Flashing Lights on Control Panel

Flashing Lights on Control Panel

Last night, I went to start my dishwasher. I pressed the Start button before noticing that I was on "Pots and Pans" instead of "Normal". I immediately pressed the "Cancel" button in order to change the cycle. I heard the drain cycle start and finish, then I saw the "Normal" button flashing. I could not select any other cycle, and got no reaction when pressing "Start". I pressed the "Cancel" button again, but it just started flashing as well as the "Normal" button. At this point, I flipped the circuit breaker off, counted to 10, and flipped it back on. This made the "Cancel" button stop flashing, but the "Normal" button kept flashing. I then checked the interior to make sure that the overfill cover moved freely, that the sprayers could all turn freely, and that the filters were clear. No change. I tried the reset procedures found elsewhere in this forum (alternately pressing "Heated Dry" and "Normal"; pressing any three buttons in sequence three times; and pressing and holding various buttons for three seconds each) with no success. The trouble shooting guide from Whirlpool does not address anything associated with flashing lights. I've left the door open and unlatched for 12 hours now with no change. Any suggestions that don't involve calling a repairman?

Asked by: Guest | Views: 222

Total answers/comments: 4

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Guest [Entry]

I am so grateful for this ifixit chain on fixing dishwasher flashing lights!!! I fixed something for the first time in my life, thanks to all your posts. It seemed not to work, but thanks to Sally King, I just kept repeating. For me the sequence was: With my left hand extended to the max, hit red circuit breaker tab on the wall, which shut panel lights for about one second; instantly hit the Heated Dry button with my maximally extended right hand already hovered in place; quickly hit Normal button, then Heated Dry again and Normal again; close door. The Normal button still blinked; so I opened the door and repeated the circuit breaker-Heated Dry-Normal-Heated Dry-Normal-close door operation quite a few times. Eventually I got a full light panel display; but the Normal button immediately resumed blinking. So back to the routine, with a bit of hope. Then I got a Resume Wash, which I hit. The washer went to work; but defaulted to blinking Normal in half a minute. This happened several times. And I went back to the circuit breaker-Heated Dry-Normal-Heated Dry-Normal-close door routine. The dishwasher started up in different cycles several times, again defaulting to the blinking Normal. But it finally caught in a cycle and completed the cycle. I then ran a full cycle wash with no problems. Hallelujah!! We don’t have to call a repairman or buy a new dishwasher, thanks to y’all.

Guest [Entry]

My start/resume light kept flashing and after doing the reset sequence about 5 times, unplugging in between, then cancel/resume button. Normal and heated dry buttons pressed it would start flashing again. After opening/closing. Cancel. Normal. Cancel. Normal. Cancel. Opening in between each time it finally started working. Thank you!!

Guest [Entry]

I am re-posting what I found from Jason @squeeby, that works.

Guest [Entry]

What finally worked for me was that I pressed the suggested button sequence immediately after I plugged the power back on. I repeated the sequence several times while the dishwasher was plugged in, and it just wouldn’t work.