Close encounters of the ignorant kind.

[cactuswatcher]

I finished loading up the dishwasher and turned the switch. Nothing but a very disturbing hum ensues.

It's bad enough the washer didn't work, but for a few minutes I wondered what in the world I was going to do with all the dirty dishes and no dishwasher. Now I never had a dishwasher in my life till I was over fifty, but some how I managed to forget, I could do them by hand. Anyway I jiggle the hoses shut off and turn on the water, check to see if the electric plug is still where it should be. Even check the water heater. Nothing seems to be wrong, but the dishwasher doesn't work.

Then I took drastic measures, I pulled the hand-wash dish soap out (yes, I have the stuff and still forgot I could do the dishes by hand!). I'm about to squirt it in the sink when I give the dishwasher one more chance. No doubt frightened for its existence the dishwasher dutifully decided to work. I still don't know what was wrong. A flakey switch, bad water pressure? Who knows.

Comments

[masqthephlsphr.livejournal.com]

I would love an electric dish washer. If it acts up again and demands a new home, send it my way!

[cactuswatcher.livejournal.com]

They are addictive. If someone would just figure out how to get them to load and unload themsleves, we'd had a lot more time to gripe about some other chores we wish we didn't have to do!

[masqthephlsphr.livejournal.com]

I don't have the room in my kitchen for one, or the money to buy one if I did. Some day, though.

[ann1962]

What they need to do is invent cupboards that do this for themselves. You could get them designed to hold about a day's worth of dishes, then water wouldn't be wasted and the machine could just store the stuff when you aren't using it, either clean or dirty. This could work IMO LOL.

[mamculuna.livejournal.com]

It was the god of electricity taking pity on his poor abandoned servant...glad you escaped.

It's even worse when it's the (clothes) washing machine.

[atpo-onm.livejournal.com]

Can't resist a guess at this, since I repaired appliances for 16 years before doing the A/V thing.

Key comment: *** Nothing but a very disturbing hum ensues.***

Not just a hum, but a disturbing hum, which I'm assuming it was louder rather than softer in intensity. This points to the motor, or the relay that sometimes is used to start the motor. A faulty relay often becomes erratic, thus the motor may start sometimes and at other times not. The problem usually gets worse over time. Repair-- replace the relay. If the motor is bad, see the next paragraph, GE make or no.

If the D/W is an older GE model, it's probably the motor shaft getting rusty and swelling up, causing the motor to bind. Repair-- rebuild the pump asm. (it's leaking, that's why the motor shaft is rusting) and clean the rust off the shaft, or replace the motor & pump asm. If the D/W is very old, (more than 12-15 years) it's usually better to buy a new one.

In some cases it could be a faulty timer, but this is rare. It's not the lid/door switch, or there would be no hum at all.

Only other cheap item would be a water inlet valve, but to call this one I'd need to know whether the pump motor starts immediately when you star the machine, or if it fills with water first, then starts pumping.

Gee, this could be a new meme! (Not...)

[cactuswatcher.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

It's about a 7-year-old GE. Your rusty shaft suggestion sounds reasonable, since minor giggling seems to have it going for now. On the otherhand, there is water flowing immediately, when it runs. I also played with the water supply so the change in pressure might have affected the inlet valve as well. If/when it reoccurs I'll figure out if it's one or the other. I was never thrilled with the equipment, but it was here when I bought the house. If it gives me too much trouble, I do plan to replace it.

[cactuswatcher.livejournal.com]

Check that, I misspoke. Just started it (it worked fine). There is a brief delay for the water to heat(?) before water goes into the tub on this one.