Viking Dishwasher Fault Codes

Here are Viking Dishwasher error codes for anyone who needs them. I was visting family over Easter and the Viking dishwasher quit working - it would run a bit and then stop, with two indicator lights flashing. Inconveniently, the service guy claimed he couldn't come to fix it for two weeks. I knew these flashing lights must be error codes, but I couldn't find the error codes listed anywhere on the internet. It turns out that the fault codes are in the instruction manual for the DFUD041 and DFUD141 dishwashers, but in case anyone is looking for them online, here's a summary. One or more of the mode lights to the right of "PROG" will flash, indicating the problem:
Viking dishwasher control panel
"Heavy" (the pot) flashes - too much water in dishwasher. Contact service.
"Light china" (the wine glass) flashes - A fault with the water inlet. Make sure the water valve is open.
"Quick" (the wine glass with arrows above) flashes - valve leakage. Contact service.
"Pots/Pans" (the pot with an underline) and "Heavy" (the pot) both flash - blocked drain. Remove and clean the coarse strainer. Unscrew and clean the fine strainer. Lift out and clean the fine filter. Make sure the drain hose is not kinked. Make sure the air gap is not clogged. This picture shows the strainers and filter:
Viking dishwasher strainers

The dishwasher's problem turned out to be a blocked drain - specifically a whole almond caught in the strainer. After removing that and cleaning the filters, the dishwasher worked properly and we didn't need to wash the dishes by hand.

Hopefully this information will be helpful if your Viking dishwasher isn't running properly.

50 comments:

Traveling Vicariously said...

Thank you SO much for this post. You just saved me HOURS of waiting for the repair person and probably $150-200.

Traveling Vicariously said...

Thank you SO much for this post. You just saved me HOURS of waiting for the repair person and probably $150-200.

Anonymous said...

Thank you. Drain was plugged.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the information. Was about to go crazy trying to figure out why the dishwasher wouldn't complete a cycle.
Very helpful!!

Anonymous said...

Thanks Ken! Whatever did we do before the Internet? My practically brand-new Viking dishwasher (maybe a year old) just stopped working with some odd lights blinking. I googled "viking dishwasher blink" and this blog post was the first thing that popped up. Blocked drain. The fine filter was "slimed up" (that's a technical term) with some kind of unidentified goop. 5 minutes of hand cleaning the filter with a sponge and I was back in business.

Anonymous said...

thanks bud, we thought our viking was broken and bought a new dishwasher for $1300 and happened to come across your site before taking delivery. managed to cancel the order for the dishwasher in time and now our viking is working perfectly.

Anonymous said...

Thank you! Ours is flashing too! However, I cannot get the horizontal filter unscrewed!? Help! Is there a trick to this I don't get??

Ken Shirriff said...

Anonymous: I don't think there was a trick to removing the filter and the dishwasher is 200 miles away so I can't check. The steps I wrote down before are: Remove and clean the coarse strainer. Unscrew and clean the fine strainer. Lift out and clean the fine filter. Beyond that, you're on your own, unless anyone else can provide tips.

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for posting this. Sometimes it feels like Viking makes it very hard to find such valuable information for their customers.

Grampee said...

What about when both the "Pots and Pans" and "Normal" cycle lights are flashing?

Mike B said...

I have the same lights flashing,Pots and Pans,and Normal cycle.I cleaned both filters,sill the same. Any answers?

Mf said...

I cleaned both filters I hate this dishwasher and on top of that it never drys dishes at all

Unknown said...

Thank you so much for your post. the inner screen was totally white and obviously inpenetrable.

Thank you again

Jason said...

My "light China" light flashes....Which is the water inlet. Valves are open, warm water in the bottom of the dishwasher but I can hear it start filing then stop. Any Ideas??

Unknown said...

My light china blinks all the time as well. I can her it filling with water, then it would drain after washing for about 15 minutes, then it would just stop and e dishes aren't even finished washing.. and also, the water doesnt seem as hot either when I open the door. After it stops after the first round I open it nd the light china along with faint lights of the other settings are blinking.

Anonymous said...

Anyone with ideas please help... I realize there aren't any blogs since January... @jason.. Did you ever find any solution?

Ken Shirriff said...

Hi Christopher! Unfortunately I don't know anything beyond "light china" indicates "water inlet". Do you have good hot water pressure?

Anonymous said...

I've got both the "Pots and Pans" and "Normal" cycle lights are flashing as well. I pulled out filters and cleaned everything. Now I can't get lights to stop flashing. No way is line kinked. I can't believe I bought a Viking dishwasher. Never again. I'm still working and will post if I find some success.

Anonymous said...

Can anyone help me? I have the Viking DFB450. During the last 2 cycles, it started making a loud noise at about 20 minutes into the cycle. Today I ran a cycle with no dishes inside. At 20 minutes, the loud noise started. So the problem isn't related to how dishes are loaded...and I heave no idea what is causing the problem and how to make it stop.

Anonymous said...

I hate my Viking dishwasher (301 Series). In the 18 months we have had it, we have had maybe 8 service calls. It hasn't worked for the past month, we've had 4 service visits in 3 weeks, and the last time after the fourth part replacement, it FLOODED our kitchen floor. Viking customer service is terrible - we obviously have a lemon, but their motto seems to be, even if a product is brand new and breaks down all the time, we would rather try to repair over and over and over rather than give this customer a new, working dishwasher. Terrible company.

Anonymous said...

I was getting the failed pressure sensor code. Repair man could not get to me for 2 weeks- it was 2 days before thanksgiving at my house- oh no! I poured anout 16 oz of water in bottom of dishwasher. turned off then started it again... It worked. Will do this to get me by till he comes to replace the part.

Anonymous said...

We cleaned both filters, as suggested, but still clogged, apparently. Is it safe to use Drano or the like in the dishwasher?

Anonymous said...

After cleaning both filters, if still clogged, you can use a flat head screwdriver to remove the next piece, which will get you further down into the pipe. We had a lemon seed stuck there. Paid a service company $90 to remove it but he showed us how to do it if it happened in the future.

Anonymous said...

Ken - Followed your instructions and found a toothpick lying on the bottom of the filter housing that would not allow the valve to cycle properly. BTW, we have had our Viking Professional 301 dishwasher for close to a decade and this is the FIRST issue we have ever had with it. Thanks, Leiv.

Anonymous said...

Michael: I have cleaned all the filters,and cant get the lights to stop blinking. how do I get it back to normal?

Tricia said...

Hi Ken, do you happen to know what it means when the Viking on/off light is blinking? The one on the far right of the panel....
My dishwasher won't drain the water and I've cleaned all the filters. It also auto shuts off after about 30 seconds into the cycle. I imagine this is because something is blocking the drain but theres so much murky water, I can't see down into the trap...
Thank you!

Anonymous said...

Hi Ken, your blog is very helpful. I have a 10 year old DFUD042 and the soap dispenser has stopped working. I don't mind adding the soap manually but need to know how long after it starts to wait before opening the door and tossing the soap in. In other words, how long does the pre-wash rinse cycle last? Thanks, tom

Anonymous said...

Try unplugging the unit for 30 minutes.
This will deplete any memory of a problem code.

Anonymous said...

WOW, Thank you Ken. My diswasher is from 2008 and we were told that the boards had to be replaced, we had a clogged drain. Thanks to you helpful instructions i was able to fix it myself. Canceling that apt for tomorrow.

Thanks so much

Unknown said...

Thanks. We had the lights blinking and there was continuous noise from the air dryer, I guess. We cleaned the filter. It started working.
A quick QUESTION - The dishes are not cleaning well in the top tray. SHOULD WE CLEAN THE SPRAYER? IF YES, HOW TO DO IT?

Todd said...

Hey Ken, my machine is from 2005, DFUD141 and has been perfect, until now. 1st 2 lights are blinking "pots & pans, heavy". Into the cleaning cycle it shuts down. I have cleaned all filters and with fingers cleaned in the pump inlet as best I can. Can I remove something else down there, to see if something is blocking further in? Drain hoses are fine.

Anonymous said...

OMG! Thank you so much for posts re: error messages. My husband did exactly what you said and now it is working again! So happy!

Unknown said...

Very helpful! Thank you!

In my case I had installed a new waste disposal and forgotten to punch out the inlet piece blocking water flow from the dishwasher.

Thanks for saving me a call to a repair service and a few days of doing dishes while I waited for them to show up!

Anonymous said...

I've had my viking dishwasher for 6 yrs. all lights were flashing. cleaned the filer and drain casket and got repair men...they said I had a broken pump...$175.00 to tell me that. Pump quote was $325., labor $450. tax $68....total $843 and change, minus the $175 I initially paid them. ALSO old me there was a recall on my diswasher because the electrical wires can cause fires. OMG. I had to order the recall kit mysellf..And btw, doesnt dry the dishes well. Have to open the door right after washing to let it dry. HATE THIS dishwasher. I'm going to buy another rand and skip the $668 charge on this one.

Maureen, NY said...

You just saved me a ton of money. I have the 301 Model which flooded my kitchen this morning and was blinking "Pots and Pans" and "Normal". I cleaned both filters thanks to this blog (never knew there a second one duh)and tried resetting. It still would not work. So I threw the circuit breaker for a few hours and now it is fine! Thank you so much!!!!

Unknown said...

Ive cleaned the screens and they were fine. There is about 3 inches of water sitting in the pipe under these screens. Is that my ? I dont see anything to unscrew. When I start the machine it gives 3 beeps then nothing.

Unknown said...

I cleaned the drains and found some standing water at bottom. Im not sure if this is the problem but when I attempt to start the dishwasher the start button beeps 3 times and nothing else happens

Janet H said...

I have a Viking 450 series. Pots/Pans and Light China are blinking together. I cleaned everything inside the cleared the drainage line. After I reset it (holding Start button down for 4 secs) and select Normal Wash (or any wash cycle), it sounds like it might start up, but after a couple of minutes, the two lights start blinking again. Does anyone have any ideas?

Unknown said...

My Viking Dishwasher has 1:ft on the panel which should say the time it takes to wash the dishes also the on button is jammed, any advice? Super annoying as we have just paid $680 to have our VIKING oven fixed I am beginning to think Viking appliances suck!!

Unknown said...

I have the DFUD041 as pictured. the machine gives the water inlet error. one I reset it id drains any water in the machine, then fills it with water, then gives the error again. any suggestions?

Anonymous said...

I have a viking 450 model I've got two lights flashing it's the pots and pan light and the rinse hold light I don't see a reference to that that combination anywhere that I've looked can you give me a hint what that means

Anonymous said...

Couldn't find anything wrong. Checked all the filters. Over and over, still E1 - drains, part fills and stops, beeping.
In the end I fooled it by letting it drain, then fill for half the normal time and opened the door. Left it for a few minutes and closed the door -
Now works like a dream !

Anonymous said...

Our Viking dishwasher is not working AGAIN! I just want to add to this blog that I am sorry for anyone who owns a Viking anything. I wouldn't put Viking products in my dog's house!

To Lisa Gibson you are so right they all suck!!! We remodeled our kitchen February 2012 and did 3 Viking ovens, along with stove top, dishwasher and our Fridge literally just got thrown away after 3 years!!!! I would shout from the roof tops DO NOT BUY A VIKING SERVING SPOON!!!!

This one is not even getting looked at. Removing it finally after fighting with it literally since we got it.

Good luck everyone!

rexjames said...

mine is blinking 3 times om normal then 3 times on pots. I here humming and off, then humming then off. There is a couple gallons of water in the bottom and its not pumping out in those cycles.\

Unknown said...

We just bought a house with a Viking dishwasher. I can't get it to come on.
My temp light and drying light blinks and the start/stop button does nothing. I'm not sure what the problem is.

Anonymous said...

Hello Viking fans! cough cough
The gasket on the bottom of the dishwasher door is torn and I need a replacement. Any tips that are cheaper than Viking original parts?
LK

Anonymous said...

Our Viking dishwasher is about a year old. It blinks E01. We have cleaned both drains and even threw in a little Draino. It is draining fine. Keeps giving us an E01. Suggestions, please.

Anonymous said...

thanks

Anonymous said...

Hi
I have a Viking Dishwasher FDW100 and the screen shows a zero and won't run. I've only had it 4 years and it was brand new - still in the box. Any suggestions? Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Thanks so much. I was about to start shopping for a new pump. Turns out the drain was plugged where it meets with the sink drain.