Dishwasher Stopped Mid-Cycle and It Will Not Run Now

Door Latch and Switch

• A faulty door latch or switch may cause the dishwasher to stop mid-cycle and not start again. A defective latch may intermittently send a signal to the control board that the door is not secure, which causes the dishwasher to shut off and remain off until the door is shut firmly. The door switch works in concert with the latch, and if this part is defective, it will prevent the machine from operating.

Fuse or Circuit Breaker

• The dishwasher may have stopped mid-cycle and refused to start again as a result of a blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker. Some homes have fuse boxes while other residences have breaker boxes, but both work to stop current during an overload or short, thereby protecting the home’s electrical circuits. It is important to remember that these interruptions usually occur for a reason, so the source of the problem -- which could be unrelated to the dishwasher -- should be identified before replacing the fuse or resetting the breaker.

Water Heating Problem

• An internal problem with the dishwasher’s water heating system may produce an abrupt mid-cycle stop and prevent the appliance from starting again. Since water should be heated to a certain level to effectively wash the load, the control board is designed to cut off the appliance if the proper temperature has not been reached. There may be a short in the heater circuit wires, or the control board may have a defective heater drive circuit.

Wiring

• According to the Repair Clinic website, there are several wiring issues that may cause the dishwasher to stop mid-cycle and not start again. The main wiring connection from the house to the dishwasher may be severed, burned or defective in some other way. In addition, the wiring to the timer or door switch could be the culprit. Also, the wiring between the door and the bottom portion of the dishwasher could be at fault. The ACME appliance repair website recommends inspecting electrical cords for visible damage, which could include black stains or burns on the cord or outlet or other unusual marks to indicate that the cord has been twisted or strained.