Dishwashers can make your life easier by handling the one chore nobody wants to do—the dishes. However, if you can’t even get the door unlocked, it might as well be one huge paperweight. So, what can you do to unlock a Frigidaire dishwasher?
If your Frigidaire dishwasher door is inexplicably locked, the child lock system might be engaged. You can tell when the lock system is on if the Lock or Loc backlight is turned on. To turn off the child lock system, press and hold the Delay Start button for 3 to 5 seconds or until the Lock backlight is off.
In this guide, I’ll explain basic troubleshooting commands to help restore your Frigidaire dishwasher to working order.
What Is the Purpose of the Child Lock System?
The child lock or control lock function serves to prevent unauthorized users from starting or stopping a wash cycle. That way, you can prevent others from starting a dishwashing program on a half-load and prevent water and electricity wastage.
Other times, curious children and pets could end up pressing a ton of buttons and throwing your control settings out of whack. In either case, the control lock or child lock system prevents them from happening.
When the lock function is engaged, it will be impossible to activate a new wash cycle or adjust the wash programs. You will have to unlock the machine to alter its settings, or you will have to reset the machine by cutting off its source of power.
How to Unlock a Frigidaire Dishwasher?
The specific dishwasher model you own will determine how to lock and unlock the unit. Frigidaire dishwashers are generally divided into two main model types—stainless-steel tubs and plastic tubs.
Stainless-Steel Tub
- Look for the Lock backlight on the control pad. If it’s on, that means the control lock or child lock function is engaged.
- Press and hold the Delay Start button for 3 to 5 seconds.
- Check for the Lock backlight. If it’s off, then the dishwasher is unlocked.
Plastic Tub
- Look for the Loc backlight on the control pad. If it’s on, that means the control lock or child lock function is engaged.
- Press and hold the Delay Start button for 3 to 5 seconds.
- Check for the Loc backlight. If it’s off, then the dishwasher is unlocked.
My Frigidaire Dishwasher Is Stuck in Lock Mode
If you’ve tried the previous steps to unlock your Frigidaire dishwasher to no avail, then you will need to hard reset the machine. Hard resetting a dishwasher means unplugging it from its power source. In other words, you will have to force the unit to turn off before turning it back on again, restoring the dishwasher to standby mode.
Here’s how to hard-reset a Frigidaire dishwasher:
- Wait for the Frigidaire dishwasher to finish whatever wash cycle it is currently doing.
- When the dishwasher has come to a complete stop (and you’ve tried unlocking the machine without success), unplug the power cord.
- For hardwired dishwashers, you will need to go to the circuit box and turn off the breaker to the dishwasher.
- Wait for 30 seconds before restoring power to the dishwasher.
- Turn the dishwasher back and.
- If the lock function is still engaged, try unlocking the machine using the steps described in the previous section.
If doing this still doesn’t resolve the locked door problem, then there might be a chance that the control board on your dishwasher is faulty. Consult with a trained professional to see what options you have to restore your Frigidaire dishwasher to working order.
Why Would You Have to Reset a Frigidaire Dishwasher?
Resetting a dishwasher is usually only something you would have to do once every 3 to 6 months or whenever you feel that the control board is running more sluggishly than usual.
In extreme cases, your dishwasher will lose a part of its functionality after experiencing a brief power outage. This can be due to a sudden uncontrolled loss of power or if you run too many power-hungry appliances on the same circuit and trip the breaker. Here’s a pro tip—your dishwasher should be connected to a dedicated circuit!
Frigidaire Dishwasher Lights Won’t Stop Blinking
Unfortunately, blinking lights on a Frigidaire dishwasher are a symptom of a wide range of issues—some more serious than others. Blinking lights usually mean you cannot start or stop a wash cycle, and oftentimes, resetting the machine won’t do you any good.
In this section, I’ll describe what you need to do if your Frigidaire dishwasher’s lights won’t stop blinking.
Check the latch sensor
Dishwasher doors have a latch system that keeps the door locked during specific times—i.e., whenever a wash program is currently activated. The latch has a sensor that informs the dishwasher’s control board whether or not the door is closed. If the sensor is on the fritz, the dishwasher will not register a closed door, and you will not be able to input new or additional wash programs.
In some Frigidaire dishwashers, the latch sensor is integrated into the latch, meaning that you will have to replace the entire latch system. In other models, the sensor comes in the form of a mechanical switch that, when depressed, registers a locked door. You may have to replace the mechanical switch, or you will have to clear out any debris in the way
Check the wiring
Frigidaire dishwashers have 2 wires that deliver signals to the control board whenever the door is closed. In rare instances, one of the wires may have shorted or become snapped.
To test whether this is the problem, you will have to dismantle the latch system and use a multimeter to check the wires for continuity. Only after determining a problematic wire should you pull it out and replace it. This is probably something you should leave to a trained professional.
Check the door latch
Sometimes, the entire door latch may be faulty. While this sounds severe, it’s actually a quicker fix than replacing wires or the sensor.
First, you will need to purchase a replacement latch system that is compatible with your Frigidaire dishwasher. Then, remove the existing latch system and replace it with the new one, making sure to follow the installation instructions to the letter.
Check the door strike
The door strike looks like a hook. It’s where the latch connects to ensure a water-tight seal. In certain Frigidaire models, the strike can be found on the upper side of the door panel.
Over time, the door strike may have been knocked out of place due to usage or slamming the door shut (something you should try your best to avoid). You may have to use a screwdriver to reposition and lock the door strike in place. However, if it looks worse for wear, you should consider replacing it completely.
Check the door hinge
The hinges can be found on the opposite end of the door latch. They are susceptible to wear and tear, especially if you use your dishwasher frequently. So, check the door hinges and add lubrication (if necessary).
Sometimes, even a bit of grease isn’t enough to restore the hinges to working order. In such instances, you will have to remove the existing hinges and replace them with new ones.
While this may seem like a simple task, it’s important that you align the new hinges to ensure a perfect seal to prevent water from leaking out of the machine. Again, when in doubt, seek the help of trained professionals.
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