What should I record when a dishwasher displays an error code?

Start with an exact record of what the display shows. Include letters, numbers, or a pattern of blinking lights; don’t translate the code into a guessed meaning. Also note the dishwasher’s brand and model if you can find them in its documentation or on its identification label. Codes are not the same across all models, so model-specific guidance matters. [S1]

Then write down when you noticed the code and what was happening: for example, whether it appeared before the cycle started, partway through, or after the cycle seemed to finish. Record the selected cycle and any other display message or behavior you observed. These are observations to pass along, not proof of what caused the code.

Use plain, observable details and label anything uncertain. For example: “I found the code after returning to the kitchen; I don’t know when it first appeared. The selected cycle was [cycle name, if known].” If you watched it happen, note the point in the cycle as you observed it, such as “displayed after I pressed Start” or “appeared while the cycle was running.” Don’t claim a stage you didn’t see.

You can also record whether the dishwasher appeared to start, stop, or continue, and whether you noticed a sound or other display change. Keep the notes brief and factual. If you don’t know whether the code appeared more than once, say so rather than guessing.

Check the owner’s manual for your specific model before trying a reset or another check. Follow only steps the manual permits, and record exactly what you did and what happened afterward—for example, “followed the manual’s listed reset step; code remained” or “code cleared, then returned during [cycle].” GE’s guidance notes that codes differ by model, some may suggest checks, and most require a repair technician. It points readers to the owner’s manual and says service may be needed if a simple reset does not clear a code. [S1]

That guidance does not establish what a particular code means for your dishwasher or whether a reset is appropriate. If the manual does not describe a check, leave it out and ask the service provider.

Copy this and fill in only what you know. Keep the displayed code as-is, and mark missing or uncertain details rather than filling gaps with guesses.

Dishwasher error-code notes

• Brand/model: [brand] / [model, if known]
• Exact display or light pattern: [copy exactly; describe blinking pattern if applicable]
• First noticed: [date/time or “not sure”]
• When it appeared: [before start / during cycle / after cycle / found later; add observed detail]
• Selected cycle: [cycle name or “not sure”]
• What I observed: [brief description of display or behavior]
• Manual checked: [yes/no; manual section, if known]
• Manual-permitted checks tried: [steps and result, or “none”]
• Did the code return?: [yes/no/not sure; when]

Example with placeholders: “Brand/model: [brand/model]. Display: [exact code]. Found after cycle; I did not see when it first appeared. Selected cycle: [cycle]. I checked the owner’s manual and followed its listed [permitted check]; the code [remained/returned/cleared].” This gives service a clear starting point without assuming the code’s cause.