Having the correct Whirlpool dishwasher troubleshooting guide is priceless. It makes it easy to quickly identify and fix a dishwasher fault without worrying about calling an expert or waiting for ages for Whirlpool to return your call.
The commonest Whirlpool dishwasher troubleshooting problems include a dishwasher that won’t turn on, clean dishes, drain, fill up with water, or dispense detergent. Other issues include a leaking and smelly dishwasher.
So, I’ll walk you through these seven dishwasher problems, emphasizing their most probable triggers and fixes. Ultimately, that should enable you to understand and fix the problem accordingly.
But first, let me describe the diagnostic process as it helps determine why your Whirlpool dishwasher behaves the way it does. Through it, you can find fault codes, sometimes accompanied by flashing lights, pointing you in the fault’s direction.
In a rush? Perhaps you should check out the troubleshooting guide below to quickly fix your Whirlpool dishwasher!
Quick Whirlpool Dishwasher Troubleshooting Guide
| – | Dishwasher Problem | Likely Cause | Fix |
| 1. | The Dishwasher Won’t Turn On | Failed power or water supply, wrong setting, incompletely latched door, or poor dish loading | Ensure the dishwasher has power and the water supply is on, cancel/turn off Control Lock, Sleep Mode, or Sleep Mode, properly latch the dishwasher door, and load the dishes properly |
| 2. | Unclean Dishes | Over-packed dishes, detergent overuse, wrong cycle or water temperature, dirty interior, poor drainage, or leakage issues | Don’t overload the dishes; use the detergent as recommended, choose the correct setting, switch to a longer heat cycle if the water isn’t hot enough, clean a dirty tub, and fix any drainage or leakage issues |
| 3. | Poor Drainage | Clogged sump filter or drain or a non-working drain pump | Clean the sump filter or drain if clogged, and replace a defective drain pump |
| 4. | The Dishwasher Won’t Fill Up | The water supply is off, water leakage, clogged water line or fill valve, or faulty float switch or fill valve | Turn on the dishwasher’s water supply if it’s off, fix any leakage, unclog a clogged water line or fill valve, and replace a defective float switch or fill valve |
| 5. | Detergent Won’t Dispense | Clogged detergent dispenser, wrong water temperature, rack obstruction, or poor detergent storage | Clean/unclog the detergent dispenser, increase the water temperature to warm, rearrange the rack if obstructed, and store the detergent in airtight containers |
| 6. | Dishwasher Leaks | Wrong detergent, improper dish-loading, or damaged door seal | Use the recommended detergent, load the dishes properly, and replace a damaged door seal |
| 7. | Dishwasher Smells | Food residue/clogging | Clean the dishwasher, preferably with Affresh |
How Do I Run a Diagnostic On My Whirlpool Dishwasher?
Running diagnostics on the Whirlpool dishwasher is essential, as I mentioned earlier, as it allows you to get fault codes that tell you of a possible fault. So, try that, especially if you are unsure why your Whirlpool dishwasher behaves the way it does.
Here’s how to put a Whirlpool dishwasher on diagnostic mode:
- Plug out the dishwasher briefly
- Plug it back in and press the On/Off power switch + Start/Pause, all within 60 seconds of plugging it back
- Alternatively press Rinse + Start or Start/Cancel + Cycles (also within 60 seconds)
- Wait for the dishwasher to enter diagnostic
Whirlpool Dishwasher Troubleshooting Flashing Lights
Sometimes the dishwasher may only blink/flash to signal a fault before or after running the diagnostic. So, you’ve to determine the reason behind the flashing, and here’s a quick table t guide you.
| Flashing Light Behavior | Interpretation | Recommendation |
| All Cycles Flashing | Suspended cycle, primarily due to an opened door | Close the dishwasher door and restart the cycle |
| Clean Light Flashing | The water supply is off, suds sensed at the bottom, or a stuck overfill protection | Turn on the water if it’s off, avoid detergent overuse, and release a stuck overfill protection |
| Control Lock Flashing | Active Control Lock | Turn off the Control Lock |
| Rinse-Only Light Flashing | Possible stuck keys | Release any stuck keys |
| Start/Resume Light Flashing | Interrupted cycle/ opened door mid-cycle | Close the door and restart the dishwasher |
| Control Panel Flashing | A burnt heating element or bad drain pump | Replace the heating element or drain pump if any of them is faulty |
| Sani LED Flashing | Sanitization temperature (1200F) not reached | Reset the dishwasher |
Other worthy checks when the Whirlpool dishwasher flashes/blinks
You may also need to consider these issues if your Whirlpool dishwasher won’t stop flashing or blinking:
- Possible fault code – In that case, consider the above error codes
- Active delayed start – which you’ll need to turn off
- Malfunctioning water inlet valve
- Defective touchpad or control panel
- Door switch or door lock fault
- Control board problem
Whirlpool Dishwasher Troubleshooting Codes
Sometimes the LED flashing by your Whirlpool dishwasher may be accompanied by an error code. If so, decipher the error code and take appropriate action.
Here’s a troubleshooting guide to use on most Whirlpool dishwasher error codes:
| Error Code | Flashing Times | Meaning | Recommendation |
| F1 | 1 | Wrong water temperature | Adjust the water temperature and replace a defective heating element |
| F2 | 2 | Water leakage | Load the dishes, replace a defective door seal, and use the correct detergent. |
| F3 | 3 | Failed heating system | Replace the heating element if that doesn’t work, call a pro |
| F4 | 4 | Poor drainage | Check the sump filter and drains for clogging and clean them |
| F5 | 5 | Blocked washer motor | Unblock the washer motor |
| F6 | 6 | The dishwasher won’t fill up with water | Ensure the water supply is ON, fix any leakage, and unclog a clogged water line or fill valve |
| F7 | 7 | Flow meter fault | Replace the flow meter |
| F8 | 8 | Water level problem | Calla pro |
| F9 | 9 | The dishwasher won’t stop filling up | Call a pro |
| F10 | 10 | Faulty sensor | Replace the defective sensor |
7 Common Whirlpool Dishwasher Problems
Now, below are 7 of the most everyday Whirlpool dishwasher problems you can try troubleshooting with this guide:
1. Whirlpool Dishwasher Not Turning On (Not Starting)
If your Whirlpool dishwasher won’t turn on or start, you cannot use it. So, it’s imperative to act fast.
Here are the issues to check when the dishwasher won’t turn on:
- Failed power – The dishwasher won’t turn on if it doesn’t have power. In that case, check if the dishwasher is plugged in well and turned on, the outlet is working, the circuit breaker is not tripped, and the fuse is not blown-up.
- Failed water supply – If the water supply is not turned on, the dishwasher won’t start. So, you’ve to check if it’s on.
- Wrong setting – If settings such as Control Lock, Delayed Wash, and Sleep Mode are on, they’ll stop the dishwasher from starting.
- Incompletely latched door – The whirlpool dishwasher will also fail to turn on when it senses an open door. It could be that the door is not firmly locked or something obstructs it.
- Poor dish loading – If the dishes are poorly loaded into the dishwasher, enough to obstruct the spray arms, they’ll stop the dishwasher from turning on.
Fix
It’s recommendable to reset your dishwasher when it doesn’t start before attempting any other fix. But how do you reset Whirlpool dishwasher?
Well, the first option is a hard reset – where you unplug the dishwasher for about a minute and then plug it back. Alternatively, flip off its reset button for a minute and then flip it back on.
The second option involves pressing Start/Reset on the control panel. That is best when the dishwasher lights up but won’t start.
But if the reset fails, ensure the dishwasher has power. Start by checking if it’s plugged in firmly and turned on. And if it’s not, do just that.
Then check the settings. If Control Lock, Delayed Wash, or Sleep Mode is active, cancel or turn it off. You can turn off the Control Lock by holding the switch for about 4 seconds and cancel the Delayed Wash by pressing Cancel/Drain. On the other hand, press Start/Resume to override Sleep Mode.
If the dishwasher door is open, try to shut it firmly. As you do, check if there are obstructions and remove them, and if the door doesn’t lock, check if the door is okay. It could be broken, thus requiring a replacement.
2. Whirlpool Dishwasher Not Washing – Troubleshooting Guide
Are the dishes unclean after using the dishwasher? That means something is wrong.
Here are the reasons your Whirlpool dishwasher won’t wash the dishes clean:
- Over-packed dishes – If you overfill the dishes, they’ll obstruct the spray arms, making it harder for the dishwasher to clean them properly.
- Detergent overuse – If you use the wrong detergent, they may over-foam, and once that’s the case, the excess foam may interfere with the cleaning.
- Wrong cycle or water temperature – If the dishwasher water is not hot enough (hasn’t reached 1200F), the dishwasher will fail to clean the dishes.
- Dirty interior – If the dishwasher is filthy, the dirt may contaminate the dishes and thus come out dirty.
- Poor drainage – If the dishwasher doesn’t drain properly, dirty water will remain in the cleaning tub, causing the dishes to come out dirty.
- Leakage issues – If the dishwasher leaks, there is a chance that the dishes will come out dirty.
Fix
Don’t overload the dishes; use the detergent the manufacturer recommends (the correct amount). If the dishwasher water doesn’t get to 1200F, consider switching to a longer heat cycle to heat the water longer.
Meanwhile, clean the interior of your dishwasher and fix any drainage or leakage issues using the tips shared below.
3. Whirlpool Dishwasher Won’t Drain Properly
Proper drainage is essential for the appropriate cleaning by the dishwasher. If the water doesn’t drain, the dishes will come out dirty.
Overall, here are the issues to check when your Whirlpool dishwasher won’t drain properly:
- Clogged sump filter – The filter may block by food and dirt over time. Once that’s the case, the dishwasher cannot clean the dishes properly.
- Clogged drain – Food and debris can also block the drains. Once that happens, the clogging interferes with the water drainage.
- Non-working drain pump – The job of the drain pump is to push wastewater out. If it’s defective, it’s unable to do that.
Fix
Check the sump filters and drains for clogging and clean them. If you can’t clean the drains, call an expert. And if the drain pump is faulty, which you can tell by testing its motor with a multimeter, replace it. The lack of continuity affirms that.
4. Whirlpool Dishwasher Won’t Fill Up with Water
Though the dishwasher doesn’t fill up immediately, it usually doesn’t take long to do it. Some issues, however, may stop the dishwasher from filling up with water, and they include the following:
- Water supply is off – Your dishwasher won’t fill up with water if you don’t turn on its water supply.
- Water leakage – If the water leaks, it’ll take forever for the dishwasher to fill up with water. Often, this is due to a loose connection you must fix.
- Clogged water line or fill valve – Clogging in the water line or on the fill valve could interfere with the water fill-up process. So, you’ve to check the two for obstruction.
- Faulty float switch or fill valve – If the float switch or the fill valve is defective, it’ll stop the washer from filling up correctly.
Fix
Check the water supply and turn it on if it’s off. If there’s any loose connection that could be causing a leak, fix it. If you can’t, ask for an expert’s help.
In the meantime, check the water line and fill valve for clogging and clean them. And if the float switch or fill valve is malfunctioning, replace it.
5. Detergent Won’t Dispense
The detergent dispenser needs to dispense the detergent smoothly. If it doesn’t, there is a chance that the dishes won’t come out clean. In such a case, here are the issues to check:
- Clogged detergent dispenser – Sometimes, the residue detergent can clog the dispenser and prevent it from dispensing. That happens over time when you fail to clean the dispenser after use.
- Wrong water temperature – If the dishwasher water is too cold, it may interfere with dispensing detergent. It should be at least warm.
- Rack obstruction – Sometimes, the rack, due to incorrect arrangement, can obstruct the detergent dispenser. Once that’s the case, the detergent dispenser is unable to dispense.
- Poor detergent storage – Ideally, you should store the detergent in an airtight container to avoid moisture and air, which could cause the detergent to clump together.
Fix
Check the detergent dispenser for clogging and clean it. Then adjust the water temperature if it’s too cold and rearrange the rack to prevent it from blocking the dispenser. And when it comes to storing the detergent, ensure you keep it in an airtight container.
6. Leaking Whirlpool Dishwasher – Troubleshooting Guide
Remember, leakage is one of the reasons your Whirlpool dishwasher won’t fill up and may fail to wash. So, you wouldn’t want the water to leak. It, however, can happen due to these reasons:
- Wrong detergent – You should use the detergent that the manufacturer recommends. If you use something else, it could cause excess suds formation, and that could cause a leakage.
- Improper dish-loading – If the dishes are loaded improperly, they may push water out of the dishwasher, causing leakage.
- Damaged door seal – The seal may wear out over time and fail to keep the water inside the dishwasher. So, it could be the reason behind the leakage.
Fix
Ensure you use the correct detergent – the one that the manufacturer recommends. Also, check the dishes and load them correctly and if the door seal is worn out, replace it.
7. Smelly Whirlpool Dishwasher
Your Whirlpool dishwasher may, at times, smell. That often happens due to food residue, which may be clogging the filter. That will likely occur if you fail to clean the dishwasher properly after several uses.
Fix
Clean the dishwasher, especially the filter, properly. Whirlpool recommends using Affresh to clean the dishwasher and give it a pleasant smell.
Whirlpool Dishwasher Control Board Problems
The control board is an integral part of the dishwasher’s operations. If it fails, so many things could go wrong. In the case of a Whirlpool dishwasher, here are the associated control board problems:
- The dishwasher won’t start
- Incomplete cycle
- Error codes or flashing lights
- The dishwasher won’t drain
- The dishwasher won’t fill up
- Unresponsive dishwasher
Fix
If the dishwasher control board is defective, replace it. But before you do, try to reset the dishwasher, as it’s easy to misdiagnose the control board. Additionally, check for loose connections before considering a replacement control board (View on Amazon).
Concluding Thought:
Above is a Whirlpool dishwasher troubleshooting guide you can use when your dishwasher fails. That includes a dishwasher that won’t start, wash properly, drain, fill up with water, dispense detergent, or an option that leaks or is smelly.
You can try the fixes before calling Whirlpool or a local dishwasher expert. If successful, that’ll save you a lot of time and money.
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