Commercial Kitchen · Dishwasher Error Codes · Diagnostic Lookup
Hobart, Jackson & Champion Dishwasher Error Codes
Hobart E-series, Champion F-series, Jackson A-series and E-series, CMA, Meiko code translation. Volunteer model + serial + code on call for fastest repair. $120 dx. Same-day across LA, OC, Ventura.
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Dishwasher acting up?
Describe it in your own words — get the likely causes and a repair cost range before you book.
Our Branches
10 service territories across Southern California
01 · Error code diagnostic
The code is the starting point. The fault is what we test.
A commercial dishwasher displaying error code in LA commercial kitchens usually traces to one of three root causes our techs at Same Day Appliance Repair diagnose first across Hobart AM16 / LXe / CL / FT2000, Jackson DishStar / TempStar / DynaStar / RackStar, Champion UH/CR, and CMA-180 commercial dishwashers. (1) Heating element or booster heater system fault (Hobart E-series codes, Champion F-series, Jackson A/E-series) — final rinse can't reach 180°F sanitization spec, controller throws temperature fault code. Labor $300–$640 + parts for the element or contactor. (2) Door interlock or door latch sensor fault — controller doesn't recognize door fully closed, won't initiate cycle. Labor $275–$550 + parts for the door switch or interlock. (3) Wash pump or drain pump fault — pump motor failure or impeller jam triggers cycle abort code. Labor $275–$580 for a drain pump or $300–$640 for a wash pump, plus parts. Code is starting point — fault verification at the $120 commercial diagnostic also covers scale buildup from LADWP hard water (often presents as temperature fault due to scaled element).
Modern commercial dishwashers display error codes on the control panel when a fault is detected. The codes are useful but they are starting points, not diagnoses. The same code letter and number on Hobart versus Champion versus Jackson can route to different actual faults. We cross-reference each manufacturer's service manual at the visit and run targeted tests to confirm the fault before quoting parts.
Critical info to volunteer when you call:
- Brand and full model number. Visible on the rating plate inside the door or on the side panel. Hobart CRS-66A versus AM-15 are different machines with different code dictionaries.
- Serial number. Identifies generation; older units may use different code architecture.
- The full error code as displayed. Letter and number, not just one. E1 vs E11 vs E1F mean different things.
- Behavior context. Does the unit complete cycles or stop, is the code persistent or intermittent, what was happening when the code first appeared.
With this info, we localize the fault before arrival, often arrive with the right replacement on the truck, and skip parts of the diagnostic sequence. Without it, we work from a cold start and the visit takes longer.
$120 commercial diagnostic, waived with repair. BHGS #A49573 and EPA 608 Universal certified (#1346255700410). 90-day warranty. Same-day across LA, OC, Ventura. Sister sub-services: not cleaning, not heating, leaking water. Overview: commercial dishwasher repair.
02 · Hobart E-series codes (CRS, AM platform)
Hobart dishwasher error codes
Across LA County commercial dishwasher error-code service calls our techs at Same Day Appliance Repair dispatch — DTLA hotel banquet kitchens running Hobart AM16 + CL conveyor 24/7, Jackson RackStar + FlightStar institutional installations, LAUSD school nutrition FT2000 flight-type fleet, healthcare cafeteria service, and LA bar + West Hollywood glasswasher cluster running CMA + Champion — the error code distribution clusters predictably. About 30 percent temperature-related codes (booster heater, wash tank heater, thermostat — often scale buildup from LADWP hard water 8-12 grains/gallon). 25 percent door interlock / latch sensor codes (year 5-7, labor $275–$550 + parts). 20 percent pump fault codes (wash pump, drain pump, year 7-10, labor $275–$580 drain or $300–$640 wash, plus parts). 15 percent fill solenoid or water level codes (labor $250–$520 + parts). 10 percent control board faults on year 10+ units (labor $275–$550 + parts). Hobart parts usually take 5-10 days and Jackson parts 1-3 days; we confirm the lead time once we know which part it is.
| Code | Typical fault | Common fix |
|---|---|---|
| E1 | Low water level in wash tank | Supply solenoid or sensor |
| E2 | Drain pump fault | Pump or impeller blockage |
| E3 | Wash tank temperature low | Tank heater or thermostat |
| E4 | Booster heater temp low | Booster element or scale insulation |
| E5 | Door open during cycle | Door switch or interlock |
| E6 | Conveyor speed fault | Drive motor, sensor, or chain |
| E7 | Detergent level low | Dispenser pump or supply |
| E8 | Rinse aid level low | Dispenser pump or supply |
| E9 | Communications / control board | Control board diagnostic |
Code architecture varies by Hobart generation. CRS-66A and CRS-86 share most codes; AM-15 (door type) uses similar but not identical structure. We confirm against the specific service manual at the visit. Models and repair costs: Hobart dishwasher repair.
03 · Jackson A-series and E-series codes (AJ, Tempstar, DishStar)
Jackson dishwasher error codes
| Code | Typical fault | Common fix |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | Booster heater general | Service manual reference |
| A2 | Booster supply temperature low | Building hot water supply |
| A3 | Booster thermostat | Thermostat replacement |
| A4 | Booster element fault | Element replacement |
| A5 | Booster overheat | Thermostat or thermal cutout |
| A6 | Booster wiring / sensor | Sensor or harness |
| E1 | Wash tank fill / supply | Solenoid or supply |
| E2 | Wash tank drain | Drain pump or check valve |
| E3 | Wash tank temperature | Tank heater or thermostat |
| E4 | Conveyor (AJ-66 only) | Drive motor or chain |
| E5 | Door interlock | Door switch |
Jackson AJ-66 (rack conveyor), Tempstar (door type), and DishStar (high-temp undercounter) share most codes. A-series is dedicated booster heater diagnostics; E-series covers everything else. Hoshizaki integration completed parts pipeline; sourcing now consistent with their ice machine network. Models and repair costs: Jackson commercial dishwasher repair.
04 · Champion F-series codes (86, DH-6000)
Champion dishwasher error codes
| Code | Typical fault | Common fix |
|---|---|---|
| F1 | Water supply / fill fault | Solenoid or supply line |
| F2 | Wash tank temperature fault | Tank heater or thermostat |
| F3 | Booster heater temperature fault | Booster element or thermostat |
| F4 | Drain fault | Drain pump, impeller, or check valve |
| F5 | Door interlock | Door switch |
| F6 | Conveyor / drive fault (86 series) | Drive motor, chain, sprocket |
| F7 | Detergent / rinse aid level | Dispenser pump or supply |
| F8 | Control board / communications | Control board diagnostic |
Champion 86 series and DH-6000 use slightly different code subsets. 86 series adds conveyor codes; DH-6000 (door type) does not. Mid-tier mass-market parts pricing.
Champion Prodigy HMI messages
Newer Champion door and conveyor machines with the Prodigy HMI touchscreen show plain-text faults instead of F-numbers, and keep an event log with timestamps. The ones we see most:
- WASH TANK TEMP — wash tank heater or thermostat drifted.
- RINSE TEMP — booster element or booster thermostat; the final rinse isn't reaching temperature.
- DOOR OPEN — door switch or latch.
- LOW WATER — fill valve, level sensor, or water supply pressure.
- CHEMICAL DISPENSER — detergent or rinse-aid proportioning.
More on Champion models and repair costs: Champion commercial dishwasher repair.
05 · CMA, Meiko, Insinger, Stero, Fagor codes
Less common but fully serviced.
- CMA Dishmachines (Welbilt subsidiary). Mid-tier door-type and undercounter. Code architecture similar to Champion F-series with brand variations. We keep service manuals on hand for L-1X16, L-1X18, EST-44 series.
- Meiko (independent German). M-iQ and M-iClean platforms use plain-text status messages on M-iQ controllers; legacy units use M-series codes. Authorized parts 7 to 14 day pipeline.
- Insinger (ITW Food Equipment family). Heavy-duty institutional. RL-30, MD-3000 platforms. Code structure overlaps with Hobart family ITW lineage.
- Stero (Welbilt subsidiary). SCT-44, SD3 institutional series. Code architecture similar to CMA Welbilt-family lineage.
- Fagor Industrial (Onnera Group). European architecture. CO-110-DD and FI-30B common in our service area. Codes documented in Spanish and English manuals; we cross-reference both.
- Auto-Chlor (independent American). Chemical-leasing model with their own units. Codes printed on the door panel. Auto-Chlor often handles their own service contractually; when they cannot dispatch in time, we cover.
06 · Pricing by code-routed repair
Common error code repair costs.
| Repair | Labor (parts quoted after diagnosis) |
|---|---|
| Diagnostic (commercial, includes code translation) | $120, waived with repair |
| Supply solenoid replacement (E1/F1 codes) | Labor $250–$520 + parts |
| Drain pump replacement (E2/F4 codes) | Labor $275–$580 + parts |
| Wash tank heater element (E3/F2 codes) | Labor $300–$640 + parts |
| Booster heater element (E4/F3/A4 codes) | Labor $300–$640 + parts |
| Door switch or interlock (E5/F5 codes) | Labor $275–$550 + parts |
| Conveyor drive motor (E6/F6/E4-AJ codes) | Labor $350–$670 + parts |
| Detergent or rinse aid dispenser pump (E7/E8/F7 codes) | Labor $250–$520 + parts |
| Control board diagnostic and replacement (E9/F8 codes) | Labor $275–$550 + parts |
| Thermostat replacement (any temp-related code) | Labor $300–$640 + parts |
| Sensor or harness (A6, code-correlation needed) | Labor $275–$550 + parts |
| Hobart, Jackson, Meiko or Winterhalter (any code-routed repair) | Labor $375–$750 + parts |
| Warranty | 90 days parts plus labor |
07 · Why operators call us
Seven reasons.
- Code-to-cause translation across 8+ brands. Hobart, Champion, Jackson, CMA, Meiko, Insinger, Stero, Fagor.
- Pre-arrival fault localization. Volunteer model + serial + code; we arrive with the right part on the truck.
- Service manuals on hand. We do not guess at proprietary code architecture; we reference manufacturer documentation.
- Final rinse temperature checked. On repairs that touch the final rinse, we check the temperature before and after and tell you the readings.
- Pro-tier and mid-tier parts pipelines. ITW (Hobart, Insinger), Ali Group (Champion), Hoshizaki (Jackson), Welbilt (CMA, Stero), Onnera (Fagor), independent (Meiko).
- BHGS #A49573 and EPA 608 Universal certified (#1346255700410). See our licensing page.
- $120 commercial diagnostic, no emergency surcharge. Phones answered 24/7.
Cross-link: rack conveyor, flight type, undercounter, glass washer. Credentials: BHGS license, EPA 608.
08 · FAQ
Error codes, common questions.
How do I read commercial dishwasher error codes?
Commercial dishwasher error codes vary by manufacturer — five major code families our techs at Same Day Appliance Repair routinely decode on LA service calls. Hobart E-series (E1/E2/E3/E4) on CRS, AM platform — typically thermostat, pump, or fill timing faults. Champion F-series (F1-F8) on 86, DH-6000 — door, water level, or heat sequence faults. Jackson A-series (DishStar, TempStar) and E-series (DynaStar, RackStar) — booster element, sensor, or valve faults. CMA L-series codes on CMA-180 — temperature, pump, or conveyor faults. Meiko E-series codes — chemical dispenser, sanitizer dose, or drain faults. Code is starting point but fault verification requires hands-on diagnostic — many temperature codes actually trace to LADWP hard water scale buildup on heating element. $120 commercial diagnostic includes code read + verification + repair quote.
What does error code on my commercial dishwasher mean?
Specific error code interpretation depends on machine brand and model — our techs at Same Day Appliance Repair carry brand-specific code reference on every dishwasher service call. Common patterns: (1) Temperature-related codes (E1/F1/A1 type) typically indicate booster heater element failure, contactor failure, or scaled element preventing temperature rise. Labor $300–$640 + parts; descaling, if needed, is labor $250–$520. (2) Door codes (E2/F2/A2) typically indicate door latch sensor wear or interlock switch failure. Labor $275–$550 + parts. (3) Water level codes typically indicate fill solenoid failure, water inlet pressure issue, or float switch wear. Labor $250–$520 + parts. (4) Pump codes (drain or wash) indicate pump motor failure or impeller jam. Labor $275–$580 for a drain pump or $300–$640 for a wash pump, plus parts. Hobart, Jackson and Meiko repairs run labor $375–$750 + parts. Call model number and error code on dispatch to expedite parts pre-order — Hoshizaki Alliance California warehouse 1-3 day for Jackson; ITW 5-10 days for Hobart from Ohio.
What information do you need when I call about an error code?
Three things: brand and model number (visible on the rating plate inside the door or on the side panel), serial number, and the full error code as it displays. Bonus: how long has it been displaying, and does the unit complete cycles or stop. With model + serial + code, we localize the actual fault before arrival, often skip parts of the diagnostic, and arrive with the right replacement on the truck. Calls without these details take longer and cost more in diagnostic time.
Why does the same error code mean different things on Hobart vs Jackson?
Manufacturers use proprietary code architectures. Hobart E codes are different from Jackson E codes are different from Champion F codes. We cross-reference each manufacturer's service manual at the diagnostic. The code is a starting point; the fault is what the code routes us to test. Same code letter and number can mean booster heater on one brand and door switch on another.
My Hobart CRS-66A is throwing E1. What is it?
Hobart E1 typically means low water level in the wash tank. Three common causes: water supply shut off (check building valve), supply solenoid failed (labor $375–$750 + parts on Hobart, part priced after diagnosis), or water level sensor fouled with mineral scale (clean at $120 dx, no parts). We test supply pressure first because it is the cheapest fault to confirm.
Champion 86 series displaying F2. Critical?
Champion F2 typically points to wash tank temperature fault (heater element or thermostat). Not immediately food-safety critical because the dishwasher will not run a sanitizing cycle without temp; the unit fails safe. But it is a same-day repair because the unit is offline. Element or thermostat replacement runs labor $300–$640 + parts; the part is priced after diagnosis.
Jackson AJ-66 showing A4 booster fault. Cost?
Jackson A-series codes are booster-heater specific. A4 typically indicates booster element failure or thermostat fault on AJ-66 platform. Element or thermostat replacement on Jackson runs labor $375–$750 + parts; the part is priced after diagnosis. We test both at the diagnostic before quoting. After the repair we check the final rinse temperature and tell you the reading.
CMA Dishmachines or Meiko showing a code I don't recognize. Do you service those too?
Yes. We service CMA Dishmachines (Welbilt subsidiary, mid-tier door-type and undercounter), Meiko (independent German pro-tier), Insinger (ITW family), Stero (Welbilt subsidiary), and Fagor Industrial (Onnera Group, Spanish). Each has its own code architecture; we keep service-manual references on hand for all of them. Volunteer the model number and code when you call and we localize.
What's your warranty?
90-day warranty on parts and labor on every repair. BHGS #A49573 and EPA 608 Universal certified (#1346255700410).
Error code on display? Call today.
$120 commercial diagnostic. Volunteer model + serial + full code for fastest repair. 8+ brand reference manuals on hand. BHGS #A49573.