On the covered Dacor dishwasher, F5 means dacor's service table, as Sears PartsDirect publishes it, lists this code as: defective electronic control board. Disconnect power for three minutes, restore it and start a short cycle to see whether the code returns.
Differential
Likely causes of “Dacor dishwasher showing F5”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
The electronic control board has reported a fault
What separates it The display shows F5 and the dishwasher refuses to run a cycle or stops soon after starting
How to confirm Disconnect power for three minutes, restore it and start a short cycle to see whether the code returns
- 2
A one-off glitch in the control
What separates it F5 clears after a power reset and does not come back for weeks
How to confirm Run two or three normal cycles after the reset and watch the display
- 3
A power surge that upset the board
What separates it The lights flickered or a storm passed just before the code first appeared
How to confirm Note the date of the storm and whether other electronics in the house were affected
- 4
Moisture or a small leak that reached the board
What separates it The dishwasher leaked recently, or the kitchen floor was mopped close to the toe kick
How to confirm Look under the toe kick and in the base for water, and dry the area fully before testing again
- 5
A board that has genuinely failed
What separates it F5 returns after every reset, sometimes within seconds of power coming on
How to confirm The board is replaced after the supply and the wiring have been ruled out
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- That the display reads F5 and not another F-code
- Whether a three-minute power reset cleared it, and for how long
- Whether there was a leak, a power cut or a storm shortly before it started
- The model and serial numbers from the label, which a parts counter will need
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedCorrect only the documented fault domain
ReversibleDisconnect the electrical power supply from the dishwasher for 3 minutes to reset the electronic control board. If the error code appears after you restore power, replace the electronic control board. Parts named: electronic control board.
Disconnect power for three minutes
ReversibleSwitch the dishwasher off at its breaker or unplug it, as the table directs, and leave it for the full three minutes so that the board discharges and restarts cleanly.
Restore power and run a short cycle
ReversibleSwitch the power back on and start a short wash. Many boards run normally again after a reset, so a clean cycle is a good sign.
Watch for F5 on the display
ReversibleIf F5 reappears during that cycle or the next, the board has a fault that a reset does not cure, and the cause is no longer a one-off.
Check for moisture under the toe kick
ReversibleRemove the kick panel and look for water or a wet insulation pad. A leak that reaches the electronics will keep the code coming back until the leak itself is repaired.
Note the model and serial numbers
ReversibleWrite down both numbers from the label before you call, so that the right control board is identified. Boards differ between model years even in the same series.
Replace the board if F5 returns
ReversibleWith the supply sound and the machine dry, the electronic control board is the part the table names, and replacing it is the repair.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- The code on this page
- F5, a defective electronic control board, as the table lists it for Dacor dishwashers.
- Parts involved
- The electronic control board, and the wiring plug that connects it to the machine.
- Source
- Sears PartsDirect's error code table for Dacor dishwashers.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If F5 returns after the three-minute reset, the electronic control board is replaced, so call Dacor service or a Dacor parts dealer
- !Disconnect power at the breaker before any panel is removed, since the control holds mains voltage
- !Do not run a dishwasher that has leaked onto its own control, because the fault may be a wet board and not a dead one
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
What does F5 mean on a Dacor dishwasher?+
Dacor's service table, as Sears PartsDirect publishes it, lists this code as: defective electronic control board.
Does a power reset fix an F5?+
It clears a one-off fault, which is why the table starts with a three-minute power disconnect, but a code that returns straight away means the board has failed.
Is the repair expensive?+
A control board is one of the dearer parts on a dishwasher, so compare the cost with the age of the machine before deciding.
Can water cause the code?+
Yes. A leak that reaches the board can cause a fault, so look for water under the machine before blaming the board.
Is it safe to keep using the dishwasher?+
Do not run it if the control behaves unpredictably, because it may not drain or stop properly, and a wet control can be a shock hazard.