Soap dispenser doesn''t open during the cycle. There seems to be no water being dispersed. The cycle stops at the 1-minute mark and then does not shut off. When the door is opened mid-cycle, the motor does not shut off.

Either:

1. check if the bottom rack is inserted correctly. Try turning it 180 degrees and run the cycle. Make sure nothing obstructs the dispenser.
   
2. the water does not get into the dishwasher open the dishwasher 3-4 times during cycle, if you don't see any water at least once - check water valve, water level float and water pressure.
3. the pump is clogged - there is water, the motor will run but no water is circulated. Check pump filters, check chopper and impeller.
4. motor in main pump is not working - could be caused by something stuck on the impeller or chopper or could be a problem with the motor itself or control board. Check if line voltage is coming to the motor during wash/rinse cycle.

Good luck,
Vlad
First Choice Appliance

Does the washer heat the water during the hot cycle. If it does, your soap dispenser module in the door is faulty. To install, you need to pull power plug out first,then sit on a chair in front of the door and then open the door towards yourself. Once open unscrew those screws along the perimeter of the door to enable you to remove outer panel. Once off, you can view how to remove soap dispenser. If water does not get hot, check the heater element and/or the reset (over temperature switch). Note, top rotator must move freely as well to allow hot water dispersion which on some occasions activates the soap dish. On other occasions it uses a solenoid switch.

OK, Duh..... I guess there is about a 2 to 3 min. delay for the liquid soap dispenser to fill up and disperse the soap into the washer tub. After that short cycle is complete the fill cycle engages and fills at normal speed.

The soap dispenser drawer is supposed to open during the cycle. Try first to understand if the drawer is opening or not during cycle.

If the drawer is not opening, then check if the opening mechanism is stuck, if it is blocked by dirt and soap, if it is broken, or if something, for examble a basket too close to dispenser drawer is preventing the drawer from opening.

Some dishwasher works only with powder, in that case indications are given on the owners manual.

If the drawer opens and the table, or powder is still staying stuck in the drawer, then that means that the spray does not have enough power to solve the tablet.
In that case check spray arms and impeller pump.Also check water temperature.

If the problem is also happening with powder, then it is probably a drawer not opening on cycle.

Symptoms:
Dispenser lid is open. Caked powder at (what would be during normal operation) bottom edge of soap dispenser or caked powder fallen onto dishes or dishwasher bottom. There may be loose powder in rest of dispenser or spilled down inside door or onto dishes underneath dispenser.

Solution:
Keep the area around the soap dispenser lid clear when loading the top tray.

Explanation:
The soap dispenser needs to swing open during the wash cycle. In many dishwashers the top tray has an indentation as wide as the lid of the dispenser. This allows the top tray to be as large deep as possible while still allowing space for the dispenser lid to open. People often pack their dishwasher with things overhanging this gap.

During the wash cycle the catch will release but the overhanging cutlery or crockery prevents the lid from opening all but a few degrees. Some water will splash in but not enough to wash out the soap powder. The soap powder at the bottom of the dispenser will then cake.

When the front door is opened the spring loaded lid, which is partly open, will of course swing fully open and you'll be convinced that the lid opened normally during operation. If this is the problem then if you're very careful and open the door very slowly you can actually hear the lid flip open. Also, depending on when the lid opens, how far it opened during operation and how fast you open the door you may find soap powder spilled down to cover the dishes at the front or down the inside of the door. This happens when you first open the door and obviously there couldn't be loose powder there if the powder had emerged while there was water washing around. Seeing the lid open as you open the door is a lot harder but can be done on some machines.

I noticed you didn't rate out chat and saw that your problem was posted. I'm happy to continue to help you if you encountered problems or were not happy with the solution in your chat session.

its either the dispenser or the timer/pcb.

water is getting past the gasket during the start up cycle. by the time the door opens, the water has caked up the soap. also, its not clear when in the cycle the door is opening.
try using liquid soap.
also, take a peek just after the machine has finished filling and starts washing to see if the door is opened on the soap disp.
good luck
mark

I had the same problem with my GE Adora. The dishes were getting cloudy and the soap dispenser would not open. Turns out the hard water deposits were causing the soap dispenser to stick shut. I purchased and used Dishwasher Magic which is a dishwasher cleaner designed to remove limescale, rust and buildup. I used as directed and now my dishes are sparkling and the soap dispenser pops right open.

Before taking anything to bits, check you aren't just loading the machine in such a way that something (for us, it's usually a frying pan) is stopping the soap dispenser from springing open all the way. A.