F4 fault code on a whirpool dishwasher

muddle84

Our Whirpool dishwasher started up the last night and after a few seconds just stopped abruptly. Since then the green LED above the start button has been flashing and the fault code F4 is on the timer display.
Does anybody know how I can fix this or is the machine knackered???:(

The Red Ace

it is emptying pump or pressure switch related

from http://www.ukanfixit.co.uk/content/what-are-whirlpool-dishwasher-error-codes-f1-f2-f3-f4-f5-f6-f7-f8-f9-fa-fe

F4 error fault code
This is a drain failure. If the drain pump runs for more than 4 minutes and the WI (water indicator) indicates the sump is not empty of water,
if the drain pump is not actually shifting the water even though its running, if the electronic control PCB is defective.
After 4 minutes, it can also be indicated even though there is no water in the dishwasher sump. A failure of the WI (water indicator) which is the pressure switch or Turbidity sensor, to switch, this can be because of muck and dirt blockage to the pressure device which means the device can not indicate there is no water.

muddle84

Thanks people. Can anyone tell me where I can find the Turbidity sensor on the machine to clean it out? I want to rule everything out before paying somebody to come in and fix it.....

In most dishwashers there is a removable filter in the bottom, lift that out and it's likely to be full of gunk> You should also be able to remove the filter cage and there may also be dirt behind that.

video from the link above

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuNPPe6ZVD8

muddle84

Tried cleaning out that filter and reset the system by holding down the start button. But I can't seem to locate the inlet for the drain pump or the pressure switch that is referenced in the video above. Do I need to disconnect the machine and take off the outer covers?

The Red Ace

the first thing you need to check is the emptying pump, it cannot be restricted which can happen with broken glass, bone fragment etc. if ok the pressure may be clogged that is if it has one, it is located in the base its black round and has a micro switch, if it has no switch it is then controlled by electronic flow meter which is not diy territory usually

muddle84

Thanks for all the help folks. So i started stripping it earlier and it toke me a while to find everything as i had never taken a dishwasher apart before. But once i figured out where everything was i disconnected the drain pump as in the picture and there was a piece of glass sitting right there.
Everything's back working again............ hooray.

Thanks for all the tips people!!!!!!!....