Why Is The Dishwasher Filling With Water But Not Running? (Fixed) -

When a dishwasher is not running, it’s important to find out what’s going on.

A common assumption has to do with the waterline. However, what if the dishwasher is filling with water but not running?

If a dishwasher is filling with water but not running, the root cause can be a malfunctioning wash motor. To fix this issue, pull out the dishwasher, let it run, and listen to the motor. If the motor is not running or making noise, it has died and has to be replaced.

This is an issue that happens with aging dishwashers.

This article will explain what to do if a dishwasher is filling with water but not running properly.

Table of Contents

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How To Fix A Dishwasher Filling With Water But Not Running

1. Pull Out The Dishwasher

If a dishwasher fills with water but does not wash, it is likely the wash motor giving you trouble.

To fix this issue, you are going to have to pull out the dishwasher. This will allow you to see whether or not it is the wash motor that has died or broken down.

To inspect the wash motor, turn the dishwasher on after it’s taken out. See if you can hear the wash motor running. If not, this means the wash motor has died.

2. Remove The Base Plate

You will have to access the wash motor at this point.

To do this, you are going to have to find the base plate. This can come off easily with the help of a screwdriver but each model is different.

The goal is to reveal what is inside the dishwasher by taking off the base plate.

Remember to keep the screws in your pocket or somewhere accessible. You are going to have to reinstall the base plate once the new wash motor is inside the dishwasher.

3. Disconnect The Drain Pump

You are now going to have to disconnect the drain pump.

The goal is to make sure the drain pump is removed without harming anything else in the dishwasher. This will be linked to the wash motor and has to be taken out for you to access the wash motor.

The average drain pump is going to be held by a single screw.

Take out the screw and the drain pump will come right off.

4. Disconnect Electrical Connectors To Wash Pump

Now you are going to look at the electrical connectors running to the wash pump.

Once you take off the connectors, you will notice the spring clip running along the bottom of the wash motor. This will vary with each model.

Find the spring clip to take out the wash motor from its spot.

5. Remove & Replace The Wash Motor

You are now going to take out the wash motor.

It will come out once you have removed the spring clip that is holding it in place. Be careful while doing this to ensure you don’t harm any of the connectors or surrounding components.

You can use a wrench to work away at the wash motor. This will help get it out.

Please note, that you should set a towel down to ensure nothing leaks while doing this. Otherwise, you could leave a bit of a mess on the ground due to the water that is located in that part of the dishwasher.

Once the motor is out, take the new one and install it in the same spot.

Go through the same steps in reverse including setting up the spring clip and electrical connectors. Make sure you get all of them!

dishwasher filling with water but not running

6. Reconnect Drain Pump & Base Plate

You will now look to reconnect the drain pump.

The drain pump will have to be seated in its spot to ensure everything is where it needs to be. While doing this, remember you are also going to have to set up the base plate.

The base plate will have to be screwed back in the way it was before you started the replacement process.

Final Thoughts

These are the steps to follow if your dishwasher is filling with water but not running properly.

If a dishwasher is filling with water but not running, this means the wash motor is malfunctioning or dead. To fix this issue, it’s recommended to take out the dishwasher and let it run to see if the motor makes noise or not. If it is quiet, this means the motor is dead. Remove the base plate, disconnect the wash motor, and replace it with a new one.

This will fix the issue and ensure the dishwasher begins washing as it is supposed to.

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