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Is your Whirlpool dishwasher experiencing an issue? Follow the Whirlpool dishwasher troubleshooting reset procedure in this guide to try and fix your appliance.
Dishwashers are pretty much like computers and resetting the appliance’s system sometimes solves a surprisingly large number of problems.
This guide will take you through the steps to follow to reset a whirlpool dishwasher.
Whirlpool dishwasher troubleshooting reset procedure [step-by-step]
Below is the procedure to follow to reset your whirlpool dishwasher:
Whirlpool dishwasher troubleshooting reset instructions
To reset your Whirlpool dishwasher control panel:
- Disconnect it from power source for about one minute (you wait for a minute to allow the electrical charge clear out of your dishwasher)
- After one minute, plug the dishwasher back into its power source.
This is the procedure to be followed if your appliance is plugged into an electrical outlet.
What if the dishwasher is hard-wired to power supply?
If your dishwasher is hard-wired to your household’s power supply, follow these steps:
- Go where your home’s electrical panel is located and turn the breaker that powers your dishwasher off.
- After one minute, turn the circuit breaker back on.
That’s it. That is all it will take to reset the machine.
Reasons to Reset
Cold rebooting your dishwasher, which is what you do when you disconnect power to the machine often fixes problems such as:
- Weird electronic glitches – a good example is unusual faults that might start occurring after power goes out.
- Error codes (in the memory of the appliance)– Performing a reset sometimes helps get rid of an error that is stuck in its memory (causing the machine not to work properly).
Help! Resetting has not helped
If resetting doesn’t make your dishwasher to start working properly once more, then it surely needs additional troubleshooting.
In fact, for instances where you had an error code, resetting the machine will not prevent the error code from coming back- it is likely to keep reappearing until you address the issue that is the root cause of the concerned error.
Here’s a couple of examples of the most common Whirlpool dishwasher issues in which performing a reset alone might not help and links to guides spelling out the full troubleshooting steps of each specific issue:
Control board problems
If the dishwasher is showing signs of a troubled control board, a reset may not necessarily fix that.
Check out our Whirlpool dishwasher control board problems troubleshooting guide to learn how to resolve the issue permanently.
The start button on your Whirlpool dishwasher is not working
If the start button on your Whirlpool dishwasher won’t work, there are a few possible culprits and resetting the machine may not make the button functional again.
Check out our Whirlpool dishwasher start button not working troubleshooting guide to find out what else you should try.
Whirlpool dishwasher not turning on
If your appliance won’t turn on no matter what you do, then it’s unlikely to start coming on after a reset.
In other words, you need to do more troubleshooting to have it turn on once more.
In that case, you should try out the tips in our Whirlpool dishwasher not turning on repair guide.
Whirlpool dishwasher not cleaning
If your dishwasher won’t wash the dishes properly anymore, often the culprit is its circulation pump (and ultimately you might need to replace it).
Here is how you can test the circulation pump on your dishwasher and how to replace it (if necessary).
Try to run Whirlpool dishwasher diagnostics
Another option if you have not been successful so far is running service diagnostics on your Whirlpool dishwasher.
Now, most Whirlpool dishwashers are programmed with a handy service/diagnostic mode that can go a long way in helping you close in on the cause of a fault when troubleshooting the appliance.
So it is a good idea to run service diagnostics if resetting has not helped and you still have no clue about what is causing the issue troubling your machine.
Read our Whirlpool dishwasher diagnostic mode guide to learn how to make your machine go into diagnostic mode.
Help! I have a different problem
Here are other problems that are unlikely to be fixed with a simple reset and a link to their repair guides:
- Soap dispenser won’t open- If the door to the soap dispenser in your dishwasher is not opening, then it’s usually an issue that needs you to check a few things. Try out the fixes in this guide and see how it goes.
- Dishwasher won’t drain properly- If your dishwasher is having a drain issue, again a reset rarely works and there are a few things that could need addressing. Here is a good guide to point you in the right direction.
Now, if your machine is having a lot of problems and you really do not know where to start, then it could be time to troubleshoot it comprehensively.
To help you, we have prepared a super detailed Whirlpool dishwasher troubleshooting guide that looks at myriad Whirlpool dishwasher faults and their likely solutions. Go through it.
Make use of your machine’s owner’s manual
Your owner’s manual can be another useful resource when it comes to repairing your dishwasher.
Access it and go to the troubleshooting section and see if there are things you have not yet tried and try them out.
If you’d like to download a new copy of your appliance’s owner’s manual (perhaps you have misplaced your original copy), please visit Whirlpool® dishwashers manuals and other Literature page.
Summing it up
A whirlpool dishwasher that suddenly won’t run doesn’t automatically mean that it’s broken and in need of expensive service.
In truth, a variety of problems can occur and trouble its operation from time to time during its service life.
Thankfully, many can be sorted out with a quick reset or reboot of your dishwasher’s computerized system.
Follow the above Whirlpool dishwasher troubleshooting reset procedure to try and fix your appliance each time it is experiencing an issue.
Also, be sure to try out the other fixes if resetting it has not helped.
MORE READING:
How to reset whirlpool front loader washer step-by-step
