Dishwasher does not start

If it was running when the power outage happened, that may have "fried" the control panel.
She needs to have it checked by an appliance repair person to see if that is so.
God bless your efforts.

Hi - The issue may lie with the door latch; a door switch is used to start and stop your dishwasher. It's a safety feature that won't allow water to flow with the door open. With a faulty door switch, there is a chance your dishwasher won't start at all. Dishwasher door switches are about an inch long. They are usually black but can be red. There are metal prongs on the body of the switch called terminals. Some door switches have two terminals and some have three. If your door switch is OK, check the timer assembly. This controls when and how long power is sent to other controls on your dishwasher. If these controls don't receive power, they won't work. The timer assembly contains a motor. Check this motor as well. It is often cheaper just to replace the timer motor rather than the complete assembly. My last suggestion is to check the cycle selector switches. These switches indicate cycles for washing, drying, and setting the temperature of the water. If one of your switches is the problem your dishwasher may not start. Dishwasher cycle selector switches tell the timer which cycle to run by opening and closing electrical circuits. Most selector switches are six to eight inches long. They are usually black and have terminals. By testing each one of these parts with an ohmmeter you should be able to determine why your dishwasher is not working. It is possible for other parts to fail but these are the most common parts to check. If any proves to be ineffective, I strongly suggest contacting a professional to move forward accurately.

see this causes and proceed according. God bless you
Belt, Water Pump Although few dishwashers have a water pump belt, if the dishwasher won't drain there might be a worn or broken water pump belt. After removing the lower kick panel the motor can be seen in the front, the water pump belt is on the bottom of the motor.

Drain Pump If the dishwasher won't drain, the drain pump might be defective. Test the pump motor with an Ohm meter. Drain pumps are not repairable, if it's defective it will need to be replaced.

Drain Impeller The drain impeller is attached to the pump and pushes the water out of the dishwasher, through the drain tube and into the garbage disposer or drain line. If the dishwasher won't drain, the drain impeller might be broken or worn out. Replace both the impeller and seal at the same time.

Drain Solenoid Kit If the dishwasher won't drain, the drain solenoid kit might need to be replaced. The drain solenoid is an actuator that opens a flap to allow the water to drain.
Drain Valve The drain valve can get clogged with debris and should be cleaned out if the dishwasher won't drain. If it seems clear of debris but won't actuate, it will need to be replaced. The drain valve is not repairable Pump and Motor Assembly If the dishwasher won't drain, the pump and motor assembly might be defective. If the motor runs during the drain cycle, check for a blockage in the drain line. If the motor won't run during the drain cycle or if it just hums when it should be running, the pump and motor assembly might need to be replaced.

Clogged or Improperly Installed Garbage Disposer If the dishwasher won't drain and the garbage disposer was installed recently, the installer might have forgotten to knock out the drain plug from this disposer. All garbage disposers are sold with a solid plug in the drain tube for situations where a dishwasher isn't connected. However, if the dishwasher is connected, the plug will need to be removed. If the disposer wasn't replaced recently, remove the dishwasher drain hose from the disposer and clean out both the fitting on the disposer and the end of the drain hose. These are the most common places to find an obstruction if the dishwasher won't drain.

Clogged or Improperly Installed Garbage Disposer If the dishwasher won't drain and the garbage disposer was installed recently, the installer might have forgotten to knock out the drain plug from this disposer. All garbage disposers are sold with a solid plug in the drain tube for situations where a dishwasher isn't connected. However, if the dishwasher is connected, the plug will need to be removed. If the disposer wasn't replaced recently, remove the dishwasher drain hose from the disposer and clean out both the fitting on the disposer and the end of the drain hose. These are the most common places to find an obstruction if the dishwasher won't drain.

Check Valve If the dishwasher won't drain the check valve might be stuck closed. The check valve is a small plastic device which prevents water from returning to the dishwasher after it has drained. If the valve gets stuck closed, it will prevent the water from draining. The check valve is the device that the drain hose is attached to on the dishwasher.

Check Ball If the dishwasher won't drain the check ball might be stuck. The check ball is a small plastic ball in the check valve which prevents water from returning to the dishwasher after it has drained. If the ball gets stuck, it will prevent the water from draining also. The check valve is the device that the drain hose is attached to on the dishwasher.

see this causes and fix it. God bless you
Thermal Fuse If the dishwasher won't start the thermal fuse might have blown. The thermal fuse helps to prevent damage to the dishwasher by turning off power so that it doesn't overheat. Once blown, the thermal fuse will have to be replaced for the dishwasher to work.

Door Switch The door switch, or switches, are sometimes called interlock switches. The door switch prevents the dishwasher from running while the door is open. If the dishwasher won't start, the switch or switches might be defective. To access the door switches, remove the control panel or inside door panel - depending on the model. They can be tested for continuity.

Main Control Board The main control board provides power to nearly every component of the dishwasher. If the dishwasher won't start the main control board might be defective. YOU should first check for more common parts. Many times control boards are replaced unnecessarily because the problem was not diagnosed properly.

Touchpad and Control Panel If the touchpad is defective, the control board might not get the signal for the selections made. If the dishwasher won't start and the display doesn't seem to change properly when the buttons are pressed, the touchpad might need to be replaced. On some models the touchpad and control panel are sold together and will need to be replaced at the same time.

Touchpad If the touchpad is defective, the control board might not get the signal for the selections made. If the dishwasher won't start and the display doesn't seem to change properly when the buttons are pressed, the touchpad might need to be replaced.

Timer The timer allows power to flow to the proper parts at the proper times. If the dishwasher won't start, the timer might be defective. Keep in mind that timers are often misdiagnosed as the cause of a problem. Check other components first before replacing the timer.

see this causes and fix it. God bless you
Belt, Water Pump Although few dishwashers have a water pump belt, if the dishwasher won't drain there might be a worn or broken water pump belt. After removing the lower kick panel the motor can be seen in the front, the water pump belt is on the bottom of the motor.

Drain Pump If the dishwasher won't drain, the drain pump might be defective. Test the pump motor with an Ohm meter. Drain pumps are not repairable, if it's defective it will need to be replaced.

Drain Impeller The drain impeller is attached to the pump and pushes the water out of the dishwasher, through the drain tube and into the garbage disposer or drain line. If the dishwasher won't drain, the drain impeller might be broken or worn out. Replace both the impeller and seal at the same time.

Drain Solenoid Kit If the dishwasher won't drain, the drain solenoid kit might need to be replaced. The drain solenoid is an actuator that opens a flap to allow the water to drain.
Drain Valve The drain valve can get clogged with debris and should be cleaned out if the dishwasher won't drain. If it seems clear of debris but won't actuate, it will need to be replaced. The drain valve is not repairable.
Pump and Motor Assembly If the dishwasher won't drain, the pump and motor assembly might be defective. If the motor runs during the drain cycle, check for a blockage in the drain line. If the motor won't run during the drain cycle or if it just hums when it should be running, the pump and motor assembly might need to be replaced.

Clogged or Improperly Installed Garbage Disposer If the dishwasher won't drain and the garbage disposer was installed recently, the installer might have forgotten to knock out the drain plug from this disposer. All garbage disposers are sold with a solid plug in the drain tube for situations where a dishwasher isn't connected. However, if the dishwasher is connected, the plug will need to be removed. If the disposer wasn't replaced recently, remove the dishwasher drain hose from the disposer and clean out both the fitting on the disposer and the end of the drain hose. These are the most common places to find an obstruction if the dishwasher won't drain.

Drain Hose If the dishwasher won't drain the drain hose might be clogged. Remove the drain hose from both the dishwasher and the sink drain to clean it out. The most common place for an obstruction is at the garbage disposer.

Check Valve If the dishwasher won't drain the check valve might be stuck closed. The check valve is a small plastic device which prevents water from returning to the dishwasher after it has drained. If the valve gets stuck closed, it will prevent the water from draining. The check valve is the device that the drain hose is attached to on the dishwasher
Check Ball If the dishwasher won't drain the check ball might be stuck. The check ball is a small plastic ball in the check valve which prevents water from returning to the dishwasher after it has drained. If the ball gets stuck, it will prevent the water from draining also. The check valve is the device that the drain hose is attached to on the dishwasher.

see this causes and fix it. God bless you
Thermal Fuse If the dishwasher won't start the thermal fuse might have blown. The thermal fuse helps to prevent damage to the dishwasher by turning off power so that it doesn't overheat. Once blown, the thermal fuse will have to be replaced for the dishwasher to work.
Door Switch The door switch, or switches, are sometimes called interlock switches. The door switch prevents the dishwasher from running while the door is open. If the dishwasher won't start, the switch or switches might be defective. To access the door switches, remove the control panel or inside door panel - depending on the model. They can be tested for continuity.

Main Control Board The main control board provides power to nearly every component of the dishwasher. If the dishwasher won't start the main control board might be defective. YOU should first check for more common parts. Many times control boards are replaced unnecessarily because the problem was not diagnosed properly.
Touchpad and Control Panel If the touchpad is defective, the control board might not get the signal for the selections made. If the dishwasher won't start and the display doesn't seem to change properly when the buttons are pressed, the touchpad might need to be replaced. On some models the touchpad and control panel are sold together and will need to be replaced at the same time.

Touchpad If the touchpad is defective, the control board might not get the signal for the selections made. If the dishwasher won't start and the display doesn't seem to change properly when the buttons are pressed, the touchpad might need to be replaced.

Timer The timer allows power to flow to the proper parts at the proper times. If the dishwasher won't start, the timer might be defective. Keep in mind that timers are often misdiagnosed as the cause of a problem. Check other components first before replacing the timer.

see this causes and fix it. God bless you
Thermal Fuse If the dishwasher won't start the thermal fuse might have blown. The thermal fuse helps to prevent damage to the dishwasher by turning off power so that it doesn't overheat. Once blown, the thermal fuse will have to be replaced for the dishwasher to work.

Door Switch The door switch, or switches, are sometimes called interlock switches. The door switch prevents the dishwasher from running while the door is open. If the dishwasher won't start, the switch or switches might be defective. To access the door switches, remove the control panel or inside door panel - depending on the model. They can be tested for continuity.

Main Control Board The main control board provides power to nearly every component of the dishwasher. If the dishwasher won't start the main control board might be defective. YOU should first check for more common parts. Many times control boards are replaced unnecessarily because the problem was not diagnosed properly.

Touchpad and Control Panel If the touchpad is defective, the control board might not get the signal for the selections made. If the dishwasher won't start and the display doesn't seem to change properly when the buttons are pressed, the touchpad might need to be replaced. On some models the touchpad and control panel are sold together and will need to be replaced at the same time.

Touchpad If the touchpad is defective, the control board might not get the signal for the selections made. If the dishwasher won't start and the display doesn't seem to change properly when the buttons are pressed, the touchpad might need to be replaced.

Timer The timer allows power to flow to the proper parts at the proper times. If the dishwasher won't start, the timer might be defective. Keep in mind that timers are often misdiagnosed as the cause of a problem. Check other components first before replacing the timer.

could be a fuse in control panel or a bad circuit board

I have the same problem with my GE dishwasher. The model number is GDS640P-25BA. Any help for this problem !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

Try turning the curcuit breaker off for a few minutes. Turn it back on and see if it resets itself. If not, the outage may have shorted out the main control panel.