The KitchenAid dishwasher is one of the most reliable and popular appliances right now.
However, it doesn’t mean your KitchenAid dishwasher will last forever without any disturbance.
It can cause plenty of errors, with kitchen dishwasher stops mid cycle being the most common.
Since you can’t replace your dishwasher every month, finding the reason and solving the issue is the smartest decision.
In the following, we have mentioned all the potential reasons that cause a kitchen dishwasher to stop at mid-cycle along with their simplest and most effective solutions.
KitchenAid Dishwasher Stops Mid Cycle?
The most potential reasons that cause a KitchenAid dishwasher stops mid cycle are a damaged door latch, a faulty fan assembly, a damaged control board, and a faulty lid switch assembly.
Whatever the faulty functions are, the biggest reason is that people operate dishwashers frequently without proper maintenance.
What To Do If KitchenAid Dishwasher Stops Mid Cycle
If your KitchenAid dishwasher stops mid-cycle, troubleshooting the issue at home is your foremost decision.
This way, you can save the time and money that may have been spent on hiring a professional and can improve your kitchen maintenance skills.
The following are the most possible sources of the problem:
The Door Latch
The KitchenAid dishwasher has a safety feature called the micro switch inside of its door. This function doesn’t let the dishwasher run unless you close it completely.
A damaged micro switch doesn’t engage the door latch even after closing completely and ends up stopping the cycle at the midpoint.
Since you can’t repair a micro switch, replacing it is the only way to fix the issue.
If you find the door latch is intact, then overloading can be the culprit. Unload some utensils to give some room for the door to close completely.
The other potential reasons related to the door are loose screws and placing the unit on a tilting surface.
The Motor And Pump
Pump and motor of a dishwasher move water through the inside. If you notice a faulty pump or motor, first turn the water valve on.
The water valve is usually found under the sink or on the left bottom side of a dishwasher.
The biggest sign of a defective motor is noticing and stopping it at mid-cycle. While the motor produces a little sound, stopping suddenly will make the environment quiet, which is easier to feel.
If the motor stops, it will prevent the dishwasher from functioning and cause water to leak.
Replacing a damaged motor can cost around $200 to $300, so you should check the warranty first before hiring a technician.
To replace the damaged motor, drain out all the water from the unit and disconnect from the power outlet.
Then turn the unit upside down to get access to the bottom side so you can remove the bottom cover easily.
Then remove the pump to get access to the faulty motor. After that, disconnect the motor from the hoses and clips to remove it completely.
Now replace it with a new one and re-install the pump.
The Electronic Control Board
The control board is considered the brain of a dishwasher and controls all the functions and settings of the unit.
That’s why a faulty control board can affect the whole unit, and a potential effect can be turning it off at mid-cycle.
Though the control board of KitchenAid doesn’t get damaged easily, it can’t withstand severe issues.
Despite that, it can cost around $75 to $100, while the repair charge costs around $50 to $300, considering its model.
So, instead of replacing it right away, double-checks its warranty. It can save you a lot of money and irritation.
The Lid Switch Assembly
An open lid assembly can prevent a dishwasher from spinning. But if the assembly fails, it can cause your KitchenAid dishwasher to stop in mid-cycle.
To determine whether a faulty lid assembly is the culprit or not, use a multi-meter to check for continuity.
You can do this either by yourself or by hiring a professional. Luckily, you can replace the faulty lid switch assembly at a fairly cheap price, which is around $20 to $35.
The Fan Assembly
The fan assembly airs out the hot and moist environment from the dishwasher while running a drying cycle or completing a wash cycle.
But a faulty assembly increases the temperature of the dishwasher and can shut the dishwasher off at mid-cycle.
The other signs of a faulty fan are quickly completing the wash cycle and stopping drying the dishes.
In this case, hire a professional technician to repair the fan, and it can cost around $100 to $300 if needs replacement.
A Blown Thermal Fuse
Sometimes a KitchenAid dishwasher stops mid-cycle due to a fuse blowout, which is also known as a thermal fuse.
This thermal fuse generally keeps the temperature of a dishwasher at a workable level.
The reason is that too high temperatures during the drying cycle or washing can damage the interior of the dishwasher and other operational parts.
Apart from stopping at mid-cycle, a blown thermal unit can completely damage a dishwasher.
A thermal unit is usually placed behind the control panel and is very easy to replace within 15 minutes at a cost of around $14 to $60.
If your dishwasher stops mid-cycle, check all the fuses using a multi-meter. To replace the fuse, first, unplug the unit from the power outlet.
Then remove the control panel by unbolting the screws to get access to the blown thermal fuse.
Then replace it with a new thermal fuse and re-install the control panel by securing all the bolts.
The Dishwasher Timer
Timers regulate the duration of the cycle of a dishwasher. Though it doesn’t defect too quickly if it causes, your dishwasher to stop at mid-cycle.
To determine whether a timer is the source of the problem, read the user’s manual for the dishwasher first.
This will let you find the exact placement of the timer and test its continuity with a multi-meter.
If the timer is defective, you have to replace it. Since finding a compatible replacement can be tricky, you have to be careful.
The Water Inlet Valve
The water inlet valve lets water move into the dishwasher’s tub to complete the washing cycle. It also releases water while running the rinse process.
But this component can wear out eventually or get clogged due to food particles.
In this case, use a multi-meter to check the continuity of the water inlet valve. If it becomes damaged, then you will have to spend $20 to $60 for the replacement.
How To Run A Diagnostic On A KitchenAid Dishwasher?
Running a diagnostic is a convenient function of a KitchenAid dishwasher to determine the source of the problem automatically.
Start by putting your unit into service mode and applying any of these options:
1st Method
The Control panel typically contains these cycles:
- Normal
- Heat dry
- Normal
- Heat dry
Press the toggle and the display will start lighting up. Then press start so a test cycle begins. This will also prompt your unit to run the whole function.
2nd Method
Press these sequences on the control panel:
123,123,123,
Then press the start toggle to run a diagnostic for your KitchenAid dishwasher. In both cases, your dishwasher should show the error code on the display on the control panel.
Then you can take the right action based on a certain problem.
Final Words
Hopefully, now you know why your KitchenAid dishwasher stops mid-cycle and gets the most effective ways to handle it.
Throughout the guide, we have listed possible all the reasons that prevent a KitchenAid dishwasher from completing a cycle so you can detect the reason and solve it at home.
The reason is that any of the parts from vast components can get damaged suddenly and frequently calling a technician isn’t the right decision for the pocket.