Frigidaire Gallery Dishwasher Troubleshooting (7 Issues Fixed!)

Frigidaire Gallery dishwashers can fail. However, not all failures call for an expert intervention. You should at least try basic Frigidaire Gallery dishwasher troubleshooting before contacting a dishwasher expert or the manufacturer.

Some common Frigidaire Gallery dishwasher issues you can troubleshoot include a dishwasher that won’t start, fill with water, spray water, clean, dry dishes, drain, or close. Those are the seven issues I’ll help you troubleshoot.

In addition, we’ll look at common Frigidaire Gallery dishwasher error codes and their meaning. That makes it easy for you to address an underlying dishwasher issue just from the fault code it presents.

Let’s dive in!

Frigidaire Gallery dishwasher troubleshooting

In a rush? Below is a quick troubleshooting guide for your Frigidaire Gallery dishwasher.

Quick Frigidaire Gallery Dishwasher Troubleshooting Guide

IssueLikely CauseQuick Fix
1.Dishwasher Won’t StartFailed power supply, electronic glitch, error code, Delay Start, Control Lock, unlatched door, failed water supply, or damaged control panel.Ensure your dishwasher has power, reset it to clear a glitch or error code, cancel the Delay Start or Control Lock, properly latch the door, check the water supply, and replace a damaged control panel.
2.Dishwasher Won’t Fill With WaterThe water supply valve is off, an obstructed water line, clogged water inlet valve or screen/filter, or stuck float switch.Turn on the water supply valve, clear kinks/pinches from the water line, clean a clogged inlet valve or screen/filter, and replace a stuck float.
3.Dishwasher Won’t Spray WaterFailed water supply, obstructed spray arms, or a defective pump, motor assemblyEnsure the dishwasher receives water, clear obstructions from the spray arms, and replace a defective pump or motor assembly
4.Dishwasher Won’t CleanImproper loading, clogged spray arms, wrong detergent amount, incorrect water temperature, or hard waterLoad the dishes properly, unclog the spray arms, use the correct detergent amount, adjust the water temperature to 120-1400F, and soften hard water.
5.Dishwasher Won’t DryDish overload, inadequate rinse aid, incorrect water temperature, or defective heating elementDon’t overload the dishwasher. Refill the rinse aid, adjust the water temperature to 120-1400F, and replace a defective heating element.
6.Dishwasher Won’t DrainClogged drain filter or air gap, obstructed hose, or defective drain pumpUnclog the drain filter or air gap, clear kinks/clogs from the drain hose, and replace a defective pump
7.Dishwasher Door Won’t CloseObstruction, unaligned dishwasher, or a damaged door seal, hinge or door latchClear any obstruction from the door’s path, properly align the dishwasher, and replace a damaged door seal, hinge, or latch.

7 Common Frigidaire Gallery Dishwasher Problems

Here are seven Frigidaire Gallery dishwasher problems you can try troubleshooting DIY:

1. Frigidaire Gallery Dishwasher Won’t Start

In most cases, a Frigidaire Gallery dishwasher won’t start because of a power issue. It could be that the dryer won’t get power; if it does, the amount isn’t enough.   

You can tell it’s a power issue if the dishwasher won’t turn on, and if so, here are the likely explanations:

  • Power outage
  • Loose or defective dishwasher power cord
  • Nonworking electric outlet or socket
  • Tripped house circuit breaker
  • Blown-out fuse

Frigidaire Gallery Dishwasher Won’t Start but Has Power

Suppose your Frigidaire Gallery dishwasher won’t start, but the issue isn’t power-related. In that case, it’s likely to be one of these:

  • Electronic glitch – Occasionally, dishwashers suffer an electric glitch, which is fixable with a reset. An electric glitch can stop a dishwasher from starting.
  • Error code – An error code can also stop the dishwasher from starting. You’ve to clear it first before the dishwasher runs.
  • Delay Start – A dishwasher’s ‘Delay Start’ function prescribes that the dishwasher starts later. So, check if that’s so.
  • Control Lock – The dishwasher’s ‘Control Lock’ function locks the control panel’s controls, including the Start button. Hence, the dishwasher won’t start until it’s off.
  • Unlatched door – The dishwasher won’t start if the door is not fully latched.
  • Failed water supply – If the dishwasher doesn’t get water, it won’t start. The appliance needs water to run and clean the dishes.
  • Damaged control panel – If the control panel has burnt connections or damaged controls, the dishwasher won’t start. The start button may be unresponsive in such a case.
Frigidaire Gallery dishwasher won't start

Quick Fix

There are several things to do if your Frigidaire dishwasher won’t start.

First, ensure no outage and firmly plug in the power cord. Use a multimeter to check for the power cord, socket, and thermal fuse continuity. If any of them doesn’t, replace it. If the house circuit breaker is tripped up, reset it.

Reset the dishwasher to clear an electronic glitch or error code. The reset can also cancel the Delay Start and Control Lock.

The easy way to perform the Frigidaire Gallery dishwasher reset is to plug out the dishwasher for 5-10 minutes. You can also flip the breaker off and then on after 5-10 minutes.

Ensure the door latches firmly. If it doesn’t, check the troubleshooting tips under problem number 7. Also, ensure the dishwasher has water. If not, check out the troubleshooting tips under problem 2.

Lastly, replace the control panel if there are burnt connections or damaged controls.

2. Frigidaire Gallery Dishwasher Not Filling with Water

Your Frigidaire Gallery dishwasher needs a water supply to start running and clean the dishes. It won’t do either without it, and if that’s the case, it could be a result of:

  • Water supply valve off – The water supply valve should be opened to allow the dishwasher to fill up with water. If it’s off, it’ll prevent the dishwasher from filling up.
  • Obstructed water line – If the water line is pinched or kinked, the folds will prevent water from filling up the dishwasher.
  • Clogged water inlet valve or screen/filter – If the water inlet valve or its screen or filter is blocked by food or debris, the dishwasher may fill up with water.
  • Stuck float switch – The float switch’s job is to monitor the dishwasher’s water level. It shouldn’t be stuck (facing up) as that stops it from doing its job, and the dishwasher won’t fill up with water.

Quick Fix

Turn on the water supply valve if it’s off and clear any kinks or pinches from the water supply line. If there are debris or food clogs on the water inlet valve or its screen, remove them. If the float switch is facing up (which means it’s stuck), replace it.

3. Frigidaire Gallery Dishwasher Not Spraying Water

Your Frigidaire Gallery dishwasher needs to spray water evenly and adequately over the dishes to clean them properly. If that doesn’t happen, the dishwasher won’t wash the dishes, and that could be a result of:

  • Failed water supply – Check if your dishwasher is getting water. If it doesn’t, refer to the issues above.
  • Obstructed spray arms – Check if the spray arms are food-clogged. If they are, the dishwasher won’t spray water.
  • Defective pump or motor assembly – If the circulation pump or motor assembly fails, the dishwasher won’t receive water to spray around.

Quick Fix

Refer to the above fixes if the dishwasher won’t receive water. Clean the spray arms if food-clogged and test the contact points on the circulation pump and motor assembly with a multimeter. If they lack continuity, replace them.

Frigidaire Gallery dishwasher won't start but has power

4. Frigidaire Gallery Dishwasher Not Cleaning

Are the dishes coming out dirty or streaked? If so, your Frigidaire Gallery dishwasher is not cleaning properly due to one of these issues:

  • Improper loading – The dishes could be overloaded or overlapping each other, thus stopping the spray arms from adequately spraying water.
  • Clogged spray arms– The spray arms could be blocked by debris or food; if so, they won’t spray water over the dishes.
  • Wrong detergent amount – If you put too much or too little detergent, the dishwasher may fail to clean the dishes properly.
  • Incorrect water temperature – The correct water temperature for dishwashers is 120-1400F. If that’s not the case, the dishwasher may not clean the dishes properly.
  • Hard water – If you are using hard water to run the dishwasher, the chances are that its mineral deposits will form streaks and spots on the dishes. Thus, the dishes won’t come out clean.

Quick Fix

Properly and evenly load the dishes. They shouldn’t overlap each other. Clean the spray arms if clogged, and ensure you put in the right amount of detergent. Then, set the water heater to 120-1400F and use a water softener in case of hard water.

5. Frigidaire Gallery Dishwasher Not Drying

Frigidaire gallery dishwashers don’t just wash the dishes, but they also dry them. Sometimes, however, the dishwasher may fail to do the latter, and if so, it could be due to:

  • Dish overload (too many dishes)
  • Inadequate rinse aid
  • Incorrect water temperature
  • Defective heating element

Quick Fix

Don’t overload the dishwasher; check the rinse aid level to refill it if it’s low. Then, set the water heater at 120-1400F and test the heating element with a multimeter. Replace the element if it lacks continuity.

6. Frigidaire Gallery Dishwasher Not Draining

If your Frigidaire Gallery dishwasher won’t drain wastewater, consider that it could be due to:

  • Clogged drain filter
  • Clogged air gap
  • Obstructed hose
  • Defective drain pump
  • Defective control board

Quick Fix

Clean the drain filter and air gap of any food or debris clog. Also, clear clogs from the drain hose and straighten any pinches or kinks. If the drain pump won’t run, replace it. Replace the control board as a last resort.

7. Frigidaire Gallery Dishwasher Not Closing

If your Frigidaire Gallery dishwasher door won’t close, consider these issues:

  • Obstruction –possibly something standing in the door’s way, such as dishes, dishwasher rack, or debris
  • Unaligned dishwasher
  • Damaged door seal, hinge or door latch

Quick Fix

Remove any obstruction from the dishwasher door’s path and appropriately align the dishwasher. If the door seal, hinge, or latch is damaged, replace it.

Frigidaire Gallery dishwasher not filling with water

Frigidaire Gallery Dishwasher Troubleshooting Error Codes

Sometimes, you may need to put your Frigidaire dishwasher in diagnostic mode. That allows you to view error codes that point to a precise fault you can address. Here are standard Frigidaire Gallery dishwasher error codes and their meaning:

Error CodeMeaning
ER 01Possible water leak
ER 02Temperature sensor fault
CLLocked control board
PFPower failure
i20Draining fault
i30Overflow or leakage at the base of the dishwasher
i40Drain pump or drain filter drainage fault
LO/ERVent problem – possible obstruction
iFO or iF0Water filling issue

Concluding Thought:

Above is a Frigidaire Gallery dishwasher troubleshooting guide; when your dishwasher won’t start (even with power), fill up with water, spray water, clean or dry the dishes, drain, or close. Do that before you contact Frigidaire or a dishwasher expert from your neighborhood. You may end up saving time and valuable time if you do.