automatic dishwasher help?

Question

I have a Hotpoint model HDA2000 dishwasher. I rarely use it--the last time was probably around Christmas. I usually just "wash & go" my dishes by hand.

Last evening I loaded the thing, added detergent, and set it to "Heavy Wash". All the thing does is hum for a minute or two, and then it stopped doing anything. Then, every few minutes, it will hum some more, then stop. I peeked inside, and it's very apparent that nothing has taken place yet, except that there is now some water in the bottom of the washer basin.

After a while, I gave up and unlatched the door, to turn the machine off. Then I went to bed.

Yes, I read the instruction manual; nothing is blocking the washing arm at the bottom. It would appear that I am doing everything correctly. So what am I missing? Why won't the thing start running? I should mention that in the past, it has worked just fine.

Answer 1

Without a visual physical check of the unit we can only surmise that there are a couple of possibilities. The hum that you hear is the motor attempting to turn and not being allowed to for one of several possible reasons. Either the last time you used the unit something broke and got down into the motor/pump housing and is blocking the impellar so that it can't rotate freely, or the motor simply locked up from lack of use. Unfortunately, even though we'd like to think we can purchase electro-mechanical devices for our convenient use, regardless of how occasional that use may be, and they will be there just setting waiting for us to call on them to be of service, the plain truth is that most of these devices work better and longer if they're used on a regular basis, as they're meant to be. They deteriorate faster from lack of use than from regular use. Look at homes, houses that are abandoned and left uninhabited, they go downhill so fast it's amazing. Same theory applies here. If you can't find anything in the bottom below the strainer screen under the wash arm, then most likely you'll just need to go shopping for a new dishwasher. They're seldom economical to repair when the motor it involved.

Answer 2

Your motor is froze up from not being ran. First try turning the dishwasher on, then open and close the door several times quickly. Do this at least 5 or 6 times. Sometimes that works. If not, then remove the bottom panel with the dishwasher turned off. Look under the dishwasher and you'll see the motor. Towards the back there will be an opening that you can reach into and you'll feel a fan blade type thing. Turn this by hand. It won't be easy at first but keep trying until you feel it break loose. Then your dishwasher will work fine. But you should run the dishwasher every week or so even for just a moment so it doesn't happen again. If not, the seals dry up.

Answer 3

depending weather or not your on city water or well water is a big determinent in this. if you are on city water it could be that the water inlter solenoid may not be working, or not working properly. if you are on well water or on water that has a lot of junk in it it could be that the last time you used it the junk built up and because you have no used it that often it just is clogged up, and needs to be cleaned. not only that it could very well be that a coil on the motor could be done, which would disallow it from running and thus making a hum sound.

Answer 4

You will need a professional to come check underneath. You could have had...say.... a rodent?, to chew into a line.