Dishwasher problem

pruney

Hello
Hoping that someone can help me out on here, not sure what to do.
My father gave us a Hygena freestanding dishwasher (model 8122) before christmas for our new kitchen, he was given it free when he had his kitchen installed but he didn't want it so it was sat in his garage for 5 years in its box until we had it. We've been using it since just before christmas and it has done just over 60 cycles (I know this because I've just opened my 3rd box of tablets).
Anyway, yesterday I put it on and when I went back into the kitchen a few hours later it was still making it's usual noises when it should have finished by then. I checked the dial and it was stuck at the end of the wash cycle, just before the rinse and dry cycle. The salt light was on but that doesn't usually stop it and I used all in one tabs but to humour it I added some additional salt but it was still just whirring. All the pots appear to be clean and are dry. I checked the filter at the bottom and there is nothing stuck in it and there is no water so not a drainage issue.
As the dishwasher is so old in terms of when it was bought (not usage!) and my Dad's kitchen came from MFI, I can't take it back and Hygena don't appear to have a website.
The manual is not very comprehensive and doesn't give anything in the troubleshooting guide for what to do when it gets stuck mid-cycle.
Does anyone have any suggestions what to do? I googled it and found somewhere that said you have to turn it on it's side and take a panel off it to access the reset button but that's a bit beyond me.
We only have one wage coming in at the moment and a poorly puppy with vet bills so I'd prefer not to get a repair man out if I can help it as I heard that dishwasher repairs can be expensive.
Sorry for being so longwinded, hoping someone will read this and be able to help me,
Cheers
Pruney

macman

If it's a freestanding machine it shoud be relatively easy to remove the side panel and do the reset procedure, if the manual indicates that this is a user-alowed procedure.
Have you tried it on a different program?

pruney

It doesn't seem to matter where I turn the dial to, it just continues to make the same noise (which isn't an abnormal one, just sounds like a normal one that's part of the cycle).
The manual doesn't say anything about the reset procedure and instructions on another website suggested the machine had to be turned on its left hand side and a cover removed to do the reset. I'd be happy to take a cover off it and have a poke around but not so fond of tipping it on its side, particularly as I have no idea whether the person posting on that website knew what they were talking about or not.

pruney

These are the instructions I found on another site but I'm wary of trying them (mainly as have lovely new kitchen and don't want water everywhere!)

Had this problem several times on the exact same model. the reset button is inside the workings of the dishwasher. I found the first time it tripped for us I needed to partially dismantle the dishwasher to find out what was broken. Once I had figured out what needed doing, subsequent resets only involves removing a couple of access panels and sticking your arm in.
A) To find the reset button for the first time.
1) Unplug the diswasher. The top of the unit is a one piece panel fixed by two screws under the rear lip. remove screws, lift the back up and slide forward to remove. Lay the unit down on it's left hand side. Use towels to mop up any water that leaks out.
2)the plastic plinth trim on the base has 2 screws holding it on. remove these, then put your thumb down behind the front feet and push down hard to release the clips holding the plinth on.
3) There is a flat white plastic trim at the bottom front [at the side] of the unit, held on with one screw. remove it.
4)If you look behind where the front plinth sat, you will see two black plastic snap in access panels. the topmost one (would be the one on the right hand side if it was stood upright) is the one you would use in subsequent times when sticking your arm in to reset the cut-out.
5)Working your way round the metal side panel, remove all the securing screws and lift off the panel.
6)You can now see the internal workings of the dishwasher. Towards the back of the unit, and about an inch in from the side of the dishwasher (that you have just removed) are two wires going to the reset switch itself.
7) Between the two spade connectors attached to this switch is the reset button. press it in and you should hear an audible click. The overheat switch is now reset!
8) re-assemble in reverse order of the above.

Now you know where the switch is, next time it happens, you only need to remove the white plastic plinth (having laid the dishwasher down on it's left hand side), remove the black plastic access panel I mentioned earlier, and stick your arm in [You DID unplug it from the power supply, didn't you?], feel around for the reset switch and press the button. much easier and only takes about 10 minute.

Basil1234

you need to do this repair(push in popped out switch) is thermal cut out switch and has killed your elements in dishwasher therefore not ever finishing or getting upto temp. until switch is pushed back in machine will never work properly. i work as 3phase electrical tester for major air conditioning manufacturing company so trust me on this.

but make sure is unplugged for about 24hrs before so any capicators have discharged first! i would suggest getting your father around if not too happy to do this as a little bit of humping and bumping sounds required for moving machine around.

pruney

Thanks Basil1234, I'll be doing it with my husband and I've told him to turn it off at the spur before we do the reset, hopefully it'll work, otherwise I'll probably just buy a new one that has a warranty on it, seems silly to spend best part of £100 on a repair when I can get a new one for £200-300

Basil1234

let me know how you get on

pruney

Hey Basil, well we had a go and it didn't work. We couldn't find the reset button between the spade connectors but my husband pulled them off and reconnected them which stopped the machine but when we put it on to run a test cycle, the same thing happened again.
We're getting an repairman to come out and take a look, he does free quotes so it won't cost us anything. If it's going to cost us quite a bit, we'll probably cut our losses and just buy a new dishwasher. If it needs new heating element for example, that surely shouldn't have gone after just 60 cycles? And how would I know it wouldn't go again after another 60? I'll let you know what he says when he comes out. Thanks for your advice