Why Frigidaire Dishwasher Lights Are Flashing? – Troubleshooting Guide

The control panel on your Frigidaire dishwasher has several lights to tell you which functions are on or off. However, those lights aren’t meant to flash repeatedly and altogether unless the appliance is experiencing a problem.

Your Frigidaire dishwasher lights are likely flashing because the door is open or because the door latch is faulty. Besides that, a malfunctioning heating element, control panel, or main control board could also trigger the lights to flash. When troubleshooting this issue, check for any active error codes that lead you to the root cause.

The following sections will help you quickly understand why your dishwasher’s lights are flashing and what you can do about it. At the end of the guide, there are also a few answers to frequently asked questions that you might find helpful.

Why Are The Lights On My Frigidaire Dishwasher Flashing?

It can be pretty challenging to understand why the lights on your Frigidaire dishwasher are flashing. Here are a few of the most likely possibilities:

Read: Frigidaire Dishwasher Not Washing/Cleaning

#1 Dishwasher Door Is Open

When you discover the lights on your Frigidaire dishwasher flashing, it’s easy to assume that the appliance has a faulty component. But don’t jump to conclusions just yet!

Before you begin troubleshooting your dishwasher, check that the door is closed all the way.

When the dishwasher door is open, the control panel lights will illuminate or flash. But, at the same time, your selected wash program won’t start, either.

As soon as you shut the dishwasher door firmly, the appliance’s lights will stop flashing, and your chosen wash program will begin.

If your Frigidaire dishwasher door doesn’t close all the way, check that no foreign objects are blocking it. 

For instance, a small utensil like a teaspoon could have become lodged in the appliance door, preventing it from closing. When you remove the obstruction, that will resolve this issue.

Read: Frigidaire Dishwasher Won’t Start | Here Is How To Fix It

#2 Faulty or Damaged Door Latch

Another reason your Frigidaire dishwasher lights are flashing is that it mistakenly thinks its door is still open. That’s a clear sign that the door latch has become faulty or has suffered some kind of damage.

Here’s how the door latch works:

The latch will sense whenever you open or close the dishwasher door. When it senses that you’ve closed the door, it signals the main control board to start the wash program.

Besides that, the door latch also ensures that the dishwasher stops working if you open the door mid-cycle. When it does that, it acts as a safety device to protect you from injury while preventing damage to the appliance and its contents.

So, if you find that the door latch is the problem, you’ll have to replace it with a new one. That process involves removing the existing door latch and disconnecting its wire harness. Then, attach the wire harness to the new latch and push it into place.

Read: Why Is Dishwasher’s Detergent Door Not Opening?

#3 Malfunctioning Heating Element

After you rule out reasons #1 and #2, you can then start to troubleshoot some of the dishwasher’s components. The first one you should check is the heating element that might be suffering from a malfunction.

The heating element aims to raise the water temperature for more effective cleaning and sanitizing. Besides that, it also plays a vital role in the drying phase. It increases the air temperature, so dishes dry quicker.

When your dishwasher senses that its water doesn’t heat up fast enough or at all, it’ll take that as a sign that the heating element is faulty. As a result, it’ll flash one or more lights on its control panel to let you know that there’s a problem.

Assuming the heating element is weak or not working at all, you’ll have to troubleshoot it closer. Firstly, check that its electrical connectors aren’t loose. If you spot damage on the element or won’t heat up correctly, you must replace it with a new one.

Read: How To FIX Any Dishwasher When Its Not Draining

#4 Problematic Control Panel

Next, it’s time to consider that the control panel is likely problematic. Again, you should only consider this after ruling out all other possibilities. That’s because the control panel and its touchpad can be relatively pricey to replace compared to other parts.

The most straightforward way to test your control panel is to push individual buttons. If the buttons don’t respond as they should, they are faulty.

Another method to test your control panel is to remove it. Then, use a multimeter to check it for electrical continuity. You can also check the components for any signs of a short-circuit or other faults.

Depending on what Frigidaire model you have, you might have to only replace the touchpad, the control panel, or both. Unfortunately, you cannot repair these parts and get them working again. That’s why a complete replacement is necessary.

#5 Faulty Main Control Board

As you continue troubleshooting your Frigidaire dishwasher, the final part that you should check is the main control board. This is the ‘brain’ of your dishwasher, and it’s one of the most critical components in the appliance.

The main control board consists of a printed circuit board (PCB) with components that control everything your dishwasher does. Unfortunately, problems can arise when parts suffer an electrical fault (like a short-circuit) or experience excess heat and moisture.

In this case, a faulty main control board could cause the control panel to malfunction. As a result, the panel will stop working correctly, and its lights will flash for no apparent reason.

Unfortunately, the main control board is another part of your dishwasher that you cannot repair. Instead, you’ll have to remove the faulty board and replace it with a new one. 

The main control board can be a somewhat costly part to replace. That’s why you should consider it last throughout your troubleshooting process.

What Is The Purpose Of Dishwasher Error Codes?

Besides flashing lights, your Frigidaire dishwasher also has another way of communicating its problems to you: by displaying error codes. 

When a dishwasher component isn’t working correctly, the appliance will sense it and trigger the corresponding error code. That code will appear on the dishwasher’s display for your attention and further action.

So, when you see that your dishwasher lights are flashing and the control panel doesn’t respond, be sure to check for any active error codes. There will likely be one or more error codes showing.

Once you know which error codes are active, refer to your dishwasher user manual to understand what those codes mean. 

Checking the error codes will make your troubleshooting process more straightforward and lead you to the root cause quicker.

Read: Frigidaire Dishwasher Error Codes Explained

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some other frequently asked questions you might have about your Frigidaire dishwasher and its flashing lights:

How Do You Reset Your Frigidaire Dishwasher?

You can reset your Frigidaire dishwasher by cycling its power. To do that, first, disconnect the appliance from its power supply. Then, leave it alone for at least 5 minutes, so all electrical power inside dissipates, and its memory clears itself. Once that time passes, you can reconnect the dishwasher and use it again.

How Do You Clear A Frigidaire Dishwasher Error Code?

You can clear the error codes from your dishwasher by pressing and holding the cancel button until they’re gone. You can also do the same by resetting the appliance as described above. However, the error codes will return unless you resolve the root cause.

How Do I Run Diagnostic On My Frigidaire Dishwasher?

You can run the diagnostics mode on your Frigidaire dishwasher by simultaneously pressing and holding the High Temp Wash and Start/Cancel buttons. Keep holding those buttons until you hear the machine chime. Then, the appliance will begin running automated tests.

How Can I Force A Frigidaire Dishwasher To Drain?

Let’s suppose the dishwasher is full of water when you find the control panel unresponsive with its lights flashing. In that case, you can force the appliance to drain by pressing the Cancel button to cancel the current wash program. After a while, the machine will begin its 90-second drain cycle to remove all water.