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If your Kitchenaid dishwasher won’t work, perhaps it only needs a reset- resetting these dishwashers usually fixes a range of issues.
Now, if your manual does not include Kitchenaid dishwasher reset sequence (or you can’t quite find it), this kitchenaid dishwasher troubleshooting guide will come in handy.
Read to the end.
Kitchenaid dishwasher reset sequence – how to quickly reset your Kitchenaid dishwasher
There are several ways you can reset the appliance – and you may, on occasion, need to try all of them (sometimes a method may not work depending on the fault that has occurred).
Here is a quick look at each of the procedures starting with the simplest:
Option 1: Disconnect it from power source (cycling power)
Disconnecting it from power usually resets the machine and could be all you need to do to get rid of some of the problems.
This is no doubt the easiest way of resetting a Kitchenaid dishwasher and it is what most owners prefer.
To be clear, you have two options here – how you cut off power to it will be determined by how the machine is connected to power supply.
So:
Is your unit plugged into an electrical outlet?
If your answer is “Yes”, then all you need to do to have it reset is unplug it from the outlet and wait a minute.
You then plug it back in and observe how it acts.
Is your unit hard-wired to power supply?
On the other hand, if the dishwasher has been hard-wired to power supply, you cut power to the machine by turning the circuit breaker off.
In short, go to your home’s electrical panel and flip the breaker that powers it off.
You again need to wait a minute before turning the circuit breaker back on.
That’s all– the job is just about done and your dishwasher could start washing dishes without issues once more.
Option 2: Kitchenaid dishwasher control panel reset
Resetting the control panel simply erases the control panel computer system and the machine may resume running normally, once the memory is re-written.
And you can do that by pressing a specific button sequence (rather than cycle power to the appliance).
Below are the buttons sequence to be pressed:
How to reset Kitchenaid dishwasher control panel
The actual buttons sequence varies by model (and it is important to check what your manual says).
However, the following button sequence work for most Kitchenaid dishwasher models:
Simply press the following buttons in quick sequence- “Hi Temp Scrub” (or “Hi Temp Wash” button) then “Energy Saver Dry” (or “Air Dry” button).
As you can see, in some models, you press the “Hi Temp Wash” button instead of “Hi Temp Scrub” and the “Air Dry” button in place of “Energy Saver Dry”.
The thing is, you should press the button that has a similar operation to the listed button (the buttons may be labeled just “Hi-temp” and “Heated dry” respectively in selected models).
What to keep in mind
Be sure to shut the door and latch it completely before pressing the above buttons.
That is crucial because the button sequence will only work when the door is properly shut.
This is important!
Now, you typically need to press these buttons five times (alternating between them) to have the machine reset.
What happens next
After the buttons have been pressed five times, you should notice the LEDs (above the buttons) illuminate or blink – this signals that the machine is actively going through a reset.
It is worth mentioning that some models will actually run service diagnostics once the process has started (you may hear it make a variety of sounds depending on what is being tested).
Remember that you need to let it finish the self-testing.
Please be patient since it can take a couple of minutes.
To add, it may be necessary to press the “Cancel” / “Cancel-Drain” button once it has completed the service diagnostics.
Once you do that, a drain cycle will be started after which the machine can start your new desired washing cycle (Press “START/RESUME”).
What problems does resetting the control panel resolve?
For the most part, you should first perform a control panel reset when troubleshooting issues such as where Kitchenaid dishwasher buttons are not working (a few or the entire button set).
What to do if your Kitchenaid dishwasher control panel is not working (so the above Kitchenaid dishwasher reset button sequence won’t work)
Your only solution if the control panel is not functioning and you want to reset the control panel is rebooting the unit via the circuit breaker or by unplugging it for a minute.
Quick Tip: If your Kitchenaid dishwasher appears not to have power (there are no lights), check if the Control Lock may have been activated by accident and de-activate it. You might be aware that the control panel won’t work once the control lock has been set.
How to reset Kitchenaid dishwasher wash cycle
Finally, if you just want to reset a wash cycle, you just need to press the “Cancel” / “Cancel-Drain” button (this was mentioned before).
And, of course, you need to press “Start/Resume” button to start a new normal wash cycle.
Wrapping it up
Much like other brands of dishwasher, resetting your Kitchenaid dishwasher control system could occasionally solve the faults that are preventing it from working.
You either reboot it entirely by switching it off at the circuit breaker or by unplugging the appliance (and waiting a minute).
The final method when it comes to resetting the control panel computer system is pressing the right Kitchenaid dishwasher reset sequence (buttons) depending on your specific model.
We hope this helps someone out there.
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