H0120808254 Genuine Wax Motor Assembly for Fisher & Paykel, Haier Dishwashers, Thermal Actuator Replacement Part

Part H0120808254 is a genuine wax motor assembly that Fisher & Paykel and Haier use in their dishwashers. A wax motor is a compact thermal actuator. Power it and a pin slowly pushes out, cut the power and the pin draws back. Dishwasher makers use them to work mechanisms that need a gentle push at the right moment in the cycle. Haier makes more than one wax motor, so confirm H0120808254 on your old unit before ordering.

How a dishwasher wax motor works and fails

Inside the body is a sealed capsule of wax with a small heater. When the controller switches it on, the wax warms, expands and drives the plunger outwards, which is why the movement isn't instant. Depending on the design, that push can open a detergent dispenser flap, shift a diverter or release a latch. When the heater goes open circuit or the capsule leaks, the plunger stops moving. Look for a tablet still sitting in the dispenser after a wash, or a mechanism that no longer moves when it should.

Part details

• Genuine part H0120808254
• Suits Fisher & Paykel and Haier dishwashers
• Wax motor, a heat driven thermal actuator
• More than one wax motor is listed, match your old part number

Testing and fitting

Turn off at the wall before taking any panels off. A multimeter check across the wax motor terminals is a quick way to confirm a failed heater, as an open circuit means the unit is finished. Note how the plunger meets the mechanism it drives, fit the new assembly in the same position and push the plug on firmly. Run a short cycle to watch it work.

Questions about this part

What does the wax motor do in my dishwasher?

That depends on the model. Wax motors push mechanisms such as dispenser flaps, diverters and latches. Check where your old one is fitted and what its plunger touches. The number on its body will confirm whether H0120808254 is the right replacement.