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KitchenAid Dishwasher lights flashing or blinking

If your KitchenAid dishwasher lights are flashing or blinking, the machine is usually telling you a key part is not doing its job. The most common cause is a failed heating element or heating element assembly, since the control expects the water to reach temperature within a set time and may trigger dishwasher lights flashing when it does not. Next, check the water inlet valve, because if the dishwasher is not filling correctly, the cycle can stall and leave you with dishwasher lights blinking or flashing error lights. A bad door latch or failed microswitch in the latch assembly is another highly likely cause, especially if the dishwasher is blinking and not starting. Less often, the control board or main control board has shorted or stopped sending power to the right component, which can also cause a dishwasher control panel to act up. Start with the fault code information in your owner’s manual, then test likely parts with a multimeter where appropriate. Enter your KitchenAid model number on RepairClinic.com to find the exact heating element, water inlet valve, door latch, control board, or main control board that fits your dishwasher.

01 - KitchenAid Dishwasher Heating Element

The heating element heats up the water to operating temperature. If the water doesn’t reach the proper temperature after a set amount of time, a light on the control panel might start flashing. To determine if the heating element has burned out, use a multimeter to test it for continuity. If the heating element does not have continuity, replace it.
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Top Solution

02 - KitchenAid Dishwasher Heating Element Assembly

The heating element assembly heats up the water to operating temperature. If the water doesn’t reach the correct temperature after a set amount of time, a light on the control panel might start flashing. To determine if the heating element assembly has burned out, use a multimeter to test the heating element for continuity.
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Top Solution

03 - KitchenAid Dishwasher Water Inlet Valve

If the dishwasher lights are flashing or blinking, the cause could be a faulty water inlet valve. You can use a multimeter to test the valve's solenoids for electrical continuity to help determine if the component is functioning properly or not.
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Highly Likely

04 - KitchenAid Dishwasher Door Latch

A dishwasher's lights flashing or blinking could indicate a problem with a micro switch inside the door latch assembly. To determine if the micro switch is at fault, use a multimeter to test the switch for continuity. If the switch does not have continuity, replace it or the entire latch assembly.
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Highly Likely

05 - KitchenAid Dishwasher Control Board

The control board provides power to nearly every component of the dishwasher. It's possible that the board has shorted and is causing the lights to flash or blink unexpectedly. Check the owner’s manual for possible fault codes as one of the components may have failed. If the control board is not sending power to one of the components, it's likely the control board is at fault and will need to be replaced.
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Common

06 - KitchenAid Dishwasher Main Control Board

The main control board provides power to nearly every component of the dishwasher. It's possible that the board has shorted and is causing the lights to flash or blink. Check the owner’s manual for possible fault codes as one of the components may have failed. If the control board is not sending power to one of the components, it's likely the main control board is at fault and will need to be replaced.
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Common

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my KitchenAid dishwasher lights flashing or blinking but the cycle will not start?
Can a bad heating element cause a KitchenAid dishwasher to blink error lights?
How do I know if the door latch is causing my KitchenAid dishwasher lights to flash?
Could a water inlet valve problem make my KitchenAid dishwasher lights blink?
How do I find the right KitchenAid dishwasher part if I need a heating element, door latch, or water inlet valve?

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