Whirlpool gold series dishwasher troubleshooting [Fix it now!]

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If your whirlpool gold series dishwasher is not working anymore, there are tricks you can try and have it work again (you do not necessarily need to make that expensive service call).

This exhaustive whirlpool gold series dishwasher troubleshooting guide will teach you how to fix your machine and get it to wash again properly.

Table of Contents

Whirlpool gold series dishwasher troubleshooting – the tricks to try depending on the problem you’re experiencing

Like other dishwashers, resetting the appliance’s system can help clear some of the issues and it is worth trying.

In fact, it is a smart idea to always start your whirlpool gold dishwasher troubleshooting by resetting it.

Whirlpool gold series dishwasher reset

Below is how to reset a whirlpool gold series dishwasher:

How to reset whirlpool gold series dishwasher (whirlpool gold dishwasher troubleshooting reset procedure)

To have it reset, all you need to do is kill power to the machine.

Now, if plugged into an outlet, simply unplug it for about a minute then plug it back in.

But if hard-wired, turn off the breaker (for a couple of minutes) then turn it back on.

This will perform a hard reset on the unit’s system and may help get rid of pesky issues.

If that has not helped, it means you’ll need to do further troubleshooting.

To point you in the right direction, here is how to repair myriad whirlpool gold series dishwasher problems:

Whirlpool gold series dishwasher troubleshooting – how to resolve whirlpool gold series dishwasher common problems

Whirlpool Gold Dishwasher – cycle interrupts mid-cycle and the ‘clean’ light flashes

If the cycle stops midway and clean light flashes, you most likely have a heating circuit problem.

Check if the wire going to the heater has been burned – actually, you need to check the entire wiring up to your main control board.

If you don’t notice a scorched wire harness, perhaps the heater needs to be replaced.

The culprit can also be the board itself.

Otherwise, you should run service diagnostics to see what error code the machine will bring – this can give you a clue on what part is causing the hitch.

Whirlpool gold series dishwasher not draining

The next problem in our Whirlpool gold series dishwasher troubleshooting guide is drainage problems.

Now, if your whirlpool gold series dishwasher won’t drain, try the following:

1. Check the drain hose diameter (it could be inadequate)

Here the repair is straightforward- simply upgrade to a properly-sized drain hose.

2. Clear potential obstructions

Check for and clear any obstructions in the drain hose/path.

To do that:

Unplug the washer/disconnect power.
Check for debris and grime from the sump check valve to the plumbing.

Quick Tip: Don’t forget to check the plumbing connection (where the unit actually connects to the sink). You want to unhook the drain hose them clean out everything. It is also important to clean that little ‘nipple’ that comes off the sink drain.

3. Ensure there is a high loop (in drain line)

It should be higher than your discharge connection (in the sink).

This prevents water from running back (from the sink).

4. Replace the drain pump

If the drainage problem is still there, probably the impeller in the drain pump is stripped/jammed.

In that case, the entire drain pump needs to be replaced.

Whirlpool gold series dishwasher not cleaning adequately

If your whirlpool gold series dishwasher won’t wash properly, try the following:

Select proper wash cycle settings -try to select “High Temp” for a better wash performance.
Check spray arm rotation– remove any obstructions that could be impeding spray arm rotation. Also, check the spray arm nozzles. If debris is clogging your orifices, clean it out.
Clean the filters – they may be significantly dirty.
Clean the whole sump assembly– remove the sump assembly then clean it.
Replace the circulation pump (wash pump)– you could be looking at a bad wash pump issue.

Other potential fixes

Check for soap dispenser problems– use rinseaid and make sure the soap dispenser is operating perfectly (more on resolving soap dispenser problems shortly).
Check for heating fault– It could be washing properly because the heater won’t heat properly and it needs to be replaced (first test if your heating element shows continuity –Your water heater “should” be OK, if there is continuity).
Check if water is hot enough– run water until hot enough (at the sink) then retry.
Other potential solutions– There are a few other possibilities -a faulty board, a bad diverter, or even thermistor. Replace, as necessary.

Whirlpool gold series dishwasher soap dispenser problems

If your soap dispenser won’t open or you are having soap issues such as soap pooling at the bottom, attempt these tricks:

Switch to a different soap

Try using powder soap and check if you’ll get different results.

Pods sometimes suck and won’t break down properly causing soap problems.

Fill rinse aid properly

Verify that rinseaid is filled according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Remove items from lower rack

If soap is not dispensing, there is a chance that dishes you have placed in the lower rack are blocking the lid (or the spray of water to the dispenser).

Remove them.

Dissolve the suds (and clear any soap buildup)

If the dishwasher is full of suds –this can cause the lid not to open- fill your soap dispenser with premium white vinegar and run a cycle. This will come in handy in dissolving the suds.

And while at it, be sure to clean up any soap buildup residue on the latch grooves and the soap dispenser lid itself –hot damp cloth can work well.

Don’t forget that the lid latch could be binding due to persistent overflowing of detergent in the mechanism.

Whirlpool gold series dishwasher not drying

If your whirlpool gold series dishwasher won’t dry, try the following:

Check rinseaid level- always be sure to fill it with rinseiad as instructed in the owners manual.
Use heat dry option – this typically boosts the drying performance.
Check the heating element– if it doesn’t have continuity, then you probably need to replace it to have the machine start drying sufficiently again. If it’s not broken, be sure to check the wires hooked up to the heating element.
Try using Jet Dry– this sometimes helps a god bit.
Fix/replace drying fan motor- the drying fan motor (for units with a fan) might be having a glitch that is leading to wet dishes. You should check the resistance of the fan motor and each connection in fan circuit. Fix any open connections/replace the fan.
Fix/replace your wash motor –the wash motor could be the fault so test resistances (in your wash circuit) for any loose connections and fix them/replace your wash motor.
Change diverter motor– there is a diverter problem due to a bad motor. Test the resistances and replace it, if needed.
Check the soap dispenser – check if there are problems with the soap dispenser and try to fix them as explained earlier.
Replace control board – as a last resort, the fault may be with the control so replace it and see.
Run self-test – if it is still acting it, running self-diagnostics can tell you if there is another error.

Whirlpool gold series dishwasher won’t start /whirlpool gold series dishwasher won’t power on

If your whirlpool gold series dishwasher won’t turn on or start a cycle, try these fixes:

Test the plug- if plugged in, reach the electrical plug and test it with your meter. Fix it, if not fine.
Fix the power cord– the power cord going to the outlet may be damaged.
Check the breaker plus the wires in the box underneath the unit– turn breaker on/ replace any burnt wires.
Check the thermal fuse– if the machine has no power and no lights (and you’ve already confirmed supply voltage), check the thermal fuse on your control board (replace, if blown- you can use an electric sensor to check if electricity is going to/from this fuse).
Replace the board– the board is a bit expensive but you may have to spend on it if everything else fails to make the unit power on.

Whirlpool gold series dishwasher start button not working

Make sure the door is closed completely and latched– the machine may be thinking the door is not closed and won’t start.
Turn on water supply- the machine needs water supply to be on to start. Confirm this.
Cancel “Delay start”/ “Sleep mode”/ “Control Lock”- all these could prevent a dishwasher from starting a cycle.
Check your “cancel/drain” button – if the cancel button is stuck halfway depressed, the start button might stop responding. Try to press “start” and “cancel” alternatively the cancel button pops back out.
Replace the touchpad/control panel– first (while it’s disconnected from power), disconnect the ribbon going from your board to the touchpad/control panel then close the unit’s door. Now reconnect power.. If your appliance goes into drain mode, it is a confirmation that the keypad is damaged and needs to be changed out.

Whirlpool gold series dishwasher won’t latch

If the door doesn’t latch shut, try the following:

Use more force- Sometimes the dishwasher needs more force to close.
Ensure the machine is level– The issue may occur if it was not leveled properly during installation.
Remove any protruding dishes in the racks – Check if there are any hindering dishes in the racks and remove them.
Modify the catch plate– Try to make the catch plate engage better. You can, for instance, use a dremel tool to modify the little notch (that engage with the frame -on the tub). That could make the catch plate stick out further so that it will engage more solidly with your latch.
Fix the Hinges – Try to repair them if they appear bent (check their angle too).
Try a new door gasket- The door gasket is a common issue when the latch is not closing.
Check the door spring – The spring could be interfering so check and try to correct its position.
Replace the door latch assembly– The latch may have finally given way. Here is a replacement latch that works for most whirlpool dishwashers
Replace the door– If the door is warped badly, you might need to buy a replacement to fix the issue permanently.

Whirlpool gold series dishwasher won’t fill with water

Possible solutions:

Confirm that water is turned on

Check that hot water is indeed on (ensure that the valve feeding the dishwasher is turned on).

Check the water line for clogging

If the water line is confirmed on, follow the hoses to inside of the machine (to the pump) to make sure no kinks are holding water back.

Check the float switch

Something may be keeping it up, stopping the appliance from filling (ensure it is all free and clear).

You can then listen to hear if the float clicks when you move it up/down manually.

If it does, then it is not the issue.

Check for clogged/bad water inlet valve

Clear any clogging in the intake/solenoid valve (pull the water hose and adapter off your water inlet valve and check if the screen is plugged with gunk then clean out everything).

If that doesn’t help, check if you will get appropriate voltage (check the tech sheet for specific voltage requirements but it’s typically 120V) from wire-to-wire going to the fill valve (when it ought to be filling).

If no voltage, you need to check the wires all the way to your control circuit.

Fix any damaged wire/loose connections.

Your other option is replacing the inlet valve.

Quick Tip: Sometimes filling problems occur due to the use of flood safe hose- food safe line sometimes cuts off water to the machine randomly and can be a nuisance. Consider swapping this troublesome hose.

Whirlpool gold series dishwasher won’t spray water

If this is the problem you have noticed, here are some troubleshooting ideas worth trying:

Take out the arms and check if they’re clogged

They can clog, for instance, due to hard water.

The repair is popping the spray arms off then soaking in vinegar for a while.

After that, try to use bamboo skewers (or something that can work in a similar way) to clear each clogged hole.

When to replace spray arms

If you think the spray arms are broken, remove your bottom spray arm and run the appliance.

It should hit the tub ceiling, forcefully with water.

Now, if it does that, replace spray arms (it means the spray arms are not working properly).

Otherwise, your next suspect will be the wash motor….

Replace the Wash motor

This is a pretty common cause of this failure on the gold series dishwashers.

Luckily, it is possible to replace the wash motor independently of your pump & motor assembly on most gold series models.

But if you can’t, you will have no choice but to replace the while pump-motor assembly.

Whirlpool gold series dishwasher troubleshooting -How to run diagnostics (and have error codes display)

There is one helpful option if you have not nailed the problem: get the machine to show you error code(s).

These usually point you to the component causing the problem to come up and is a good way to pin down the issue.

To have error codes appear on the display, you need to run service diagnostics.

Here is how:

Press any three (3) buttons except start – this should be in the order 1-2-3 1-2-3 1-2-3.

Now 1=first button, 2=second button, and 3=third button you select so you will be pressing the same button sequence 3 times in the order 1-2-3.

Once you do that, all the LED lights should light up.

Now, the clean button LED will flash if no error.

Otherwise, you will notice error codes in a two number format.

For instance, error code 7-1 means there is a heater problem.

Our Whirlpool gold series dishwasher diagnostic mode guide will help you track down and fix the problematic component.

Final words

As we wrap up our Whirlpool gold series dishwasher troubleshooting guide, keep the following in mind:

If you still have your proof of purchase and your machine is still under the manufacturer’s warranty, you could have it serviced at no cost.

Confirm if your Whirlpool warranty is still in force (mostly it covers one year) and reach out to Whirlpool and explain your issue.

Also, under the unit’s kick panel, there should be a very helpful tech sheet- check it out for more Whirlpool gold series dishwasher troubleshooting tips.

Good luck.