Samsung Dishwasher Stops Mid-Cycle? (here’s why & what to do)

If you own a Samsung dishwasher and it has stopped mid-cycle it can be annoying and worrying. You’re faced with the prospect of hand washing your dishes as well as a costly repair bill.

But this is not always the case, there are several fixes that can be performed by anyone with only the slightest DIY skills.

In this article we look at all of the reasons why your Samsung dishwasher might stop mid-cycle and offer solutions to these issues.

Why Would A Samsung Dishwasher Stop Mid-Cycle?

There are a number of reasons why a Samsung dishwasher might stop mid-cycle which include;

Probable Cause	Solution
Dishes Loaded Incorrectly	Reload the dishes in the correct way
Circuit Breaker Tripped	Reset the circuit breaker
Dirty or Clogged Filter	Clean the filter
Defective Door Latch	Inspect and repair/replace the door latch if necessary
Defective Door Seal	Inspect and replace the door seal if necessary
Defective Water Inlet Valve	Inspect and replace the water inlet valve if necessary
Drain Pump Malfunction	Inspect and replace the drain pump if necessary
Defective Thermostat	Inspect and replace the thermostat if necessary
Defective Heating Element	Check and replace the heating element if necessary
Faulty Pressure Switch	Check and replace the pressure switch if necessary
Blown Thermal Fuse	Inspect and replace the thermal fuse if necessary
Faulty Motor	Inspect and replace the motor if necessary
Control Board Malfunction	Perform a reset, if symptoms persist contact a technician

Let’s take a closer look at each of these issues;

Dishes Not Loaded Correctly

If the dishes have been loaded into the dishwasher in a manner that prevents the spray arms from distributing water properly, or prevents the spray arms from rotating at all, the dishwasher is likely to stop mid-cycle.

There’s also the possibility of the nozzles on the spray arms becoming clogged with food particles, grease, fat or even limescale. If the nozzles become clogged, it will restrict the flow of water through the appliance which could also stop it mid-cycle.

You will need to check that the dishes are correctly stacked without impeding the movement of the spray arms, and check that the spray arms are clean and free from any blockages.

Circuit Breaker Tripped 

If your dishwasher is connected to a circuit breaker or fuse box, check that the circuit breaker hasn’t tripped or the relevant fuse hasn’t blown. If this is the cause of the problem, sometimes resetting the breaker or replacing the fuse could solve it.

However, if it keeps on happening, there will be an underlying cause which will need to be addressed. There could be a faulty electrical connection, frayed or damaged power cord, or the control board could be malfunctioning.

If the circuit breaker or fuse keeps needing to be reset, you should contact a technician to investigate further.

Dirty Or Clogged Filter

All of the waste water and food particles etc, pass through the filter which can over time become clogged. This can be enough to stop the dishwasher mid-cycle.

You can access the filter by removing the lower rack and twisting the filter anti-clockwise. It will then lift out and can be washed under fast running water or for stubborn stains, soaked in a bowl of warm soapy water or a 50/50 mix of white vinegar and warm water.

Really stubborn stains can be removed using a toothbrush. Once the filter is clean, replace it into its housing and turn clockwise to ensure it is fitted correctly.

Some filters come in 2 parts: a larger coarse mesh and a smaller fine mesh. You should clean both and ensure they are in place correctly before reusing the dishwasher.

Defective Door Latch

When you close the door on your Samsung dishwasher, you should hear the door latch click in place. This then forms a watertight seal preventing any water leaking onto your kitchen floor.

If the door latch doesn’t click into place correctly it could cause the appliance to stop mid-cycle. You will need to check that the latch and strike plate are aligned correctly.

If not you can try to align it by adjusting the position once the screws have been loosened. If the latch and strike plate are in the correct alignment, you will probably need to replace the door spring or latch.

We recommend getting a technician to do this task for you.

Defective Door Seal

The door seal or gasket as it is also known, is the rubber bit that’s fitted all around the door. It acts as a watertight seal to prevent water from leaking from the door area when the dishwasher is running.

The seal can become a harbour for food particles and other debris including pieces of broken crockery and glassware. This can prevent the door from sealing properly and can cause the dishwasher to stop mid-cycle.

It is also possible for the rubber door seal to become worn and start to perish over time. This could lead to the seal failing and cause a leak which would also cause the appliance to stop mid-cycle.

You will need to inspect the door seal for any dirt accumulations or any worn areas and clean or replace the seal if necessary.

Defective Water Inlet Valve

All of the water that enters the dishwasher comes in via the inlet valve. It regulates the water flow through the dishwasher allowing the correct amount of water in at the right time.

If the inlet valve becomes defective, it can lead to there not being enough water to wash the dishes. This will cause the dishwasher to stop mid-cycle.

There is a small filter or screen located just inside the valve that can become clogged with grit or limescale. You can check this by turning the water supply tap off and removing the inlet hose.

The screen can be seen just inside the lug and can be removed using a pair of long-nosed pliers. You can then gently wash the screen and remove any blockages. This could solve the issue, but it’s more likely that the inlet valve has developed a fault.

You will need to get the inlet valve replaced which can be tricky so we recommend getting a technician to do this for you.

Drain Pump Malfunction

All of the waste water that leaves the dishwasher does so because of the drain pump. If the drain pump malfunctions, it can lead to the water not draining properly and cause the dishwasher to stop mid-cycle.

This can be caused by the drain hose being twisted, kinked or blocked which can be solved easily by straightening the hose or removing it and clearing any blockage using fast running water or a plumber’s snake.

Or it could be something more serious like the impeller is damaged or the pump motor is defective. If you suspect the drain pump is faulty, we recommend getting a technician to investigate as it is difficult to access the drain pump.

Defective Thermostat

The thermostat regulates the temperature in the dishwasher. Ensuring the water is at the correct temperature for washing and drying the dishes.

If the thermostat develops a fault, it could cause the dishwasher to overheat or not get hot at all. Either way it could stop the dishwasher mid-cycle.

The thermostat can only be accessed by dismantling panels on the appliance which is why we recommend contacting a technician to check and replace the thermostat for you.

Defective Heating Element

If the thermostat is fine, it could be the heating element that is defective. You will need to dismantle the dishwasher to access the heating element which is why we recommend getting a technician to do this for you.

If it does prove to be defective, the heating element will need to be replaced.

Faulty Pressure Switch

Dishwashers have a pressure switch installed that detects the amount of water in the tub. As the water level rises, the air pressure changes and once it gets to a certain point, the pressure switch is triggered.

This notifies the control board that enough water has entered the tub and the control board shuts the inlet valve off.

If the pressure switch develops a fault, it can shut the appliance off mid-cycle. Consult your user manual for the location of the pressure switch and inspect, clean or replace as necessary.

Blown Thermal Fuse

The thermal fuse is a safety feature designed to protect the components of the dishwasher if it ever overheats. Once the temperature inside the dishwasher gets past a certain set point, the thermal fuse will blow, cutting the power to the dishwasher off.

The dishwasher will not start again until the thermal fuse is replaced. Consult your user manual on the location of the thermal fuse and check it for continuity using a multimeter or contact a technician.

Faulty Motor

The motor is responsible for powering all of the moving parts on the dishwasher. If the motor develops a fault it can cause any of these parts to stop working which could cause the dishwasher to stop mid-cycle.

As the motor is difficult to access, we recommend getting a technician to investigate this and replace if necessary.

Control Board Malfunction

The control board manages every component on the dishwasher. It sends and receives messages that facilitate the smooth running of the appliance.

If the control board malfunctions it could cause any of the components to fail to operate correctly which could cause the dishwasher to stop mid-cycle.

In some cases the control board could malfunction because of an electrical glitch. This can often be cleared by performing a reset which involves; Disconnecting the power supply for 10 to 15 minutes.

This allows any residual power to dissipate. After the time has passed, you can reconnect the power supply and see if the dishwasher functions properly again.

If the reset fails to solve the issue, you will need to get the control board checked out and ultimately replaced. As the control board can easily become damaged, we recommend getting a technician to do this for you.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Dishwasher Touchpad Not Working

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