Dishwasher does not start but motor hums - the thing is about 9 years old, Kenmore, and has had no issues until this morning when I tried to run a load. I latched and re-latched the door, clicked through the cycle slowly to see if it would engage, and I got nothing but the motor hum. After 5 minutes, even that stopped. (thermal shutdown?).
What do you think? Motor shot? something jammed that need to be freed?
Could be the motor, or other things as well. Does it fill with water? It won't run until it has filled. Perhaps the issue is the water supply or inlet valve...?
I'm a software guy, not an appliance repairman, but I think the water has to fill enough to raise the internal float switch before the rest of the cycle can run.
I would suspect the electrically controlled valve that turns the water on and off.
If there's voltage to the water valve but no water, replace the valve. No voltage to the valve, work backwards from there.
GE - Hotpoint, McClary, Moffat style dishwasher just hums (some Kenmore, Jenn-Air ): If this style of a dishwasher sits unused for a period of time the seals in the motor and pump can get frozen together. Sometimes high minerals in the water also can stick the seals together and the motor cannot turn on, often the dishwasher will fill with water and just sit there "humming". Usually this is fairly easy to repair and get going again. Remove power and access panels....reach in with your hand and turn the cooling fan blade a turn to break it free, reinstall power and try the unit. If this "sticking" keeps reoccurring, the motor and pump assembly will probably need to be replaced.
So I am going to check out the motor...while I am down there I will check for things that might be sticking as well.
I don't mind buying another dw if I have too, but I will feel better if I can fix it.
The above indicates that the dishwasher will fill with water, but the motor doesn't turn.
In an earlier post in this thread, you indicated the dishwasher was not filling either.
Still think you need to look at the water inlet valve.
And, the following link,
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that the float switch is another possibility. If the float switch is bad or stuck, it could be telling the inlet valve that the tub is full, so no more water for you.
Yup - that's a good plan. It won't run until it has water. Could be a controller, the water inlet valve, who knows, but it sure doesn't sound like the motor at this point....
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