LG Dishwasher Won’t Start But Has Power? Here’s why & what to do

Dishwashers are great labour saving devices and in a recent survey washing dishes was the least popular household chore. LG is a brand that can be trusted and has been making dishwashers for many years. However, even the best can go wrong occasionally.

If you own a LG dishwasher and it has power but won’t start, keep reading. In this article we look at the reasons why your LG dishwasher won’t start and give solutions to this annoying problem.

Why Does My LG Dishwasher Have Power But Won’t Start?

There are several reasons why a LG dishwasher won’t start but has power they include;

Possible Cause	Solution
Faulty power cord	Replace power cord
Door Not Closed Fully	Ensure the door is closed, the latch is not defective or the sensor is faulty
Control Lock/Child Lock Activated	Deactivate the control lock/child lock
Stuck Cycle	Perform a hard reset
Blown Thermal Fuse	Replace thermal fuse
Faulty Control Panel	Replace the control panel
Motor Start Relay Defective	Replace the motor start relay
Faulty Selector Switch	Replace the selector switch
Defective Drive Motor	Replace the drive motor
Faulty Control Board	Replace the control board

Let’s look at each of these in more detail

Faulty Power Cord

If your LG dishwasher isn’t receiving enough power, it cannot operate correctly. Check the power cord for any frays or loose connections and replace if necessary.

Door Not Fully Closed

All dishwashers have sensors that notify the control board when the door is fully closed that it’s safe to operate the appliance. If the door is not fully closed, the dishwasher will not start. 

You need to check for any out of place racks, dishes protruding into the door area, pan handles, utensils etc that are preventing the door from closing correctly.

The problem could also be caused by small particles of food or grease etc or even small pieces of broken crockery or glass blocking the door seal even slightly. Check all around the door seal and remove any obstructions however small.

If all of the above is clear, it could be the door latch itself which is faulty and will need to be replaced. Or it could be the door sensor which will also need to be replaced if it proves to be faulty.

Control Lock/Child Lock Activated

The control lock or child lock as it is also called, is a safety device designed to stop inquisitive little hands messing with your dishwasher. This will prevent them from hurting themselves, or damaging your appliance.

If the control lock/child lock has been activated, the appliance will light up, but none of the buttons will respond. You will need to deactivate the control lock to allow the buttons to become responsive again.

Stuck Cycle

This is a problem which has been known to prevent a LG dishwasher from continuing with its programme. For whatever reason the appliance stops mid-cycle.

To clear this you’ll need to perform a hard reset by disconnecting the power supply for 10 to 15 minutes. Then reconnecting the power and switching the appliance back on and selecting a new wash cycle.

Thermal Fuse Blown

The thermal fuse is another safety feature designed to prevent any of the internal components of your LG dishwasher from becoming damaged.

If the appliance gets too hot, the thermal fuse will blow which shuts off power to the appliance. You will need to replace the thermal fuse before the dishwasher will work again.

Defective Control Panel

One of the main reasons why a LG dishwasher might not start is because of a faulty control panel. The first thing to try is to reset the dishwasher by disconnecting the power supply for 10 to 15 minutes before reconnecting the power and switching the dishwasher back on. 

If this doesn’t work, you’ll need to replace the control panel. You can do this yourself if you feel confident or you can call in a technician to do this for you.

If you decide to do it yourself, you will need to;

1. Disconnect the appliance from the power supply
2. Open the door and unscrew the screws using a Philips screwdriver
3. Pull the control panel away from the door
4. Remove the electrical connectors and remove the control panel
5. Replace the control panel and reassemble the door

Defective Motor Start Relay

The motor start relay supplies power to the motor start windings until the motor starts. If this relay becomes defective, it will need to be replaced.

It can be found close to the pump behind the lower access panel on most LG dishwashers. You will need to check for continuity and if it fails this test the start relay will need to be replaced.

Faulty Selector Switch

The selector switch determines the settings for all of the wash cycles on your LG dishwasher. Check for continuity using a multimeter to determine whether the selector switch is working or not. If the selector switch is faulty it will need to be replaced.

Defective Drive Motor

The drive motor powers the circulation pump which forces water through the spray arms of your LG dishwasher. If the drive motor is faulty, there will be no high pressure water spray and no clean dishes.

The drive motor will need replacing if it is defective to do this you will need to;

1. Disconnect the power supply
2. Remove the lower access panel
3. Dismantle all of the components including the water connection hose, drain hose, etc (we recommend taking photos of each step so you can easily reconnect everything when finished)
4. Remove the drive motor and replace with a new one
5. Reassemble the components and replace the lower access panel

Faulty Control Board

The control board connects to the control panel and communicates with each component needed to run a particular task. If the control board is defective there will be a breakdown in communication within the appliance leading to it not starting.

If the control board fails a continuity test (you should get a reading of 2000 to 3500 ohms), it will need to be replaced.

SEE ALSO: Best Dishwasher Tablets

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