Whirlpool Dishwasher Has Too Much Dirt Build Up
The accumulation of dirt, grease, and oil is one of the most common causes of the dishwashers buttons failing to respond.
One or more of your dishwashers buttons may fail due to food, grease, or dirt. And if these accumulate around the start button, the washer will fail to work no matter how many times you press the button.
If the button appears to be stuck, use an ammonia-based solution to clean it. We strongly recommend that you wear a pair of gloves because the solution can potentially hurt your skin. Also, wear some kind of protective mask to keep your respiratory system in good condition.
There Is A Lot Of Dirt Built Up
One of the most common reasons why dishwasher buttons get stuck is related to the buildup of dirt, grease, and oil. Particularly if you have a dishwasher with a top control panel, it is not unusual for these buttons to get stuck. Food, oil, and debris can cause one or more of your dishwasher buttons to malfunction.
If you feel like the button is stuck in place, you may want to use an ammonia based cleaner to free the stuck button. Remember to use appropriate protection if you are using this type of cleaner. You do not want to get burned, and you need to protect your respiratory system.
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Why Is My Whirlpool Washing Machine Not Turning On
If your washing machine doesnt turn on, you may have tripped a circuit breaker or unplugged the machine. First, check your outlet for any signs of damage that would indicate there is a more serious problem with the power at your home.
If you suspect a problem with your homes electrical wiring, call a licensed and insured electrician to inspect your breaker box and wiring.
Whirlpool Dishwasher Clean Light Blinking
A blinking clean light on a Whirlpool dishwasher is one of the most common problems and often happens when theres a problem with the heating element or one of its connections. Its your dishwashers way of letting you know that it didnt detect water heat throughout the cycle.
While you may still need to replace the heating element or the affected connection eventually, running a diagnostic can allow you to run a cycle at least once without the clean light blinking.
To run a diagnostic, press the Heated Dry button and immediately hit the Normal button. Repeat this sequence three times and allow 30 minutes for the diagnostic cycle to complete.
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Why Is My Dishwasher Not Starting When I Press The Start Button
I have a Whirlpool Dishwasher that’s a few years old. The blue light on the start button no longer goes on , but the dishwasher has been working fine for at least a year without the light working. Now I can’t get the dishwasher to start when I press the START button. Interestingly, I can get it to start by pressing “Heated Dry,””Normal,””Heated Dry,””Normal” and then closing the door. I think this resets the dishwasher and it cleans normally. Just pressing START on the dishwasher doesn’t seem to work, though.
I have two questions
1-How can I fix this? What is the likely problem?
2-Is it bad for the dishwasher to be starting it by pressing “Heated Dry,””Normal,””Heated Dry,””Normal”? I have done this a few times already, but don’t want to break the dishwasher. Thanks for your help!!
Washer Needs Hard Reset
Whirlpool washing machines are built to endure the rigors of family life. When it comes time to clean, these appliances do a great job and some of them will even save you time! But when things go wrong, sometimes all you need is a simple reboot. A hard reset on your Whirlpool appliance wont delete any settings or information on your device and restart the unit.
If your washing machine isnt doing anything, and the outlet and circuit breaker are functioning properly, you may be able to perform a hard reset to get it working again. Unplug your washer for safetys sake and hold down the POWER and START buttons together for 5 seconds. Then, hold down PLAY and PAUSE together for 5 seconds. Plug the machine back in and press POWER to turn it on.
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How To Reset A Whirlpool Dishwasher
Does your Whirlpool dishwasher need to be reset?
Then youre in the right place.
In this guide, we will give you easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions for how to reset your dishwasher so that you can start using it again.
Before we get into how to reset your dishwasher, lets start by explaining why you need to do it.
Sometimes, the control board which manages all of the dishwasher functions can become faultyespecially if you experience a power surge or outage. When this happens, it can result in your dishwasher not being able to run through a cycle properly, so your dishes come out dirty or the dishwasher doesnt run at all.
The good news is most of the time this can be solved by doing a simple reset. Simply follow our steps below.
This guide covers most major models of Whirlpool dishwashers, including:
7DP840CWDB0
How Do I Reset My Whirlpool Dishwasher Control Board
Its easy to reset a Whirlpool dishwashers control board. Follow these steps:
- Press the dishwashers off button
- Unplug the dishwasher from the power source
- Let the dishwasher rest for at least 15 minutes
- After the minutes elapse, select pots and pans or high from the board
- Wait for a minute or two and choose one of the hot wash cycles
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Disabling The Control Lock
You might have to disable the sleep mode by pressing either the start or resume button or the cancel button separately. You can also disable sleep mode by opening and then closing the door prior to hitting the cancel button.
When you press and hold the lock button for four seconds, it should turn the control lock feature off. You should notice that the light indicating the lock light will turn off. For more information about this feature, consult the user manual.
Clean The Buttons Thoroughly
If you find that your dishwasher is still not working properly, you need to clean the buttons thoroughly. There are plenty of cleaning options available, but you may want to use an ammonia face cleaner. This is a great way to break down food, dust, debris, and oil that could be inhibiting the dishwasher.
When you use ammonia, you should make sure to wear gloves and goggles. That way, you can protect yourself against health risks. Furthermore, you should also avoid mixing ammonia with bleach. This can lead to a toxic solution that can be dangerous to your health.
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