Frigidaire Dishwasher Diagnostic Mode Explained

If you own a Frigidaire dishwasher, then you have one of the best dishwasher brands available in the market. The dishwasher is an exceptional addition to the kitchen tool and can help save time and energy.

However, even though they are reputable and reliable, they don’t escape running into problems or malfunctions as it’s an inevitable occurrence in technological appliances.

When your Frigidaire dishwasher runs into trouble, it’s essential to know how to troubleshoot. The Frigidaire dishwasher diagnostic mode can help you with easy troubleshooting.

frigidaire dishwasher diagnostic mode

This article will unravel the Frigidaire dishwasher diagnostic mode, explaining what it means and how to explore it.

Understanding the Frigidaire Dishwasher Diagnostic Mode

Frigidaire is one of the leading brands in producing innovative technological appliances. It’s no surprise that the dishwasher has an intelligent feature that can help the user’s troubleshooting journey named the diagnostic mode.

The diagnostic mode is an inbuilt feature that can assist users in identifying the dishwasher problem. It detects what is going wrong or what has gone wrong with the appliance. The aim is to help demystify the dishwasher problem and pinpoint the source.

It’s an upgrade to the traditional and manual way of troubleshooting appliance problems. It provides you with the tool to troubleshoot the problem independently without needing the help of a technician except required.

How The Diagnostic Mode Works On Frigidaire Dishwasher

When you enter the diagnostic mode on your dishwasher, it puts the system in a sophisticated state to run a test cycle. It runs a myriad of tests on the key components of the dishwasher to assess if they are working correctly or if there’s a problem. Simply put, it scrutinizes every major part essential to the smooth running of the dishwasher.

For instance, it tests components such as the water valve, wash motor, drain pump, heating element, etc. to examine their functionality. It runs these tests consecutively.  If it detects a problem with any significant component during the self-test mode, it returns an error code or flashlights in the applicable model to notify the user of the problem it detects, thus making it easier to tackle the malfunction.

With the help of the error code, you’ll find it easier to pinpoint the problem and how to fix it rather than wasting time on improving the wrong parts. However, you’ll need to understand the interpretation of each error code to be able to tackle the problem accordingly.

The diagnostic mode ensures control and flexibility in troubleshooting problems related to the dishwasher. The goal is to assist you in running the troubleshooting process efficiently without the help of a professional, except if the situation is complicated and beyond your scope.

How To Put Frigidaire Dishwasher In Diagnostic Mode

Since you now understand how the diagnostic mode can be a great asset in your dishwasher troubleshooting journey, you’ll want to know how to enable the feature. The process is straightforward and DIY, regardless of the model you use.

The diagnostic mode is usually activated by pressing different button combinations on the dishwasher control panel. However, there might be slight variations in the key combinations across models. Follow the process below to put your dishwasher in diagnostic mode:

  • Inspect the dishwasher control panel to know where the buttons are located
  • Locate the High Temp and the Start/Cancel buttons
  • Press these two buttons simultaneously until the self-test mode begins.

If this process doesn’t work for your dishwasher, try the one below:

  • Locate the Start/Cancel button
  • Press this button alone for about five seconds.
  • The service mode will begin
  • Now press the Start/Cancel button again to proceed to settings.

If your dishwasher doesn’t have a digital display, you’ll notice the indicator lights at the top-edge door control flashes. These flashes should be an indication that the self-test mode has begun.

If your dishwasher has a display screen, the indication you should look out for is the display screen when “01” displays on the screen.

When the self-test mode begins, you’ll hear different sounds as the different principal components are tested and activated.

You should sit back and relax while your machine runs the self-diagnostic mode. If an error code pops up and lights start blinking, indicating the individual issue preventing your dishwasher from functioning efficiently, you can interpret and diagnose it accordingly.

You must understand how to interpret these error codes so the entire process won’t be futile if you can’t follow the error code as expected. You can visit your owner’s manual to interpret the error codes.

However, before doing any complicated troubleshooting, you should endeavor to rest your dishwasher as follows:

  • Locate the Cancel button on the control panel
  • Press and hold down this button for at least three seconds
  • Ensure you hold the button till the indicator lights turn off.
  • Wait five minutes so the dishwasher can erase all error codes and status.
  • Now press the “Start button” for at least 3 seconds.

Your dishwasher will reset, and you can now continue with the troubleshooting steps.

Fun Fact: you don’t need to wait for your dishwasher to run into trouble before entering the diagnostic mode. You can use it if you suspect any problem.