The Kenmore Elite Dishwasher Will Not Start and the Clean Light Blinks

Overfill Protection Float

• The overfill protection float looks like a little cone that slides up and down in the bottom of the dishwasher. While many users will never need to identify or troubleshoot this device, it is one of the things to investigate if the “Clean” light is flashing. Sometimes debris simply obstructs the float so clean it off with a clean, damp cloth and gently loosen it until it can move easily.

Water Supply

• It may seem obvious, but your Kenmore Elite dishwasher cannot operate without water. Sometimes the water supply gets turned off due to other repairs in the home or as an overlooked step when the dishwasher is first installed. Simply find the water supply valve and turn it on so that the dishwasher can access water as needed.

Too Much Soap

• When there is too much soap in the dishwasher, whether the wrong type of soap or too much of any kind, problems can result. It is important to only use automatic dishwasher detergent and follow the instructions on the product box for the amount to be used; but if there are already too many suds in the dishwasher, this must be addressed first. Simply pour a gallon of cold water into the bottom of the dishwasher, shut the door and run the drain cycle.

Reset

• Sometimes, when all else fails, a simple reset can help resolve the problem, especially if troubleshooting repairs have been made but the "Clean" light is still blinking. Simply unplug the dishwasher, wait 15 minutes then restore power to see if this reset stops the light from flashing.

Repair Needed

• Even after performing all of the troubleshooting efforts, sometimes the dishwasher will continue to flash the “Clean” light. If this occurs, then there are other repair issues that will require professional assistance so contact Kenmore or an authorized repair technician.