The short answer
A dishwasher is a pump, a heater and a spray system inside a sealed box, and the great majority of its complaints come from three owner-serviceable places: the filter, the spray arms and the drain path it shares with the kitchen sink. On this nameplate the ordering follows the platform: controls, display and error codes first.
Problem classes, and where each is covered
- A code, a blink pattern, or buttons that come and go — Problem: Controls, display and error codes — Page: cafe-dishwasher-control-fault
- A cycle that will not start, stalls, or never finishes — Problem: A cycle that will not run or finish — Page: cafe-dishwasher-cycle-fault
- Grit, film or wet dishes at the end of a cycle — Problem: Does not clean or dry — Page: cafe-dishwasher-cleaning-performance
- A sour smell on opening, or black film in the door seal — Problem: Odour and mould — Page: cafe-dishwasher-smell-mold
- Cold dishes, a greasy film, or cycles that have got much longer — Problem: Not heating — Page: cafe-dishwasher-heating-failure
- Grinding, knocking or a rising whine — Problem: Abnormal noise or vibration — Page: cafe-dishwasher-abnormal-noise
- A door that will not latch, a door that falls open, or water tracking down the front — Problem: Door, latch and seal faults — Page: cafe-dishwasher-door-seal
- A burning smell, a trip, or a tingle from the casing — Problem: Electrical, fire and gas hazards — Page: cafe-dishwasher-electrical-safety
- No lights, or a lit panel that will not begin — Problem: Will not start, or no power — Page: cafe-dishwasher-wont-start
- Water standing over the filter at the end of a cycle — Problem: Will not drain — Page: cafe-dishwasher-drainage-failure
- Water at the door, on the floor, or under the cabinet — Problem: Water leaks — Page: cafe-dishwasher-water-leak
Problem classes in order
- Basis: No measured denominator exists for this nameplate; this is an ordering, not a frequency.
Component share — Denominator: none — no measured component-share sample exists for this nameplate and appliance, so no percentages are published.
General guidance| problem class | relative position | basis |
|---|---|---|
| Controls, display and error codes | first | platform reasoning, not measurement |
| A cycle that will not run or finish | second | platform reasoning, not measurement |
| Does not clean or dry | third | platform reasoning, not measurement |
| Odour and mould | fourth | platform reasoning, not measurement |
| Not heating | fifth | platform reasoning, not measurement |
| Abnormal noise or vibration | sixth | platform reasoning, not measurement |
| Door, latch and seal faults | seventh | platform reasoning, not measurement |
| Electrical, fire and gas hazards | eighth | platform reasoning, not measurement |
| Will not start, or no power | ninth | platform reasoning, not measurement |
| Will not drain | next | platform reasoning, not measurement |
| Water leaks | next | platform reasoning, not measurement |
Safety
Safety
Unplug the appliance or switch off its breaker before removing any panel. A capacitor can hold a charge after the power is off.
Owner-fixable or not
Cleaning the filter and the sump, clearing spray arms, clearing the disposer and air gap, correcting loading and detergent, levelling the machine and checking the door seal are all owner work.
Sources — This page carries no warehouse-derived figures; the only numbers in it are published safety constants, cited here.
General guidance- The control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout), 29 CFR 1910.147 — OSHA, fetched 2026-09-06
Other Café appliances
Generalized information
Links down: - [Common Café Dishwasher Problems — Built-In Top-Control Family](/blog/caf-dishwasher-problems)
Model-specific wiring, component locations, part numbers and code lists for individual Café models.
The per-problem pages beneath this one
- Café Dishwasher: Controls, Display or Error Code — All Families
- Café Dishwasher: Cycle Will Not Run or Complete — All Families
- Café Dishwasher: Does Not Clean or Dry — All Families
- Café Dishwasher: Odor or Mold — All Families
- Café Dishwasher: Not Heating — All Families
- Café Dishwasher: Abnormal Noise or Vibration — All Families
- Café Dishwasher: Door, Latch or Seal Fault — All Families
- Café Dishwasher: Electrical, Fire or Gas Hazard — All Families
- Café Dishwasher: Will Not Start or No Power — All Families
- Café Dishwasher: Will Not Drain — All Families
- Café Dishwasher: Water Leak — All Families
Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 12 years experience
Experienced technician with 12 years specializing in washing machine and dryer repairs across all major brands.
