The short answer
A dishwasher that will not start is usually being refused rather than failing: a latch that has not confirmed, a control lock or delay, or no supply because of a switch nobody remembers is there. All of those are free to check. On a Robam dishwasher the cause that ranks first is door latch not confirming.
What you observe
- Completely dead: no panel lights, no sound — A supply question: breaker, the switch under the sink, or the junction box connection.
- Panel lights but nothing happens on start — A permission: latch confirmation, control lock, delay start, or no water.
- NEAR MISS — it starts and stops partway with water inside — That is a drainage or cycle fault and belongs on that page.
Causes, most likely first on a Robam dishwasher
- Door latch not confirming — The latch has a switch, and the switch has to confirm. Ranked first on this dishwasher, because it is the commonest cause and a settled built-in machine causes it without anything breaking.
- No supply at the machine — The circuit, the switch under the sink or a shared disposal switch can all leave the machine dead while everything around it works.
- Control lock, delay start or demo mode — A child lock or a delay timer makes the machine ignore the start button completely.
- Shutoff closed or supply restricted — A machine that cannot fill will not begin, and it will not necessarily say so.
Check in this order, and why
- Close the door firmly and listen for the latch to confirm — A settled machine can latch without confirming, and that stops everything.
- Check the breaker and any switch under the sink or beside the machine — A machine can be dead while the whole kitchen is live.
- Look for a lock indicator and any delay setting — Clear both with the sequence printed on the panel.
What an owner can safely check
- Close the door firmly, listen for the confirming click, and check the strike and latch for damage — Push the machine gently back into its opening, since a machine that has crept forward will not confirm.
Tools: torchAbout 15 min
- Check the breaker, then find and test the switch under the sink or beside the machine — Many installations put the dishwasher on the same switch as the disposal.
Tools: torchAbout 20 min
- Clear any child lock, delay start or demo mode using the panel sequence, then cut power for a minute — Restoring power clears a latched control state.
About 15 min
- STOP HERE if the next step needs a meter on live terminals or a panel off — That is where an owner check ends and a service call begins, whatever the ranking above says.
Before you open anything
Safety
Switch the machine off at its breaker before opening the junction box, pulling it out or removing any panel — a capacitor can hold a charge after the power is off. Do not bypass a breaker or protective device that has tripped; it tripped for a reason. Shut the water off under the sink before disturbing any joint. Never wedge the door latch closed to make the machine run: the latch switch is what stops a cycle when the door opens.
When to call a technician
Call when the latch, the supply switch, the control state and the shutoff are all proved good, because what remains is panel, fuse or board work. Call sooner if the machine is completely dead with a confirmed live supply, because that pattern points at a thermal fuse and the reason it opened matters as much as the fuse. Call an electrician rather than an appliance technician if the breaker trips again on reset.
Nearest pages of this class
What this page does not cover
This page is written for the Robam dishwasher as a class, not for one family or model line. Where a family- or model-specific page exists for your unit it is linked above, it is the more specific answer, and it is the one to read first. Deliberately not here: part numbers, wiring colours, panel removal order and torque figures, which differ between families under the same nameplate.
Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 12 years experience
Experienced technician with 12 years specializing in washing machine and dryer repairs across all major brands.
