Fisher & Paykel Dishwasher Troubleshooting (8 Problems Fixed!)

You want your Fisher & Paykel dishwasher to work at all times since you have to do the dishes daily. So, you should know basic Fisher & Paykel dishwasher troubleshooting to try and fix the dishwasher when it starts to fail. 

You can troubleshoot many Fisher & Paykel dishwasher problems, such as a non-starting, non-heating, non-filling, non-cleaning, non-draining, and non-drying dishwasher. Others include non-responsive dish drawer buttons and a beeping dishwasher. 

And as you’ll notice, some issues, especially the beeping sounds, are accompanied by fault codes which give you an idea of the most likely issue and cause. 

So, not only will I discuss the eight problems but also the most typical error codes and their relevant fixes. Moreover, I’ll also help you reset your Fisher & Paykel dishwasher since you can fix some issues and clear most error codes that way. 

Let’s jump into it!

In a hurry? Check out the quick Fisher & Paykel dishwasher problems troubleshooting guide below.

Quick Fisher & Paykel Dishwasher Troubleshooting Guide 

–	Problem	Likely Cause	Recommended Fix
1.	Dishwasher Won’t Start	Failed power, unlatched door or drawer, active key lock or child lock, failed water supply, start button not well pressed, or a clogged strainer	Ensure the dishwasher has power, properly shut the door/drawer, cancel the key lock or child lock, and connect and open the tap water supply. Press the start button properly and clean the strainer if clogged
2.	Dishwasher Won’t Heat The Water	Power failure, wrong program, dirty filter, over foaming or burnt heating element	Clean the dishwashers power supply, clean a dirty filter, use the correct detergent and the right amount, and replace a bad heating element (lacks continuity)
3.	Dishwasher Not Filling With Water	Failed water supply, turned off tap, kinked inlet hose, or blocked or out of position spray arm	Check the household water supply, turn on the tap, and straighten the inlet hose. Clean the spray arm if food-clogged and reposition it if wrongly fitted
4.	Dishwasher Won’t Clean	Wrong wash program, excess dirt/food, improper dish loading, over-foaming, incorrect detergent placement, incorrectly fitted or clogged filter, blocked spray arm or low rinse-aid	Choose the correct wash program, remove excess dirt/food from the dishes, properly load the dishes, use a suitable detergent and place the filter correctly and clean it if it’s dirty, unblock the spray arm, and adjust the rinse-aid
5.	Dishwasher Won’t Drain	A clogged filter, blocked or disconnected drain hose, improperly connected inlet hose, blocked rotor, or jammed pump	Clean the filter, unblock and correctly fit the drain hose and inlet hose, unblock the rotor, and call a service technician to fix a jammed pump
6.	Fisher Paykel Dishwasher Not Drying Dishes	Depleted rinse-aid dosage, active Eco Mode, wrong program, improper dish loading, or dishes unloaded too early or too late	Adjust rinse and dosage, disable Eco Mode, and choose the right program. Properly load the dishes and unload them after a few hours of washing
7.	Dishdrawer Buttons Not Working	Wet control panel, disconnected power, child lock or key lock, or unlatched drawer	Wipe the control panel dry, ensure the dishwasher has power disable the child lock or key lock, and close the drawer if it’s open
8.	Dishwasher Beeps	Beeps but won’t start: Active key lock/child lock or unlatched or unaligned door Beeps and flashes: Detected fault (fault code)	Disable key lock/child lock, properly shut the door, and replace the door Pyrex if it’s out of alignment. Try resetting the dishwasher to clear the error code

8 Common Fisher & Paykel Dishwasher Problems

Below are eight common issues prevalent among Fisher & Paykel dishwashers that you can troubleshoot DIY:

1. Fisher Paykel Dishwasher Not Starting

It’s hard to look past failed power when the dishwasher doesn’t turn on, but that’s not the only possible explanation. There are others.

In most cases, a Fisher and Paykel dishwasher won’t start cycle due to any of these issues:

• Failed power – The dishwasher won’t turn on without power, and issues to check include power loss, unplugged or defective cord, tripped breaker, or faulty power switch. 
• Unlatched door or drawer – If the door or drawer is not latched correctly, the dishwasher won’t run. So, check that. 
• Active child lock or critical lock – Both child lock and key lock disable the control panel, preventing the dishwasher from running. So, check if the modes are active. 
• Failed water supply – Not only will the dishwasher fail to start without power, but also without water. In most cases, the water tap is off. 
• Start button not well pressed – Unless you firmly press the start/pause switch, the dishwasher won’t start. 
• Clogged strainer – Excess dirt on the strainer can sometimes prevent the dishwasher from starting as it blocks the inlet hose. 

Fix 

Check out the mentioned factors to ensure your dishwasher has power. Ensure it’s turned on. Properly latch the door or drawer if that’s not the case, and hold down the child lock or key lock to cancel it.

Check the tap to ensure it’s turned on, and firmly press the start/pause button. And if the strainer is clogged, clean it. 

2. Fisher Paykel Dishwasher Not Heating Water

You expect the dishwasher to heat the water when you instruct it after powering it on. A Fisher & Paykel dishwasher won’t heat the water due to any of these reasons:

• Failed power – The dishwasher needs a power supply to heat the water. So, the water won’t get hot if the dishwasher doesn’t turn on. 
• Wrong wash program – Some wash programs, such as Gentle/Delicate and Normal Eco, optimize energy, so it may take time for the water to get hot. 
• Clogged filter – Food particles could block the dishwasher filter and prevent the water from getting hot. 
• Over-foaming (excess suds) – If you use the wrong detergent or put too much of it, it may form extra foam, which could prevent the water from heating. 
• Burnt heating element – Lastly, the dishwasher may fail to heat the water if the heating element is burnt. 

Fix 

Ensure the dishwasher has power (it should be turned on) and use the correct wash program depending on the dirty dishes. Don’t use too much detergent to avoid over-foaming. Test the heating element with a multimeter and replace it if it lacks continuity. 

3. Fisher Paykel Dishwasher Not Filling with Water

For the dishwasher to soak and clean the dishes, it has to fill up with water. That, however, may fail to happen due to any of these reasons:

• Failed water supply – If the water supply to your home is shut or slow, the dishwasher won’t fill up with water. 
• Turned-off tap – The dishwasher will fail to fill up if the tap is off. 
• Kinked inlet hose – If the inlet hose has kinks/blows, they could block the water supply and prevent the dishwasher from filling up. 
• Blocked or out-of-position spray arm – The spray arm can prevent the dishwasher from filling up if it’s food-obstructed or out of position. 

Fix 

Check your household water supply to ensure there’s water, and turn on the tap if it’s off. Straighten the inlet hose if it’s kinked and unblock the spray arm if its food obstructed or reposition it if it’s out of alignment. 

4. Fisher Paykel Dishwasher Not Cleaning

If you still get dirty dishes after completing a wash cycle, something must be wrong. In most cases, the Fisher & Paykel dishwasher won’t clean the dishes due to any of these issues:

• Wrong wash program – Fisher & Paykel dishwashers have different programs to suit various dishes. If you choose the wrong one, the dishwasher may fail to clean the dishes. 
• Excess dirt/food – The dishes may fail to clean if they are heavily baked with food or dirt. 
• Improper dish loading – The dishes won’t clean if they are overloaded or unevenly loaded in the dishwasher. 
• Over-foaming – Too much detergent or wrong detergent forms an excess foam, and once that happens, the dishwasher may fail to clean. 
• Wrong detergent placement – The dishwasher also fails to clean the dishes if the detergent is placed in the incorrect compartment. 
• Incorrectly fitted or clogged filter – An incorrectly fitted or food-clogged filter prevents the dishwasher from cleaning the dishes. 
• Blocked spray arm – Food obstruction around the spray arm will stop the dishes from getting clean. 
• Low rinse-aid – The rinse-aid enables the dishes to sparkle and become streak-clean and offers the best drying results. Once the level drops, the dishwasher is unable to clean properly.

Fix 

Choose the right wash program for the dishes and wipe off excess food and dirt from the dishes before stacking them in the dishwasher. 

While at it, ensure you evenly load the dishes without overloading them. Don’t use too much or the wrong detergent; place it in the right compartment. Unblock the spray arm and adjust the rinse-aid dosage.

5. Fisher and Paykel Dishwasher Not Draining

The last thing you want to remain in the dishwasher is water. If that happens, then it’s likely to be due to any of these issues:

• Clogged filter – The dishwasher will fail to drain properly if the filter is food clogged. 
• Blocked or disconnected drain hose – The dishwasher will also fail to drain if the drain hose is food-clogged or kinked.
• Improperly connected inlet hose – A loose inlet hose will prevent the dishwasher from draining properly. 
• Blocked rotor – Sometimes, food accumulates around the rotor and interferes with drainage. So, check that. 
• Jammed pump – Lastly, the dishwasher won’t drain if the pump is food-jammed. 

Fix 

Clean the filter, drain hose, rotor, and pump to eliminate food blockage and connect the drain and inlet hose appropriately. 

6. Fisher and Paykel Dishwasher Not Drying

Though you expect the dishes to be slightly wet, they shouldn’t be soaking. If that’s the case, then watch for any of these reasons:

• Depleted rinse-aid dosage – The rinse-aid offers the best drying results and promises sparkling and streak-free dishes. That, however, does not happen if the rinse-aid dosage is low. 
• Active Eco Mode – The eco wash setting has a shorter drying cycle, so the dishwasher may not have enough time to dry the dishes. The mode, however, saves on energy. 
• Wrong program – Other than Eco Mode, wash programs like Gentle/Delicate and Normal Eco can prevent some dishes from drying properly. 
• Improper dish loading – If you overload the dishes or spread them unevenly, the dishes may fail to dry well. 
• Dishes unloaded too early or too late – The plates should be taken out of the dishwasher a couple of hours after washing. The dishes might be wet if you do it too soon or too late.

Fix 

Adjust the rinse and dosage if the level is low, cancel Eco Mode, and choose the correct mode for the dishes; properly and evenly load the dishes, and take them out after a couple of hours of washing. 

7. Fisher and Paykel Dishdrawer Buttons Not Working

While you expect the dish drawer buttons to respond to touch, a few issues can stop them. That includes:

• Wet control panel – The control panel becomes unresponsive when touched with wet hands. Thus the dish drawer buttons won’t work. 
• Disconnect power – The control buttons won’t work without power. 
• Child lock or key lock – Child lock and key lock inactivate the control panel, rendering the control buttons non-responsive. 
• Unlatched door – The dishwasher buttons may fail to respond if the door is not latched correctly. 

Fix 

Wipe the control panel dry with a soft cloth and avoid touching it with wet hands. Ensure the dishwasher has power and hold down the child lock or key lock to cancel them.

Meanwhile, remove anything obstructing the dishwasher door and adequately shut it. 

8. Fisher and Paykel Dishdrawer Beeping

Fisher and Paykel Dishwasher Beeps but Won’t Start

If your Fisher & Paykel dishwasher only beeps but won’t start, the reason could be any of these three:

• Active key lock/child lock – One indicator that the child lock or key lock function prevents the dishwasher from starting is when it beeps when you press start. 
• Unlatched door – The dishwasher may also beep but fail to start if the door is not latched correctly, perhaps due to an obstruction.
• Unaligned door – The dishwasher may fail to start if the door, especially the Pyrex glass, is unaligned. 

Fix 

Hold down the child lock or key lock switch to cancel it if it’s active. Then check the door and properly shut it. Remove any visible obstruction, and if the Pyrex is out of alignment, replace it.

Fisher and Paykel Dishwasher Beeping and Flashing

In most cases, a Fisher & Paykel dishwasher that beeps and flashes points to a detected fault, often accompanied by an error code. Below are typical Fisher and Paykel dishwasher error codes and their troubleshooting. 

Error Code	Interpretation/Cause	Troubleshooting
A10/A1	No water (perhaps due to the water tap being off, low water pressure, blocked inlet hose, or incorrectly connected drain hose	Turn on the water tap if off, raise the water pressure if low, straighten the inlet hose if blocked, and properly connect the drain hose if loose
A20/A3	Drain fault (perhaps due to a blocked drain hose or dirty drain hose or dirty turbidity sensor)	Clean/straighten the drain hose and gently brush/clean the turbidity sensor
F30	Floating (due to an active flood switch)	Reset the dishwasher
AF40	Water flow issue	Reset the dishwasher
F50/F90	Electronics fault	Reset the dishwasher
A60	Water temperature fault	Reset the dishwasher
FA0	Power supply fault	Reset the dishwasher
FC0	Motor fault	Reset the dishwasher
Ad0	Door Lock signal fault	Reset the dishwasher
A6	Loose spray arm or low water pressure	Firmly fit the spray arm if loose, and adjust the water pressure if it’s too low
A7	Auto Recovery (excess foam)	Use the correct detergent, and don’t overuse it
AO90	Un-sanitized dish	Re-run the sanitize cycle

How to Reset Fisher and Paykel Dishwasher?

Generally, you can reset a Fisher & Paykel dishwasher using any of these techniques:

Option 1 – Turn the dishwasher off for a couple of seconds and then turn it on. 

Option 2 – Turn the dishwasher off and unplug it for a few minutes before plugging it back and powering it on. 

Option 3 – Hold down the key-and-lock-decorated key for about 5 seconds and release it. Then press the dishwasher’s power switch to turn it off briefly before restoring power. If the issue persists, unplug the appliance for 5 minutes before powering it back. 

Closing Thought 

Now you have an essential Fisher & Paykel dishwasher troubleshooting guide that you’ll find handy in addressing everyday dishwasher problems. 

It’s meant to make the troubleshooting manual less bulky and DIY troubleshooting funnier. It could be what you need to start saving on your dishwasher repairs. 

Also Read:

• Whirlpool Dishwasher Troubleshooting Guide
• GE Dishwasher Troubleshooting Guide