How do you know if your dishwasher control board is bad?

How you know your dishwasher control board is bad when you experience multiple electronic symptoms that persist after hard reset and basic checks for models like KitchenAid KDTM604KPS and Whirlpool WDT730HAMZ. Common signs of bad dishwasher control board include dishwasher not starting at all or display completely blank even though breaker not tripped and outlet has 120 volts, indicating board not sending power to pump and valves. Second, buttons not responding or cycle not selectable, press Start and nothing happens, or display shows flashing lights that cannot be cleared. Third, dishwasher stops mid-cycle randomly and will not restart, or runs continuously without advancing. Fourth, error codes that return immediately after hard reset, such as F2E2 for control failure, F6E4 for float switch, or F8E1 for fill that persists after cleaning inlet valve. Fifth, no power to components that test good, for example drain pump tests good with multimeter but board not sending 120 volts to pump during drain. Sixth, burning smell or visible burn marks on board, open door and remove outer door panel with Torx screws, inspect control board for blackened components, melted plastic, or swollen capacitors. Control board replacement costs 150 to 350 dollars including board at 100 to 250 dollars plus labor. Always check cheaper parts first like door latch at 20 to 35 dollars and thermal fuse at 15 to 25 dollars that mimic board failure.