Samsung Dishwasher Won’t Turn Off? – Here’s How to Fix

Samsung dishwasher won’t turn off? A few different malfunctions on the device can cause that. It could either be electrical, mechanical or simply some clogging.

When the Samsung dishwasher won’t turn off, you must try resetting it. If that doesn’t work, you might try unclogging the drain system, eliminating leakage sources, or replacing essential components such as the timer motor, turbidity sensor, or control board.

Are you tired of the Samsung dishwasher not working as it should? Then follow the solutions below to put an end to that annoyance!

Samsung Dishwasher Won’t Turn Off – Reasons

Sometimes the Samsung Dishwasher fails to turn off when you command it.

A few times, the Samsung Dishwasher won’t turn off even with the door open, which poses many questions. 

If you have some experience with appliances but none with a dishwasher, learning the reasons will help you proceed to the solutions.

Below we discuss widespread causes of the Samsung dishwasher failing to turn off:

✅ Damaged Control Board

When the control board is at fault, some simple functions will not work. That includes turning the appliance off.

✅ Damaged Turbidity Sensor

The turbidity sensor checks if the water inside the dishwasher is already clean, allowing it to turn off.

✅ There’s a Leak

The dishwasher can refuse to turn off in a leakage situation to prevent further internal damage.

✅ Draining System Not Working

The dishwasher’s water must be drained to turn it off. If that can’t happen, the appliance cannot turn off.

✅ Faulty Timer Motor

The timer motor controls your appliance’s cycles. It can prevent the dishwasher from turning off when it is damaged.

How To Fix A Samsung Dishwasher Failing To Turn Off

So you are scratching your head wondering, “my Samsung Dishwasher won’t turn off, so what should I do?”.

Fortunately, we provide many answers below. 

You must investigate carefully and determine the cause of the issue according to the reasons given in the section above.

Then, you can follow the solutions below and fix the problem.

Solution #1: Reset The Dishwasher

Appliances nowadays are very technological and depend on many electronic components that communicate with each other.

Those electronic components can get buggy, overloaded, etc., and will stop working correctly.

Samsung itself recommends customers reset their dishwashers when anything goes wrong for the first time.

It could be a very silly malfunction that might never happen again.

Here is how you can reset it:

1. Unplug the dishwasher
2. Let it rest for 5 minutes
3. Plug the dishwasher again and try a new cycle

If the failure happens again, then move on to the next solution.

Solution #2: Replace The Timer Motor

The timer motor controls the dishwasher’s cycles from beginning to end.

It tells the entire system the correct times for filling,  washing, heating, rinsing, and drying.

The timer motor may be broken if the appliance doesn’t shut off.

✅ How To Check The Timer Motor

You must check the timer motor to find out its status. First, you must find it:

1. Unplug the dishwasher
2. Unscrew the control panel and latch
3. Open the door
4. Remove the door panel
5. There should be the timer motor
6. Detach the two wires on top of it

Now it is time to test it:

1. Grab an Ohmeter
2. Set it to X1000
3. Test the timer motor

A perfectly fine-timer motor will display readings between 2000 and 3000. If the readings are not like that, it is time to replace the motor.

✅ How To Replace The Component

Detaching the timer motor is easy: all you have to do is follow the steps below that you’ve already used to find the part.

Then do the following:

1. Remove any screws or clips that could be securing the timer motor in place
2. Carefully lift the timer motor, detaching it entirely
3. Place the new timer motor in place of the old one
4. Secure it in place with the screws or clips
5. Attach the wires
6. Put every other screw and panel back in place

Then it is time to test your dishwasher. If available, you can run a quick cycle (if available) to see if the dishwasher can turn off. 

Tip: When buying a new timer motor, you must ensure you are buying one that can fit in your dishwasher. 

If it is hard to find a precise replacement model online, you can take your damaged part to a specialized seller and ask for help.

Solution #3: Eliminate Leakage Issues

Eliminating the leakage issue will depend on external moisture or improper installation.

✅ Fixing External Moisture

When there is external moisture in the dishwasher, its sensors will detect it and tell the control board that there is leakage.

Perhaps there is no leakage, as the humidity caused could be non-related to the dishwasher cycle. 

Have you spilled water on the appliance? Is there humidity in your kitchen?

Try to think of anything that could make your dishwasher accumulate external moisture. 

Here is what to do:

1. Unplug the dishwasher
2. Use a dry cloth to wipe the dishwasher’s external surface
3. Ensure there is no water/moisture source near the appliance
4. Turn it back on

Now the dishwasher should work correctly.

Fix Installation Leakage

Installation leakage refers to hoses inside or outside the dishwasher that could leak water.

The easiest thing to do is check each hose connected to the dishwasher.

That goes for the feeding and draining hoses:

1. Unplug the dishwasher
2. Locate each hose attached to it
3. If it is wet, then it is the culprit
4. Detach the hose
5. Put a new hose in place

Solution #4: Unclog The Draining System

The draining system of a Samsung Dishwasher involves many parts.

If any of them is clogged, the draining system will not work, preventing the appliance from turning off.

Clogs usually occur on dishwashers if you don’t clean them thoroughly once in a while.

Here is how to get rid of the clog to get the appliance back to work:

1. Inspect the dishwasher’s bottom for chunks of food and remove them;
2. Remove all dirt you can find in the dishwasher’s inside
3. Place two cups of vinegar in a dishwasher-safe container on the lowest rack.
4. Run a regular cleaning cycle.

Using vinegar should help unclog all the hoses in your dishwasher. If necessary, do it a second time.

Unclog The Filter

Now it is time to check how the filter is doing:

1. Turn off the appliance
2. Open its door
3. Lift off the filter cover
4. Turn the filter counterclockwise
5. Now you can remove the filter
6. Wash it thoroughly under a tap (use soap and vinegar)

Solution #5: Change The Turbidity Sensor

The turbidity sensor is another component in the dishwasher responsible for controlling its cycles.

It has the power to check if the water is already clean, meaning that the dishes are clean too.

It can assign a longer cycle than necessary when it fails, and the dishwasher will fail to turn off.

Here is how you can remove the turbidity sensor:

1. Remove the dishwasher from its usual place
2. Place the dishwasher’s back panel down
3. Remove the screws from the bottom access panel
4. Detach the leak detector’s harness
5. Detach the turbidity sensor’s wire
6. Pull the locking tabs on either side apart
7. Remove the old sensor

After removing the damaged turbidity sensor, you must put the new one in place. Remember to reattach all wires and secure all screws and locking tabs.

Tip: It is easy to get lost with too many wires. You can use tape to identify them and remember where each one goes.

Solution #6: Replace The Control Board

Yet another cause of the Samsung dishwasher failing to turn off is the control board.

It can fail to communicate to other components when you push the power button or when the cycle should end automatically.

If you can notice odd behavior on your appliance’s control board that indicates it is a problem.

Here is how you can replace it:

1. Remove the screws that hold the front panel in place. 
2. Lift the panel off to access the inside of the dishwasher.
3. Carefully unplug the wires from the control board. 
4. Remove any screws or clips that secure the control board 
5. Carefully lift it out of the dishwasher
6. Place the new control board 
7. Secure it in place with screws or fasteners.
8. Reconnect the wires to the new control board.

Alert: Again, label the wires, so it is easy to reconnect when putting the new board in place.

Read Next: GE Dishwasher Control Lock Won’t Turn Off?

What We Learned

Samsung dishwasher won’t turn off? As you’ve seen in the guide above, the issue could be in different places.

Therefore, it is essential to scrutinize each part and ensure everything works properly.

Sometimes conjunction of different parts could cause the issue, so follow the solutions thoroughly.