The WaterWall is a great feature that some Samsung dishwasher models have. It delivers a high-pressured stream of water inside the tub to boost the dishwasher’s cleaning performance.
But if the WaterWall reflector isn’t moving, you’ll end up with unevenly washed dishes inside your appliance. So let’s discuss why this happens and how you can fix it!
Why is your Samsung dishwasher’s WaterWall not moving?
A Samsung dishwasher’s WaterWall won’t move if it’s blocked, installed incorrectly, or has a defective part. A malfunctioning control board is also a likely cause.
To fix it, unplug your dishwasher and make sure to load the dishes correctly. You should also repair or replace any damaged components.
If the issue persists, try the following steps:
- Perform a power cycle on your dishwasher by turning its switch off in the circuit breaker. Wait for 2 minutes before switching it on again.
- Make sure that the WaterWall is facing upwards. Check if the tape on the guide trail has been removed.
- Test the WaterWall motor, sensor, and magnet if they are working correctly. Replace them if necessary.
If you want a more detailed guide on how to perform these steps, keep reading below.
Important Note: Before you perform any of the steps, make sure to unplug your dishwasher first. To be certain that there’s no power left, press the power button and ensure it doesn’t light up.
Causes and Troubleshooting
There are 6 possible reasons your Samsung dishwasher’s WaterWall isn’t
moving. They are the following:
- The WaterWall reflector is blocked.
- There was an error during the installation.
- The control board malfunctioned.
- The WaterWall vane motor is weak.
- The sensor is faulty.
- The WaterWall magnet is weak.
Here’s a quick overview of how to troubleshoot each issue.
| Causes | Troubleshooting |
| Blocked WaterWall Reflector | Check the items in the lower rack and make sure that nothing is obstructing the WaterWall reflector from moving along the trail. |
| Incorrect Installation | Inspect the reflector’s position and make sure that the WaterWall logo facing upwards. If it has been installed incorrectly, remove the WaterWall reflector from the vane. Turn it around and reposition it on the gray shuttle of the reflector’s trail. |
| Faulty Control Board | Perform a power cycle on your dishwasher by turning it off. Switch it back on after 2 minutes. |
| Weak WaterWall Vane Motor | Check if the WaterWall arm moves after you’ve selected a cycle. If the arm moves slowly or not at all, the vane motor is damaged and needs to be fixed or replaced. |
| Faulty WaterWall Sensor | Verify that the dishwasher stops pulling the WaterWall reflector back once it reaches the rear end of the tub. You can use a rare-earth magnet to test the sensor. Replace the sensor if it is too weak to be set off by the tester magnet. |
| Weak WaterWall Magnet | Test the WaterWall magnet using a rare-earth magnet. Replace it if it doesn’t stick or attract the tester magnet during the process. |
Now let’s take a closer look at why these errors happen and the step-by-step guide on how to resolve them.
Blocked WaterWall Reflector
The most likely reason your Waterwall reflector isn’t moving is that it’s being blocked by one of the items in the rack.
The first thing your dishwasher does when you start the cycle is to verify that the WaterWall arm can move freely along its trail.
It does this by moving the reflector all the way to the front and back of the tub twice.
If a knife, ladle, pot handle, or any items that may be sticking out of the rack is blocking the WaterWall reflector from sliding back and forth, the sensor sends out an error code 7E in the panel.
Solution: First, remove all the items in the bottom rack. Load them back carefully, making sure that no items are sticking out that could obstruct the WaterWall reflector.
Remember to only load smaller items on the lower rack such as saucers, cups, glasses, and dishwasher-safe plastic items. Put larger items on the top rack and utensils in the basket.
Incorrect Installation
If your WaterWall reflector is newly installed, there might have been an error during the installation that’s preventing it from moving correctly or at all.
This can be an unremoved packing tape on the guide trail or an inverted WaterWall arm. In both cases, the WaterWall won’t be able to slide through the trail.
Solution: Verify that the WaterWall arm is in the right position. To do this, make sure that the WaterWall logo is visible and facing upwards.
Otherwise, pull off the WaterWall reflector from the vane and turn it around. Then position the WaterWall back correctly on the gray shuttle of the WaterWall trail.
Faulty Control Board
Your dishwasher’s control board is responsible for sending instructions to the components as well as reading the signals sent by the sensors.
However, since the control board is a simple electrical component, it can be vulnerable to lagging, malfunctioning, and damage.
When this happens, the control board can misread the signals sent by the WaterWall sensor. This is called a false error.
You know that this is the case if you are still getting the error code despite having confirmed that the WaterWall assembly is installed correctly and that there are no damages in its components.
Solution: Perform a power cycle on your dishwasher to flush out any false errors and lagging instructions in the control board.
To do this, you can simply disconnect the power from your dishwasher by turning off its switch from the main circuit breaker. Wait for 2 minutes and then switch it on again.
You can also inspect the control board for any visible damage. To access it, follow these steps:
- Step 1: First, unplug your dishwasher.
- Step 2: Unthread the screws of the inner door panel to remove it. Support the outer door panel as you unthread the final screw so it doesn’t fall to the floor.
- Step 3: Remove the outer door panel from the inner door panel. Disconnect the interface control wire harness from the control panel.
- Step 4: Release the control board from the inner door pane by lifting the locking tab and sliding the control board slightly to the left.
- Step 5: Release the locking tab on the side of the control board and remove the wire cover.
- Step 6: Remove the wire harness connector brace and the connector box cover.
- Step 7: Inspect the control board for any burnt wires, loose connections, or other signs of damage. Replace the control board if necessary.
Weak WaterWall Vane Motor
The WaterWall vane motor is responsible for moving the reflector back and forth inside the tub. If this motor is weak or damaged, the WaterWall arm will remain stationary.
While stationary, water will still shoot out from the WaterWall arm. However, it will only be able to hit a small area of the lower rack items where the arm sits.
When this happens, some of the dishes that are loaded in the lower rack will be unevenly washed while others won’t be sprayed with water at all.
Solution: First, check if the WaterWall arm moves during the cycle. To do this, you’ll need to take a peek at what’s happening inside your tub while the cycle is going on.
Follow the steps below to perform this observation:
- Step 1: Use a flathead screwdriver and stick it in the latch of the dishwasher door. This will help the dishwasher think that the door is closed and allow you to slightly open it.
- Step 2: Select a cycle on the panel and press the Start button. Hold the screwdriver steady to keep activating the door closed sensor.
- Step 3: Open the door wide enough so you can observe the WaterWall reflector.
- Step 4: Check if the WaterWall arm moves to the front and back of the dishwasher. If the arm moves slowly or not at all, then the WaterWall motor is damaged.
- Step 5: Perform these steps in the first 20 seconds after you have started the cycle. Remove the screwdriver to activate the door sensor and stop the cycle before the water enters your dishwasher.
Access the WaterWall vane motor to repair or replace it. Here are a few steps you can take to remove the WaterWall motor assembly.
- Step 1: Unplug your dishwasher from the power supply.
- Step 2: Uninstall your dishwasher from the cabinetry and pull it out carefully.
- Step 3: Unthread the screws of the rear access panel and set the panel aside.
- Step 4: Squeeze and lower the metal clips holding the hoses and pull the hoses down.
- Step 5: Disconnect the wire connector of the WaterWall vane motor.
- Step 6: Carefully lay the dishwasher flat on its back and access the bottom panel of your dishwasher.
- Step 7: Remove the rest of the hose connections and set them aside. Make sure to remember which tube each hose goes to.
- Step 8: Unscrew the WaterWall vane motor to remove it. You can replace it with a new motor and bring the old one to your local appliance expert to be repaired.
Faulty WaterWall Sensor
The WaterWall sensor is located below the dishwasher and is often installed close to the WaterWall vane motor.
This sensor is triggered by a magnet inside the WaterWall reflector to signal the control board that the reflector has reached the end of the tub.
This stops the dishwasher from pulling the WaterWall reflector further.
However, if the sensor is faulty or damaged, your dishwasher will keep retracting the WaterWall reflector in one direction even when it has reached the right position.
Solution: First, test the sensors to see if they are working properly. To do this, you can use a rare-earth or a tester magnet and see if it sets off the sensors.
If the sensors respond to the magnet, the WaterWall reflectors should stop retracting to the back of the dishwasher. Replace the sensors if they are unresponsive.
Follow the steps above on how to access the WaterWall vane motor to also access the sensor — they are located close to each other.
Weak WaterWall Magnet
As previously mentioned, the WaterWall reflector has a magnet that triggers the sensor when it reaches the right position.
However, if this magnet becomes weak, it may not able to set off the sensor.
When this happens, the sensor won’t detect that the WaterWall reflector has reached the end of the tub and will keep pulling it.
Solution: Pull off the WaterWall arm and locate the magnet. Test the magnet the same way you would test the sensor.
Use a rare-earth magnet to verify that it still has a force strong enough to trigger the WaterWall sensor.
Both the test magnet and the WaterWall magnet should stick together. If they don’t, you’ll need to replace your WaterWall magnet or add a new one using epoxy or other adhesives.
The WaterWall reflector is a handy little dishwasher component that helps clean your dishes more thoroughly. Follow the steps above and you’ll have it back in tiptop shape in no time.
If some of the steps provided are not things you’re used to doing, it’s always a good idea to call a professional for help.
