Dishwasher not filling with water - Bad diagnosis?

[deja]

Our dishwasher is having a problem where it is not filling up with water. Since I haven't had time to try to troubleshoot we called a GE repair guy.

He came out and said that the problem was the timer. I'm not sure I believe this is the problem though. None of the troubleshooting sites mention to check the timer for this type of problem. Also - since the soap is properly released in the cycle I'm thinking the timer is fine. Am I correct in my thinking?

The guy wanted almost $200 to do the repair. For that price I'd rather just buy a new washer.

My options at this point are: Believe this guy and replace the timer myself (for about $50). Find the time to trouble shoot the float switch and all the other components that could lead to the filling problem. Buy a new washer.

I just hate to buy the timer only to find out that it was not the problem.

[Ignoramus32515]

I would suggest to take a screwdriver, a multimeter, and to trace stuff a little bit. It usually helps a great deal.

i

[Bennett Price]

Does "not filling" mean not letting any water in or not enough water?

Is the problem just on the initial fill-wash cycle or does it recur during the other fill-2nd wash, fill-rinse, etc. cycles? If the problem is on all cycles, the timer is likely OK.

If it's just not enough water, check the mesh filter where the hot water hose connects to the fill valve - may just be totally gunked up. Ditto, the float switch.

If no water comes > Our dishwasher is having a problem where it is not filling up with

[Stubby]

The water height is limited by a float switch on the water inlet. Check that it is free to move up and down. The timer might be bad -- are there other symptoms like a short rinse? Can you take apart the timer and lubricate the parts so it works smoothly?

NB: In our dishwasher soap is released by a magnet latch. It depends on the Curie effect -- some materials lose their magnetism above a certain temperature.

[spamTHISbrp]

Sounds like my dishwasher! (not sure of the brand) Let it run by the timer, sometimes it doesn't fill.

Reset the timer and turn it veeery slowly, and viola! Good for another week.

-Dave

[SQLit]

I had one that did this, I dumped a quart of white vinegar in it. NO SOAP and let it run through a cycle. Cleaned the scum and left overs from the water float on the bottom. My problem was the dishwasher was so far away from the water heater I was basically using cold water. I ran the faucet from them on till the water was warm, then ran the dw.

Just another thought from the outfield.

[Frank K.]

I had a similar problem. After checking several possibilities, I decided it must be the water supply line being blocked by calcium, iron or other contaminant. When I removed the water line from the shutoff valve under the sink, a screw head fell out. It was from the screw holding the washer in the shutoff valve. It must have been in such a position as to just reducing water flow a bit. I repaired the valve and all has been fine for about six years.

Frank

[mm]

And your dishwasher relies on that!?

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