Hobart Commercial Dishwasher Error Codes — What They Mean
Hobart commercial dishwashers (AM15, CLeN, UW50, and FOSS series undercounters, door-types, and flight machines) use electronic controls that display fault codes when problems are detected. Hobart is the dominant commercial dishwasher brand in US foodservice.
| Code | Meaning | Urgency |
|---|---|---|
| E1 | Wash tank temperature too low | Medium |
| E2 | Final rinse temperature too low | High |
| E3 | Low water level / fill fault | Medium |
| E4 | Drain fault | Medium |
| E5 | Wash pump motor fault | High |
| E6 | Rinse pump fault | High |
| E7 | Door switch fault | Medium |
| E8 | Detergent dispensing fault | Low |
Most Common Hobart Dishwasher Codes and Fixes
E1 / E2 — Temperature Faults
The wash tank or final rinse isn’t reaching required temperature. Check: booster heater element continuity, thermostats, incoming hot water temperature (should be 140°F minimum for final rinse on low-temp units). High-temp units also need the tank heater.
E3 — Low Water Level / Fill Fault
Machine isn’t filling to the required level. Check: water supply pressure (at least 20 PSI), inlet valve strainer for scale, water valve solenoid coil resistance, float switch operation.
E4 — Drain Fault
Machine not draining completely. Check: drain pump operation, drain hose for kinks or blockage, check valve in drain line.
E5 — Wash Pump Motor
Wash pump motor failure or overload. Check pump motor for seized impeller, burned windings, or tripped overload. Wash pump is the primary cleaning mechanism — this is urgent.
E7 — Door Switch
Door not closed or door interlock switch fault. Verify door closes fully and latch engages. Check door switch continuity.
Parts Often Needed
| Part | Notes |
|---|---|
| Wash pump motor | Amazon | Most urgent repair — no washing without it |
| Booster heater element | Amazon | For E1/E2 temperature faults |
| Water inlet valve | Search on Amazon | For E3 fill faults |
| Drain pump | Amazon | For E4 drain faults |
When to Call a Pro
Booster heater and high-voltage heating element work requires a qualified technician. Hobart authorized service handles circuit board and sealed system repairs.
More Hobart Dishwasher fault codes
Compiled from manufacturer service manuals and authorized documentation.
| Code | What it means | Likely cause | How to fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| E0 | Fill fault on LXi/LXiG (and AM Select, which shares the control scheme) undercounter models. E0 is one of the E0-E7 drain-and-fill error messages: the machine is not filling or not reaching the proper water level. It terminates the cycle, turns off heat, and will not run until cleared. | Low incoming water pressure or a closed supply valve, a clogged inlet/hose strainer, scale or soil on the water-level probes, or a stuck anti-siphon valve. | Confirm the water supply is on with adequate pressure, clean the inlet/hose strainer, clean the water-level probes, and check the anti-siphon valve is free. If it persists, contact authorized Hobart service. |
| CL / Pr | Water-level-probe / overfill-leak fault on LXi/LXiG undercounter models. The control shows CL/Pr when it detects the water-level probe becoming less sensitive, and it is associated with the machine filling too high or leaking from the door. | Machine not level, dirty or scaled water-level probes, or a leaking fill (inlet) solenoid valve. | Level the machine and clean all three water-level probes. Check the fill solenoid: power the machine off; if water keeps flowing into the tank, the valve is leaking and needs service. |
| P1 / P2 / P3 | Temperature-probe fault on LXi/LXiG undercounter models, shown as a flashing wrench with P1, P2 or P3 (once per second). The affected heater shuts down, but the machine continues to run other functions normally. | A temperature probe (wash tank, booster, or rinse) is out of range or has failed. | Because heating is disabled, the load may not reach sanitizing temperature - verify wash/final-rinse temperatures and re-sanitize if needed. Contact authorized Hobart service to replace the affected temperature probe. |
| WASH ARM ALERT | On LXe text-display undercounter models, indicates the wash arm is blocked or clogged, which would degrade wash results. | A utensil jammed against the arm, or the spray nozzles plugged with debris or scale. | Remove the obstruction, clean the wash-arm nozzles, confirm the arm spins freely, and follow the on-screen prompts (remove and clean arm, check nozzles, close door). |
| FILL ERROR / DRAIN ERROR | On LXe text-display undercounter models: FILL ERROR means the unit timed out before filling completely; DRAIN ERROR means the water level would not come up. In both cases the machine stops and allows only power-down, and Hobart marks them Service Required. | FILL: water supply off or low pressure, or an inlet valve that will not open. DRAIN: a drain valve stuck open or a siphoning/kinked drain hose preventing the tank from holding water. | For FILL, verify the water supply is on with adequate pressure and the hose strainer is clear. For DRAIN, check that the drain hose is not kinked or siphoning and the drain path is clear. If either error persists, contact an authorized Hobart service agent. |
| Clear Conveyor Jam | On CL and CLe conveyor/flight-type machines, indicates the conveyor is jammed or something is blocking its movement. (Confirmed against reputable foodservice sources; not located in an OEM manual.) | A rack or utensil is obstructing the conveyor’s travel. | Open the doors, remove the jammed rack or utensil, then restart or resume conveyor operation. |
| Probe Err - TANK / Probe Error - FnlRns | On CL/CLe machines: ‘Probe Err - TANK’ means a wash-tank sensor is not reading correctly; ‘Probe Error - FnlRns’ indicates a water-supply issue detected during the final rinse. (Confirmed against reputable foodservice sources; not located in an OEM manual.) | TANK: a fouled or failed tank level sensor, or insufficient tank water. FnlRns: low water to the booster/final rinse or a closed incoming water valve. | For TANK, check and clean the tank level sensor and confirm adequate water. For FnlRns, confirm the incoming water valve to the booster is open. If the error persists, contact authorized Hobart service. |
How to troubleshoot Hobart Dishwasher
Hobart’s fault behavior differs by product family, so identify your series first: LXi/LXiG and AM Select undercounters show short codes (E0/E2/E3/E4 fill, E5 drain, E6 service-required drain/fill fault, CL/Pr overfill-leak or water-level-probe fault, P1-P3 temperature probe). LXe undercounters show plain-text alerts (FILL ERROR, DRAIN ERROR, WASH ARM ALERT, LOW RINSE TEMP). CL/CLe conveyor and flight machines show text prompts (Clear Conveyor Jam, Probe Err - TANK). Newer LXn/LXGn and Ecomax units use numeric codes. A code that means “fill” on one family can be an unrelated number on another, so never map a code across series.
Start with the cheap, common causes before assuming a board or sensor failure. The majority of fill, overfill, and level-sensor faults (E0-E5, CL/Pr, Probe Err) trace back to two things: a clogged inlet strainer or low incoming water pressure, and scale or food soil on the water-level probes. Confirm the water supply is on with adequate pressure, clean the inlet/hose strainer, and clean the level probes. Regular deliming prevents most repeat sensor faults in hard-water areas; many machines will even prompt to delime on their own.
For temperature and sanitizing problems (low final-rinse temp, P-codes, LOW RINSE TEMP), verify the incoming hot water temperature and that the booster heater and its thermostat are working. Critical safety point: if final rinse never reaches the sanitizing setpoint, dishes are not sanitized. Pull them and re-sanitize rather than trusting a warm-looking cycle, and treat a persistent low-rinse-temp alert as a food-safety issue, not a nuisance. A P1/P2/P3 fault shuts off the affected heater while the machine keeps washing, so the load can run cold - verify sanitizing temperatures until it is repaired.
A soft reset clears many transient faults: put the machine in standby, wait about 60 seconds, then power it back up. Call an authorized Hobart service agent when a code returns immediately after a reset, when the fault involves the control board or temperature sensors that need replacement (E6 and P-codes are routed to service), or for any high-voltage booster/heater element work. Element and sealed-electrical repairs are pro-only.
Frequently asked questions
My Hobart shows E0, E2, E3, or E4 and won’t run. What’s wrong?
On LXi and AM Select undercounters these are all fill faults, meaning the machine isn’t filling or isn’t reaching the proper level. Check that the water supply valve is open with adequate pressure, clean the inlet strainer, make sure the drain valve isn’t stuck open, and clean scale off the water-level probes. The unit stays locked out until it fills correctly.
What does a CL or Pr code mean on my Hobart dishwasher?
CL/Pr indicates overfill or a leak, typically that the machine is filling too high or water is escaping the door. The usual causes are a unit that isn’t level, dirty water-level probes, or a leaking or faulty inlet valve. Level the machine, clean the probes, and inspect or replace the fill valve.
The final rinse isn’t hitting temperature (low rinse temp / P-code). Are my dishes safe?
No, not automatically. If final rinse doesn’t reach the sanitizing setpoint the load is not sanitized, so re-sanitize those dishes before use. Then check the incoming hot water temperature and the booster heater and thermostat. A P1/P2/P3 code points to a failed temperature sensor, which should be replaced.
How do I reset a Hobart dishwasher?
Place the machine in standby, wait about 60 seconds, then turn it back on. This clears many transient faults, including a ‘Reset Required’ message. If the same code reappears right after the reset, stop and have it serviced rather than repeatedly power-cycling it.
How often should I delime my Hobart, and why do sensor faults keep coming back?
In hard-water areas, limescale on the water-level probes and heaters is the leading cause of repeat fill, overfill, and sensor faults. Delime on the schedule your manual specifies (the machine may prompt you when a delime is due). Regular deliming and probe cleaning prevents most recurring E-series and probe errors.
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