You’re on the right track. If a dishwasher fills and drains normally but goes quiet after filling, the circulation (wash) motor isn’t running. On a Frigidaire like the FFCD2413UW6B, sitting unused for 6 months is a big clue, so try a couple of simple things before buying a pump.
Why sitting unused matters
When a dishwasher sits dry for months, the seal around the wash motor shaft can dry out and stick, and leftover food in the sump hardens. The motor tries to start, can’t turn, and the control gives up. The clicks you hear are probably the control trying to start the motor again.
Try this first
- Turn off the power to the dishwasher at the breaker.
- Take out the lower rack, the lower spray arm and the filter. Look into the sump for glass, bones or hardened food, and clean it out.
- Pour a couple of cups of hot water into the bottom and let it sit for 20–30 minutes to soften the seals.
- Turn the power back on and start a cycle. Sometimes the motor frees up and runs normally after that.
If it still doesn’t run
- Take off the bottom kick plate and check the wiring connector to the wash motor. In a rental, look for signs of mice chewing on wires under there.
- If the motor is getting power and still won’t run or even hum, the motor has failed. A new wash motor for this model usually costs about $100–200 in parts, which makes sense on a dishwasher this age.
- If the motor isn’t getting power, the control board relay is the next suspect.
About the leak your renter mentioned
Once it’s running again, put a paper towel under the front and check after a full cycle. The most common leak spots on this model are the door gasket and the seal where the motor meets the sump. A slow leak at the motor seal might also be why the motor failed.