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How To Test Dishwasher Drain Pump With Multimeter

If you’re the proud owner of a dishwasher, you’d know the importance of keeping it up and running properly as any faulty component will get in the way of its performance.
One common issue that may arise is when your drain pump goes bad, resulting in a number of hassles. This is because the drain pump is responsible for forcing the water flow through the drain pipe with an impeller that rotates to do so.
If the drain pump motor is not working properly, it means that the drain pump is damaged and in need of immediate attention.
Since dishwasher pumps cannot be repaired, requires replacement, and accessing them required dismantling the dishwasher itself, you need to first test its functionality with a multimeter device.
Hence, let’s check out how to test a dishwasher drain pump with multimeter before you decide on any replacements.

When To Check The Dishwasher Pump?

Since the dishwasher needs to be disassembled in the case of most models before you can access the drain pump, you need to ensure that the hassle is worth it.
You can decide that the issue may be due to come complications in the drain pump if you notice any, some, or all of the issues discussed below:

1.Slow Draining Of The Dishwasher

Water may drain slowly for some other reasons as well due to food and other debris clogging up, or some other faulty part.
Though not the surest way to determine whether there is actually a drain pump issue, it sure provides a heads-up.

2.Water Accumulating After The Wash Cycle

After a wash cycle is over and you open the dishwasher to find water pooled at the bottom of your appliance, it is the next significant indication that a faulty pump motor is responsible for this mess.

3.Unusual Noise While The Dishwasher Is Running

Some sound while the dishwasher operates is normal but if you notice any noise out of the ordinary, there might be a reason for concern. These strange noises, whether a whining, buzzing, or any other weird noise, result from your drain pump’s motor dying out or getting jammed up.

4.The Display Of An Error Code

During operation or while turning on, if your dishwasher display screen shows some sort of error code saying “DP” or something similar, it is highly likely that your dishwasher drain pump is acting up and needs attention.

5.Leaks In The Middle Of Washing Cycles

Leakage in the middle of your wash cycles is a big no-no and is one of the most alarming indicators of checking your drain pump as the leaking water may cause further damage to other components as well.

6.Dishwasher Won’t Power On

If your dishwasher doesn’t switch on properly or makes noises but doesn’t run, then the drain pump is likely to need getting checked out.

How To Test Dishwasher Drain Pump With Multimeter?

Upon carefully removing the dishwasher, these are some of the tools that you’d need:

A multimeter device
Screwdriver
Pliers

In order to access your appliance’s drain pump, you’d need to disassemble the dishwasher after you have taken it out of its cabinet.

Start by running your empty dishwasher on a short wash cycle. This will help you locate the drain pump location which is highly likely to be situated at the bottom.
Now, before proceeding to work on your dishwasher, disconnect it from the main power supply for safety.
Go through the user guide or manual of your dishwasher in order to develop a clear understanding of how the drain pump should be accessed.
Lay the dishwasher down on its side accordingly.
With the screwdriver, unscrew the baseplate to remove it from the dishwasher.
Now, you need to disconnect the anti-flood switch connectors.
Keep the baseplate panel aside and navigate to the drain pump motor.
On your multimeter device, set the ohm setting to receive the reading in ohms.
Connect the multimeter to the terminals of the drain pump.
Check the reading shown by the multimeter in ohms.
If necessary, disassemble the drain pump to check that the impeller rotates properly.
While doing so, clean out any debris in the pump body to enhance the drain pump’s operation.

Now that you know how to test a dishwasher pump motor that is located in the drain pump, you need to check the multimeter reading. A pump motor that’s in a healthy or good condition will show a resistance reading of around 20-40 ohms.
Some models’ optimum resistance reading might be around 100s or 200s. The optimum reading is based on the device model and manufacturer hence, check the technician diagnostic sheet to match the range. This tech sheet is usually located behind the dishwasher’s kick panel.
If the reading is too small or large, it implies that the pump motor needs to be replaced. In that case, you need to find the exact drain motor assembly for your dishwasher that is specific to your dishwasher model.
If you find that the issues are existent even though the multimeter shows the optimum reading, it probably means that the issue resides somewhere else, or there are clogs and debris that need to be cleared out to make way for the water to drain.
There are many other reasons why your dishwasher may not drain properly even if the pump motor tests out to be in good health. These include:

An impeller that doesn’t rotate properly
Failure of the drain solenoid
Clogged or faulty drain valve
A faulty check ball in the dishwasher’s check valve that stops water from coming back inside the appliance after it is drained
Faulty check valve
Clogged drain hose
Broken or damaged water pump belt
Incorrectly installed or clogged garbage disposer, etc.

In such cases, try fixing these issues before deciding on dismantling your dishwasher to reach the drain pump or replacing the drain pump.

Conclusion

When using a dishwasher, the last thing you’d want is it not performing properly, resulting in ineffective dishwashing.
A number of reasons may get in the way of this vital appliance working, a damaged drain pump being one of them.
Most of the time some other trivial issue may be the cause of your device acting up, which is why you need to first ensure if the drain pump is the real culprit before taking action as it involves some disassembly.
Once you’re sure, all you need to know how to test dishwasher drain pump with multimeter in order to confirm the viability of the drain pump motor like a pro!

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