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What This Guide Helps With
Addresses cycles that cannot begin, stop unexpectedly, or remain in one phase because of doors, utilities, loading, settings, or external conditions.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
1. Protect Processing Workflow
Do not rely on a washer that cannot consistently complete its programmed cycle. Remove the affected load from the normal workflow and process it using another approved method.
Do not repeatedly restart a partially completed cleaning cycle and assume the load is acceptable.
Expected outcome: Questionable loads are withheld from use and processing continues through an alternate verified method.
2. Confirm Where the Cycle Fails
Determine whether the cycle refuses to start, aborts immediately, stops at a repeatable phase, or appears stalled without advancing.
Record the selected cycle and any displayed message or alarm before clearing it.
Expected outcome: The failure is associated with a specific stage or prerequisite rather than described only as a general cycle failure.
3. Verify Door Closure and Interlocks Externally
Inspect both sides of the washer as applicable. Confirm doors are fully closed, free of obstruction, and not being held out of position by racks, carts, debris, or damaged sealing surfaces.
Do not bypass a door interlock.
Expected outcome: Doors are properly positioned and recognized. If the cycle starts normally afterward, continue through completion and stop troubleshooting if successful.
4. Inspect the Load and Rack Position
Confirm the load is correctly positioned and does not interfere with doors, spray components, sensors, or movement of the rack or cart.
Check that removable racks or accessories are seated normally and are appropriate for the selected process.
Expected outcome: The load does not physically interfere with cycle initiation or progression.
5. Verify Cycle Selection and Controls
Confirm that an appropriate cycle has been selected and that the operator controls respond normally. Check for unintended pause, hold, or incomplete selections visible from the normal interface.
Do not enter restricted service menus or alter validated process parameters.
Expected outcome: A valid cycle is selected and normal controls allow initiation.
6. Verify Facility Utilities
Confirm that water, steam, drainage, electrical supply, and other required external utilities are available to the washer as applicable.
Check whether other nearby equipment is experiencing the same utility problem.
Expected outcome: External utilities are available and stable. If restoring a facility utility allows the cycle to complete normally, troubleshooting can stop after verification.
7. Inspect Accessible Chemistry Supplies
Check detergent or other required chemistry containers, pickup tubing, visible connections, and supply status for depletion, disconnection, kinks, or obvious leaks.
Use only approved chemistry and handling procedures.
Expected outcome: Required chemistry is available and externally connected correctly.
8. Attempt a Controlled Test Cycle
Once external causes have been corrected, run an approved empty or test load cycle and observe whether the machine advances normally through its phases.
Do not leave a repeatedly stalling washer in clinical use.
Expected outcome: The test cycle starts, progresses normally, and completes without aborting or stalling. If successful, troubleshooting can stop.
9. Escalate Repeatable Cycle Failure
If the washer repeatedly stops at the same phase despite correct loading, doors, utilities, chemistry, and cycle selection, remove it from service.
Expected outcome: A repeatable service-level problem is escalated without unauthorized internal repair.
If the Problem Persists
Common external causes have been ruled out. Remaining causes may involve internal sensing, valves, pumps, heating systems, door circuits, controls, software, utility regulation, or other service-level functions.
The washer should be:
- Removed from service.
- Labeled Out of Service.
- Sent for repair or evaluated on site by qualified service personnel.
- Evaluated using applicable STERIS documentation and approved test equipment.
- Repaired or configured only by qualified personnel.
After repair, verify normal cycle completion and any required process qualification before return to service.
Knowing when to stop external troubleshooting is proper troubleshooting.
Clinical Use Tip
A cycle that aborts or stalls does not provide evidence that the load completed the required cleaning process.
Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)
CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution
Complaint
What was reported by the clinical staff.
Example:
"Sterile Processing reported the Reliance Vision cart washer started normally but repeatedly stopped before completing the selected cycle."
Cause
What was observed during troubleshooting.
Example:
"Clinical Engineering found the loading rack was positioned incorrectly and prevented the door from fully reaching its normal closed position."
Resolution
What action was taken.
Example:
"Clinical Engineering repositioned the rack, verified correct door closure, and confirmed the washer completed a full test cycle normally."
Helpful Details to Include (If Known)
- Selected cycle
- Phase where the cycle stopped
- Exact alarm or displayed message
- Load and rack position
- Door status
- Utility availability
- Chemistry status
- Whether the failure is repeatable
- Results of an empty or test cycle
- Final device status
Final Thought
A cycle failure should be traced from simple prerequisites through external utilities and loading conditions before internal causes are considered. Protect the load, verify the correction, escalate repeatable failures, and document the event clearly.
That is successful troubleshooting.