We have spoken before about dishwasher fault codes but I thought it best we explain in detail what the meanings are for with each error code.
In a previous article we used Hotpoint as an example but this could refer to most modern day dishwashers but her we only intend to refer to DWF50 FDW60 series dishwashers.

The combination of LED lights to be found on this example can be found here.

Led 1 Intensive, Led 2 Normal, Led 3 Eco, Led 4 Fast, Led 4 Prewash, Led 6 Delicate

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Your dishwasher, when correctly installed, can give you years of uninterrupted hassle free washing and cleaning. Then one day you go to switch on your trusty dishwasher and nothing happens.

What’s the first thing you going to do to fix this annoyance. Well I guess you might find the answer right here on the appliance repair help site but don’t reach for the phone book just yet because this might be something you can fix your self.

I’ll explain. Modern day dishwashers like those manufactured by Bosch and you can include Siemens and Neff in that have a built in safety feature protecting the dishwasher against flooding. The technical term is ‘Anti Flood Device’. There are other manufacturers who provide the same features but for now I’m only going to talk about the Bosch type machines.

In the base of the dishwasher in the plinth there is a float switch. This is your ‘Anti Flood Device’. In the event of your dishwasher over filling, the plinth fills with water, the float rises and actuates the switch. On a Bosch dishwasher this switch will do two things.

Firstly, it will send a signal to the programmer device to notify there is a fault and output a message in the form of a code to some sort of display.

Secondly, the pressure switch acts as the water level indicator for the sump of the dishwasher so when the water level rises the pressure switch will activate the drain pump.

So before you consider throwing good money at new dishwasher, try doing a bit of fault finding your self and you might save yourself a ton of money.

Just a quick update to this ‘Dishwasher will not continue the cycle’ article. There appears to be a common thread in the comments below. Most faults can be referred to the fact that the Anti Flood Overflow device has activated. I have included an image here to show what the anti flood may look like in a Hotpoint DWF40.

You can see it here as items 17 18 and 19 collectively.

Let’s assume your dishwasher has over filled at some stage and with time the water in the drip tray has now evaporated, the float item 19 can have a tendency to stick and make the switch item 18 stay in an actuated state. This can give a false positive. Try to reset the float switch or check even that there is no water in this drip tray. When the float is activated it can cause the drain pump to be permanantly in a drain mode

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Try these simple steps to solving dishwasher problems. You’ll be surprised how easy it is to correct some common dishwasher problems.

Look at this list, then check the adjacent suggestions. They may give the answer to your problem without having to telephone your Service office.

Problem		Actions
It will not start or fill…		Is the machine plugged in and switched on at the socket? Is the door securely closed and latched? Is the socket OK? Try another appliance in the socket. Are the fuses in the machine plug and the fuse box OK? if not, replace it. Is the water turned fully on and the hose not kinked? Have you selected a programme and switched on? Iis the filter fitted in the water inlet hose OK?
It will not pump out the water…		Is the hose kinked? If you have connected to a sink waste pipe, is the spigot blocked? Are the filters blocked?
The machine is leaking…		Is the inlet hose firmly attached to the water supply? • if your machine is not permanently plumbed in; did you empty the hose into a bucket after disconnecting from the tap? if your machine is permanently plumbed in; is the standpipe at the correct height, and/s it the correct bore? Could it be condensation from the wall?
It keeps stopping and making clicking noises..		Do not worry. the timer is working and selecting the next operation, and there are also pauses whilst the water heats up.
Specks of food particles		Remove and clean filter jets

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Every now and then a problem occurs on your dishwasher but you are not quite sure what you can do about it. Below is a table of hints and tips they may help in diagnosing your fault just so you can take remedial action. More often than not this may help you resolve some issues before you call for your local engineer.

Problem	Causes	Actions
White spots	Water not hot enough	Check temperature - should be 60-70C
	Hard water or dissolved minerals	Check rinse aid, check salt level
White or yellow film	Hard water	Check salt level in softener
	Food film	Rinse off excess food before loading
		Load properly
	Insufficient detergent	Increase dose
Specks of food particles	Clogged filter jets	Remove and clean filter jets
	Pre-rinse programme not used	Use pre-rinse programme
	Excess food on dishes	Scrape off excess before loading
	Caked detergent	Discard old detergent, try tablets
Reddish brown stains	Iron deposits in water	Increase detergent dosage
		Reduce temperature to 60C
	Iron from pans	Do not wash iron items in machine
	Hard water	Check salt level in softener
		Check rinse aid level
Iridescence (rainbow) on glasses	Certain glasses with high silica content	Test one glass, do not wash in machine if problem
	Alkali in detergent combined with soft water	Reduce detergent and increase rinse aid, load carefully
Etching / scratches on glasses	As above (silica film usually precedes etching)	As above, reduce water temperature, use short cycle
Bluish film on knives and glassware	Too much rinse aid	Reduce dosage if possible
Black marks on china	Metal marks from knives	Check if dishwasher proof
	Metal marks from metallic rims	Use a mild bleach solution to remove
		Avoid sliding metallic rims together
Fading china pattern	Over-glaze decoration, hand painted or poor glazing	Wash by hand
Tarnish on silverware	Mixed silver and steel in load	Avoid mixing
	Food soiling	Avoid prolonged contact with sulphide-rich foods such as eggs, mayonnaise and sea foods, also acidic fruits
		Use pre-rinse programme
	Worn plating / exposed base metal	Wash by hand
	Contact with dry detergent	Avoid contact / fill dispenser carefully/ do not put tablets into cutlery basket
Salt taste or deposits on washed items	Salt spilt in washing chamber	Flush away any spillage after topping up reservoir
	Salt from water softener getting into washing chamber	Make sure lid is properly replaced after topping up
		Sometimes the valve which directs water into the water softener can be blocked. Some machines have a ‘regeneration’ programme to clear this; otherwise maintenance is needed.
Distorted plastics	Not dishwasher safe	Hand wash
	Plastic not heat resistant
	Too close to heating/drying element	Place items in a higher tray, away from heating element
Stained plastics	Stains from tea, coffee, colourings	Increase detergent dose, wash more regularly
Staining and pitting on stainless steel	Acidic food residues	Scrape properly before loading
		Load machine correctly - avoid items touching
		Use pre-rinse programme
	Storage in humid machine	Remove as soon as possible after cycle
	Mixed quality cutlery	Separate carefully when stacking
Caked detergent	Moisture in dispenser	Dry dispenser surface before dosing
	Faulty cover on dispenser	Check closure
		Do not overload dispenser
		Try tablets
Machine leaks	Worn or soiled gasket	Check gasket / edge of door, clean gasket if necessary
Machine does not empty properly	Blocked food filter	Remove and clean
	Kinked hose	Re-route hose.

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