what the hay is my dishwasher doing?

[Alcyone]

I feel like this is a really dumb question, but I'm new to staying home, somewhat new to dishwashers, and new to this country.

I haven't used a dishwasher in a very long time, but we just moved into a condo that had one, so I thought why not. I started it at 10:20am, and when DH got home at about 4pm it was still running. I just can't think that is normal. :

I've scoured the internet for a manual, and am having no luck. (On the off chance one of you also has the same kind, it's a Zanussi Aquapulse DE 4756.) I have zero clue what the little icons on the side mean, but the second one, which looks like a steaming plate, was lit up for about three hours before it switched to one that looks like a right arrow pointing to a vertical line. It sat on that icon for the rest of the time.

If anyone has any clue what this means, please let me know. :

[ASusan]

Perhaps when you started it, you started it on a "delay" cycle. Many DW have settings which allow you to delay the start by 3 or 6 or more hours. (So you can turn it on after dinner, but it won't run until you are in bed.). On some DW, these settings are all at the beginning of the dial. On a machine I used to have, if I were to just turn the dial "on", it would delay for 6 hours, then run a pots-and-pan cycle, then a regular cycle, then the short cycle. I can see how this would take several hours. A delay cycle might be indicated by a clock icon.

A plate with steam coming off of it sounds like either: (1) a plate-warmer cycle (to warm your plates before dinner in very cold weather); or (2) a sanitizing cycle.

[Alcyone]

Thanks for the reply. It's not on a delay, as I can hear it start up right away. There's no dial, just buttons, and it's pretty obvious which button makes a delay. I don't hit that one. I hit the one that says "40º" and has a picture of a cup.

[brogansmomma]

http://www.fixya.com/support/zanussi

Maybe you can find something here? Or maybe there's a number to call. I hope you get it figured out!

[Alcyone]

Thanks, it doesn't have my model and none of the models it does have listed have a manual or a similar complaint.

[polyhymnia]

the plate with squiggles come off of it was the heated dry cycle, on our dishwasher in the UK. I wonder if you can try googling for universal dishwasher symbols?

I found in the UK they have this desire to use symbols instead of words on appliances and they think everyone should know what those symbols mean.. well, I didn't, and it was very frustrating!!

[Alcyone]

Thanks! I am still searching for the meaning of the -->| symbol. I think that manufacturers use symbols so they can sell the same machine in multiple European countries. It's cheaper to just make the manuals in many languages instead of the machines. Unfortunately then everyone suffers a bit, because like you I am confused by these symbols, and the previous owner did not leave any manuals behind.

[brogansmomma]

Originally Posted by Alcyone

Thanks, it doesn't have my model and none of the models it does have listed have a manual or a similar complaint.

Is there someplace to post a question or contact anyone?