When dishwasher lights blink and the cycle won’t start, check latch, control lock, power reset, and water supply in this order.
If the panel is flashing and there’s no wash action, don’t panic. Most no-start issues come from simple things: a door that isn’t latched, a control lock that’s on, a cycle that needs cancelling, or a water or power hiccup. This guide gives you fast checks first, then deeper fixes, so you can get the machine humming again without guesswork.
Dishwasher Blinking Lights Not Starting — What It Usually Means
Blinking often signals a safety pause or a setting that blocks a cycle. Use the table below to match the symptom with a likely cause and an action that solves it fast.
| Symptom On Panel | Likely Cause | Quick Action |
|---|---|---|
| Start light blinks steadily | Door not latched or cycle paused | Open/close firmly, press Start again |
| Keys beep, no response | Control lock or child lock enabled | Hold the lock button ~3 seconds to disable |
| Multiple lights flash together | Program cancelled mid-cycle | Hold Start/Reset 3–4 seconds to clear |
| Start/Reset flashes for ~1–2 minutes | Appliance is resetting/draining | Wait until lights stop, then start a cycle |
| Delay indicator lit | Delay start set | Cancel delay, then press Start |
| Tap/faucet icon or fill error | Low water supply or blocked float | Open valve fully; free the float; clean inlet screen |
| Panel unresponsive after outage | Glitch in control memory | Power-cycle at breaker 5 minutes, then retry |
| Random beeps every 30–60 seconds | Door opened during cycle | Shut door until it clicks; press Start to resume |
Start Here: Four No-Tool Checks
1) Close And Latch The Door Firmly
The machine won’t run with a weak latch. Tug the racks fully in, remove utensils sticking past the tub, then close the door until you hear a solid click. Press Start once—don’t double-tap.
2) Disable Control Lock
Many models ignore buttons when control lock is on. Look for a padlock icon or a “Control Lock” legend on the panel. Hold that button for about three seconds until the lock light goes out. Whirlpool’s help pages confirm the light flashes when locked; holding the control-lock key turns inputs back on control lock guidance.
3) Clear A Stuck Program
If the last cycle was interrupted, the appliance may be waiting to drain. Hold Start/Reset for 3–4 seconds to cancel. Some brands blink during cancel and stop after about a minute. GE notes the Start/Reset light blinks during the reset window—let it finish before starting again blinking/reset behavior.
4) Remove A Set Delay
If the delay indicator is on, your cycle is scheduled for later. Turn delay off (usually with the Delay or Time button), then press Start.
If It Still Won’t Run: Go Deeper Step-By-Step
Check Water Supply And The Float
Dishwashers pause when they can’t fill. Make sure the under-sink valve for the inlet line is fully open. Lift and drop the tub float; it should move freely and click faintly. Grit in the inlet screen can also block flow—turn off water, disconnect the hose at the valve or inlet, and rinse the screen. A tap/faucet icon or fill error points to this area.
Reset The Control The Right Way
Many machines accept a soft reset from the panel. Hold Start/Reset for a few seconds, wait for draining to complete, then try a normal cycle. Bosch describes a simple reset: hold Start ~4 seconds, let water pump out, then power back on and select a program Bosch reset steps.
Verify Power: Outlet, GFCI, And Breaker
Open the cabinet and press the test/reset on any GFCI outlet in the chain. Trip and reset the breaker for the dishwasher circuit. If the unit is hard-wired behind a toe-kick, flip the correct breaker off for five minutes, then on. After power returns, wait 60–90 seconds before pressing Start so the control can boot cleanly.
Rule Out A Pause From Moisture
Some machines watch for leaks. If the base tray has water, a sensor can lock the program and flash a warning. Pull the kick plate and check for standing water. If present, dry the tray, run a short cycle while observing, and track any drip from hoses, the inlet, or the pump area.
Confirm The Latch Switch
Even when the door feels shut, a worn strike or switch can misread “open.” Inspect the metal strike on the tub for bending. If the latch assembly feels loose or shows cracks, replace it. Many latches swap with two screws and a connector at the top of the door.
Eliminate Panel Input Errors
Sticky keys can fire false commands and keep a machine in limbo. With power off, wipe the panel with a damp microfiber cloth. When power returns, try only one button at a time. If buttons trigger on their own, the touchpad or control needs service.
Brand-Aware Hints (Without Guessing Your Model)
When You See A Flashing Start Light
On many brands, a flashing Start light means “waiting.” The control expects either a solid door latch or time to finish draining. Close the door and wait for the blink to stop before pressing Start again. GE explains that a steady blink after pressing Start/Reset indicates the control is shutting down—give it up to 90 seconds before trying a new cycle (see the GE link above).
When Keys Beep But Nothing Runs
That’s classic control-lock behavior. Disable lock as covered earlier. Whirlpool states the panel flashes when buttons are pressed while locked, and holding the lock button turns normal input back on (see the Whirlpool link above).
When A “Water” Or “Tap” Icon Appears
Expect a fill problem. Open the supply valve, seat the float, clean the inlet screen, and make sure the drain hose isn’t lying flat on the floor where it can siphon.
Clean Reset Steps Without Guesswork
Use the second table to perform a clean reset that applies to many common machines. It doesn’t replace your manual, but it mirrors what major brands describe on their help pages.
| Brand Pattern | Soft Reset | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Bosch-style panels | Hold Start ~4 sec; wait for drain; power Off/On | Let it finish draining before selecting a cycle |
| GE-style panels | Press Start/Reset once; wait 75–90 sec | Blinking during that window is expected |
| Whirlpool-style panels | Disable control lock; press Cancel/Drain; choose cycle | Lock key often has a padlock icon |
Fixes You Can Do With A Screwdriver
Float Switch Test
Kill power at the breaker. Remove the lower kick plate. Locate the float switch near the tub base. Unplug and re-seat its connector. With a meter, you should read continuity when the float is down and open circuit when lifted. If stuck open, replace it.
Inlet Screen And Hose
Shut water at the valve. Unscrew the hose at the valve or the dishwasher inlet. Clean the small screen. Re-attach firmly and open the valve fully. Kinked lines starve flow and trigger fill errors, so give the hose a smooth loop.
Door Latch Strike Alignment
Open the door and inspect the strike. If it’s bent, the micro-switch won’t close. Loosen the mounting screws, shift a millimeter toward the tub, and re-tighten. Test for a crisp click on close.
Hard Reset At Breaker
Turn the dedicated breaker off for five minutes. This clears memory faults that a soft reset won’t touch. Restore power, wait one minute, then select Normal and press Start once.
When Lights Blink In A Pattern
Some models publish codes where two or three LEDs flash together to point at a part of the system. Typical areas are fill, drain, heat, or temperature sensors. If you see a repeatable pattern, run a quick health check: does it fill within a minute, drain at the end, and heat the water? Failures in any of those steps guide you to the valve, pump, or heater circuit.
Prevent The Next No-Start
Load So The Door Closes Cleanly
Keep tall utensils inside the rack edge. Don’t wedge a pan handle against the door liner. Push racks fully in before closing.
Leave The Valve Open Fully
If someone turns the supply down, the unit may time out on fill and blink. A full turn open keeps flow steady.
Rinse The Filter And Spray Arms
Food in the sump or spray arm holes can trigger odd pauses later in a cycle. Snap the filter out, rinse, and brush the arm jets clear.
Use A Surge-Protected Outlet Where Allowed
Power dips and spikes can scramble electronics. If your local code allows a plug-in model on a surge-protected outlet, that helps keep the control stable. For hard-wired models, keep the circuit dedicated and the connections tight.
When To Call A Technician
If the panel stays dark with good power, or the unit trips the breaker when it tries to start, stop and bring in a pro. Repeated fill errors after water checks, a burnt smell at the door top, or flashing that points to heater or motor faults are also signs to book service. Have your model number, serial, and a note of the blink pattern ready.
Quick Reference: Fast Fix Order
1) Latch The Door
Shut fully until it clicks.
2) Turn Off Control Lock
Hold the padlock/lock key for ~3 seconds.
3) Cancel And Reset
Hold Start/Reset, wait for drain to finish, try Normal.
4) Confirm Water And Power
Valve open, float free, breaker and GFCI good.
5) Check The Float Switch And Latch Parts
Reconnect or replace if faulty.
6) Note Any Patterned Blinks
Match them to fill, drain, or heat checks, then act.
Brand resources cited: GE’s page on blinking and reset timing, Whirlpool’s guidance on control-lock behavior, and Bosch’s reset steps. Links above open in a new tab.