The short answer
Note the stage. Stuck with no water means the supply or the inlet valve; stuck with water in the tub means heat or drainage; stopping at the same point every time names a condition the machine cannot meet. Long programs are often normal.
Where it stops
- No water enters and the cycle sits — Supply tap, inlet hose or valve.
- Water in the tub and no progress — Heating or drainage.
- It drains, refills and repeats — A level or sensing problem.
- Stops at the same point every cycle — A condition it cannot satisfy.
- The program simply takes longer than expected — Often normal, especially on eco settings.
- Not this fault: it will not start at all — That is the will-not-start page.
Ranked for this class of machine
- Water supply restricted: tap partly closed, hose kinked, inlet filter blocked — First, and it stalls the fill.
- Drain restriction so the machine will not advance — Second, and the drainage page covers the detail.
- Heating not reached in the allotted time — Third, and it shows as a very long cycle.
- Door latch releasing intermittently — Fourth: the machine pauses whenever the latch opens.
- Level sensing confused by suds — Fifth, and the wrong detergent is the usual cause.
- Control or sensor fault — Last, after the five above.
Diagnose in this order
- Note the stage and whether it is the same every time — Consistency is what makes the rest useful.
- Check the supply tap and the inlet hose — It is the leading cause of a stalled fill.
- Clean the filter and confirm the machine drains — A drain restriction stops progress as surely as a fill one.
- Check the door latches firmly and stays latched — An intermittent latch pauses the cycle silently.
Owner checks
- Open the supply tap fully and straighten the inlet hose — Two minutes, and it clears the most common cause.
Tools: torchAbout 10 min
- Clean the filter and check for standing water in the tub — It separates a fill problem from a drain one.
Tools: brushAbout 20 min
- Clean the inlet filter at the hose connection — Grit and scale collect there and throttle the fill.
Tools: pliers, brushAbout 25 min
- Use only dishwasher detergent and reduce the dose — Suds confuse level sensing and stall cycles.
About 10 min
- Run a short program and note the stage it stops at — One controlled observation beats several impressions.
About 60 min
- Stop before opening the base or the control housing — Mains wiring and standing water share that space.
Before opening anything
Safety
Unplug the appliance or switch off its breaker before removing any panel. A capacitor can hold a charge after the power is off. Close the water supply before disturbing an inlet hose, open the door carefully mid-cycle because the steam scalds, and do not force a latch that the machine has locked.
When to call
Call when the supply is proven, the drain is clear and the machine still stops at the same stage, because the components involved are under the tub. Give the technician the stage and whether it repeats. On a machine that stalls with water inside, take the load out and switch it off at the breaker rather than leaving it to stand for days.
Other faults here
Page scope
Generalized across dishwasher families under this badge; where a family-specific or model-specific page exists it is the narrower answer. Not here: program durations, code tables, level sensor specifications and inlet valve part numbers.
Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 12 years experience
Experienced technician with 12 years specializing in washing machine and dryer repairs across all major brands.
