Help me make my dishwasher work!

November 3, 2006 6:11 AM

Please help me make my dishwasher work!

I recently moved into a new apartment, and I can’t get the dishwasher in it to work. When I turn it on, there is a rumbling sound, but the machine just keeps on rumbling without progressing through the cycle (the dial stays put), and it appears that no water ever enters the machine.

Someone came in and looked at the machine briefly the other day. He confirmed that the water supply to the machine was on, and when he turned the machine on, appropriate noises ensued – but I don’t think any water flowed, and afterward I still couldn’t get the machine to work.

On my mother’s advice, I tried pouring hot water into the bottom of the machine (to clear the drain, I suppose). When I turned the machine on afterward, it made more promising noises, but still the cycle never progressed and I don’t think any water entered the machine.

The machine is an AEG Öko_Favorit 3220 i. It presumably worked for the previous occupant of the apartment, but I don't think it was used very recently. I have looked at the manual, but I’m still stuck.

Is there anything else that I can do to try to make the machine work, without having to call more help in? I have seen this thread, and realize that the answer might be just to leave it to a professional, but is there anything else that I should do before handing this over to the pros?

I am not dishwasher-obsessed, despite the fact that this is my second dishwasher-related question.

posted by sueinnyc to home & garden (8 comments total)

It sounds to me like something's wrong with the internal workings of the machine, in which case you're more likely to damage it further by trying to fix it yourself than to actually fix it.

Call a professional.
posted by cerebus19 at 6:19 AM on November 3, 2006

I'm sure that someone is going to hate me for saying as much, but here's what happens with mine:

When you initially turn the dial to the 'start' positions it, like yours, it makes promising noises (as if it's going to start the process), but if I were to leave it'll remain in place and continue making the same noise until I stop by and turn it off.

So what I've discovered is that I can ever-so-slowly turn the dial until I hear the detergent's cover disengage. If I once again turn it just a tiny bit, I can hear the water come on and the dishwasher completes its cycle.

Is it a great solution? Of course not. But honestly, it works well enough that the nuisance of not having a working dishwasher outweighs having it repaired.
posted by owenkun at 6:26 AM on November 3, 2006

If you're renting, I suggest contacting your landlord - it should be his/her job to fix it or call someone in to fix it.
posted by youngergirl44 at 6:32 AM on November 3, 2006

I had a similar problem with our dishwasher about a month ago. There is a 'float', essentially a floating part that goes up and down as the basin fills with water. The float is connected to a switch. When the float gets to the top, the switch flips and tells the dishwasher not to let in any more water.

In my case, the float was stuck in the 'up' position, and needed to be wiggle-nudged back down into the 'down' position. After that, all worked well.

Calling a professional is never a bad idea, but this is an easy thing to check first.
posted by Wild_Eep at 6:32 AM on November 3, 2006

Location: the float on my model was under the bottom rack, in the 'floor' of the dishwasher. it was 3 inches wide by 2 or so inches tall, in the front right corner.
posted by Wild_Eep at 6:34 AM on November 3, 2006

Good info at Repair Clinic.
posted by caddis at 7:40 AM on November 3, 2006

Having replaced a $100 timer, only to have the symptoms return, bear in mind that a new machine bought online or from an 800 number delivery service is only about $200.
posted by StickyCarpet at 7:41 AM on November 3, 2006

My brand new dishwasher stopped working because I hadn't used it in more than a week. Water wouldn't come into the washer.

Google-fu produced the suggestion: pour many cups of warm water mixed with a little vinegar into the dishwasher in the right rear corner of the pan, wait 15 minutes, and then running the dishwasher.

Worked like a charm. The little rubber stopper guys just dried out is all.
posted by ewkpates at 7:48 AM on November 3, 2006