The short answer
FAE5 is published with a potential cause of a diverter leak — water passing the valve internally rather than escaping the machine. Before accepting that, rule out the two free imitators: a loaded filter starving the pump, and blocked spray arms wasting whatever pressure arrives. Both produce weak washing that looks exactly like this.
Whirlpool dishwasher code as the manufacturer publishes it
Reference| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| FAE5 | Potential Cause: Diverter Leak |
What you observe alongside the code
- Weak washing on both racks rather than one — Pressure lost rather than misdirected.
- Dishes clean at the edges and dirty in the middle — Not enough pressure to carry water across the rack.
- No water on the floor at all — This is an internal leak past a valve.
- A quieter wash than usual — Less pressure means less noise.
What triggers it, most likely first
- A blocked filter starving the pump — Last: worth clearing first, because it is free and it produces weak washing on its own.
- A failing wash pump making it look worse — Fourth: low pressure from the pump imitates a leaking diverter closely.
- Debris holding the diverter partly open — First: a fragment caught on a sealing face lets water past in both directions at once.
- A worn diverter seal — Second: the sealing face wears, and a valve that no longer closes fully bleeds pressure continuously.
Check in this order, and why
- Clean the filter and clear every spray-arm hole before accepting the code — Both imitate a leaking diverter exactly, and both are free.
- Check that both racks wash weakly rather than one badly — Weak everywhere is a pressure loss; bad in one place is a jam.
- Clean the filter and sump before anything else — A starved pump imitates this fault exactly.
- Clear both spray arms and check they turn freely — Removes the other free imitator.
Clearing the code, then the owner-safe checks
- Clean the filter and clear the sump — Free, and it rules out a starved pump.
Tools: gloves, flashlightAbout 20 min
- Remove and rinse both spray arms, clearing every hole — Restores whatever pressure the arms were wasting.
Tools: toothpickAbout 20 min
- Run a short cycle and listen to how hard the wash sounds — A quiet wash with clean filters points at pressure loss inside.
About 30 min
- STOP HERE if washing is weak with everything clean — That is the diverter seal or the pump, under the tub.
Before you open anything
Safety
Unplug the dishwasher or switch off its breaker before removing the toe panel or the inner door panel. A capacitor can hold a charge after the power is off, and the supply is not switched at the door. Bail any standing water out of the tub before working underneath, and go into the sump with gloves and a light — broken glass collects there. Nothing here needs the machine opened up, but the sump still holds glass — gloves and a light.
When this code is a service call
Call when both racks wash weakly with a clean filter, clear spray arms and a good fill: the diverter seal and the wash pump are the remaining suspects, both in the sump assembly. This is a wash-quality fault rather than a safety one, so it is reasonable to run the machine with lighter loads while you wait.
Neighbouring Whirlpool dishwasher codes
Which model lines this reading applies to
This reading of FAE5 applies to Whirlpool-built built-in dishwashers of the generation whose service documentation publishes this code, which is where the manufacturer documents it. A machine with a mechanical timer and no diagnostic display does not produce it, and the same characters can be published against a different fault on a KitchenAid or Maytag-badged unit from the same platform. The lettered and numbered forms of this fault belong to different control generations on the same mechanical platform. Where a model-specific page exists for your unit it is linked above and is the more specific answer: component resistances, connector positions and part numbers differ by family and belong there.
Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 12 years experience
Experienced technician with 12 years specializing in washing machine and dryer repairs across all major brands.
