A common problem with Zanussi dishwashers is that they can get stuck in a cycle. Sometimes you will get an error light but other times it just seems stuck. This means that you will need to reset your Zanussi dishwasher.
You don’t need to be a home appliance technician to be able to reset it. However, it is important to note that there isn’t a reset button on most Zanussi dishwashers. You can reset it by holding the On/Off button for 3 seconds to allow you to change to another program if it is stuck in the same one and can’t finish. Some models require you to press the Auto and 70° buttons simultaneously for a few seconds to reset.
What happens if resetting it still doesn’t work? In this article, I will give you some tips on what steps to take next.
Why your Zanussi dishwasher can’t do a complete cycle
There are a few reasons that your Zanussi dishwasher is not starting which won’t require a reset. A reset is needed when the inboard computer gets stuck, but there are other factors that prevent a cycle from starting. For instance, human error plays a part when you forget that you had set the Delay Start function and that’s why it won’t get started.
Here are some of the things to do if your dishwasher won’t start.
Check the Child Lock setting
A dishwasher can be set so that a child who likes to play with buttons doesn’t accidentally start a cycle or change your program settings. Sometimes this is set by a parent and then forgotten about so they wonder why the machine isn’t starting when it should. Other times, the child will set it by accident since they end up pressing random buttons.
The first thing to check whether you have children or not is that the Child Lock feature is not activated. You will see a light or CL on a digital display which means that it is active. Press the button to deactivate it and you will be able to hit enter and set your desired program.
Is the dishwasher door closing?
Any dishwasher, including a Zanussi, won’t be able to start a cycle if the door is not fully closed. Sometimes you just don’t push the door enough for it to set the programme to start. In this case, you just need to open the door and close it tightly until you hear a click.
If the door is closed tightly but it still won’t start then it is likely that the door latch isn’t working so it won’t send a signal to the computer that the dishwasher door is closed. When the dishwasher is turned off you can use a multimeter to check if there is a current. If not then you know the cause of the problem. There could be an obstruction in the door latch assembly that prevents the connection from getting made so inspect inside to see if there is any dirt or grime built up there.
Water source issues
No dishwasher can work without water so you will need to check if you have a water source when the dishwasher is stuck in a cycle. You may not have a water supply either because you turned it off for some reason and forgot to turn it back on. Or, if you live in a block of flats, a neighbour may have shut off the supply without warning all the residents.
Check your water inlet valve to make sure it is turned on. If it is then check outside to make sure the flats all have water. If the valve is fine then you may have an obstruction in the pipes somewhere preventing the water from entering the dishwasher.
Once you have the water turned back on then you can do a reset and hit enter to start the programme over from the beginning.
The drain is blocked or faulty
You may have a Zanussi dishwasher full of water which will cause it to stall and stay stuck on its current setting. When it isn’t draining all the water you will usually get a flashing light on the display that indicates that this is the problem.
A common cause of the water not draining is that the flexible hose under the sink gets bent or kinked. Since people usually have things underneath the sink, an object like a waste bin can get pushed against the drain hose restricting the water flow and shutting the dishwasher off in the middle of a wash cycle. You could even have a blocked drain pipe. If the sink has been draining slowly lately then this is a sure sign that this is the problem.
You could also have a faulty drain pump. If it makes loud sounds and drains the water slowly or not at all then it is likely a problem with the drain pump and you need to replace it.
Another possible cause is that the filters are clogged with grime and debris. You can access these yourself by following the instructions in the appliance user manual for your Zanussi dishwasher model.
The selector switch is faulty
Switching cycles on a Zanussi dishwasher is done with the selector. The selector switch is what determines the wash cycle settings for each program. When the appliance switch is not working properly then it will cause the machine to get stuck. Resetting the dishwasher is not going to work if the switch is not working right.
The only way to know if this is the problem is to remove the panel and access the switches behind it. Then you need to use a multimeter to test the probes on the terminals. If you get a reading of infinity when the machine is turned off then it is working. Press each of the buttons with the multimeter still attached and it should read zero. If it doesn’t then you have to replace the switch.
You might want to call in a home appliance technician to do the repair since you don’t want to void your warranty if you make a mistake by doing it yourself.
Motor start relay
Another integral part of the normal function of your appliance is the motor start relay which tells the dishwasher control board when to start. To know if this isn’t working you will need to get your multimeter and check the signal. The relay is located near the drain pump so you will need to detach the panel underneath the washing machine. Turning the relay upside down will activate it as the float will drop and you can get a reading.
I highly recommend that you find a home appliance technician to do this as it can be complicated to locate the relay and then be able to read the wiring diagram in the instructions that came with the appliance.
How to do a hard reset
When you have determined that the dishwasher is not stuck in a cycle due to any human error and the reset button isn’t working, you will need to try a hard reset. This involves restarting the dishwasher so it can reset itself and will be ready to start a newly selected programme.
When the appliance is turned off, press and keep the Cancel button held. Continue to hold the Cancel button while turning on the dishwasher until all of the lights are turned on. Let go of the Cancel button and the dishwasher should be reset so hit enter to change cycles.
There are times when even this won’t work since the computer control board will have the previous cycle in its memory still. In this case, you will need to unplug the dishwasher and give it a minute or two before plugging it in. You can’t plug it back in right away since it needs to clear any of the memory of the computer control board and allow you to restart the machine after you’ve plugged it back in.
What the flashing light indicators mean
You’ll know if your Zanussi dishwasher is in trouble and either needs resetting or needs repairing when you see green lights flashing on the display. These are error codes that will let you know what the specific problem is on most models.
One flash
This indicator light means that you aren’t getting enough water in the Zanussi dishwasher. There could be a number of reasons but the most likely problem is that your water inlet hose is damaged or bent. Any blockages in the line will also trip the error code and the green light will flash.
It can also possibly mean that you have a dirty filter. If you have been needing to use a lot of rinse aid lately due to spotty glasses from hard water then your hard water filter is likely full and needs to be cleaned or replaced.
Two flashes
When there is a light that is lit and flashing twice it indicates that there is something wrong with the spigot connection that is causing a lack of water to be able to start the wash. The most likely cause is what was mentioned earlier in the article, meaning that it is likely that the water is turned off and turning it back on and then resetting the dishwasher will resolve the problem.
Three flashes
When the light flashes three times then this means that you need to call customer service with your appliance question. When you answer questions that they have then they may be able to tell you the problem over the phone. Otherwise, you will need to have a service call scheduled with a home appliance technician to figure out the problem.
Final word
Resetting a Zanussi dishwasher is pretty simple but as you can see there are some complexities that come into play. Sometimes the reason that you need to restart the machine is not just a simple matter of pressing a button. With the information in this article, you should be able to figure out the issue quickly and get those dishes washed.
