It will not fill with water, but if you put water in by the bucket load it will do part of the cycle and pump out dirty water. Then It has to be refilled with water. The inlet pipe is not blocked, and the tap is working too.

Phoenix, January 2004

My hotpoint dishwasher is leaking water from the overflow vent by the bootom filling chamber. I have replaced the microswitch on the float assembly but the same thing happens when the water transfers from the top chamber tp the bottom??? How I can stop this happening

Frances, February 2005

You can test the inlet valve before buying a new one. If you take it off the machine, put an ohmeter across the two terminals. You should get a reading of between 3,500 and 5,000 ohms if it's OK.

If you are very confident you know what you're doing and you haven't got a test-bench then a further check is to re-connect the wires and the hose from the tap, put the valve over the edge of a plastic bucket and set the washer to start -- be really, really careful as it's going to be wet and there's electricity -- stand well back -- make sure the machine is wired through an RCD before turning on from the mains switch. Make sure you've turned the tap right down so that the water pressure is low. If it's working (and you don't electrocute yourself!) the valve should operate and water should come through.

If the valve works then there could be a blockage (fat and hard-water or powder deposits) further inside the machine, depending on the make and model. If the blockage is in an easily removable pipe then it's no problem to shift it but if it's in some of the more complicated plumbing it's tricky!

C Chris, May 2004

Check the wire connections to the electric inlet valve. If ok, then replace the inlet valve on the dishwasher. It looks like a piece of plastic with a hose fitting and two wires going to it.

R Henri, March 2004