Meiko Commercial Dishwasher Fault Codes — What They Mean
Meiko is a German commercial dishwasher brand known for high-quality flight machines, undercounters, and hood machines used in large hotel and institutional kitchens.
| Code / Display | Meaning | Urgency |
|---|---|---|
| Fault 1 / F1 | Water inlet fault | Medium |
| Fault 2 / F2 | Drain fault | Medium |
| Fault 3 / F3 | Temperature too low (wash) | Medium |
| Fault 4 / F4 | Temperature too low (rinse) | High |
| Fault 5 / F5 | Wash pump fault | High |
| Fault 6 / F6 | Heating element fault | Medium |
| Fault 8 / F8 | Door interlock fault | Medium |
| Chemical fault | Detergent/rinse aid empty | Low |
Common Meiko Fixes
F3/F4 (temperature faults): Verify steam or electric heating system. On steam-heated Meiko machines, check steam supply pressure and steam trap. On electric models, check heating element continuity.
F5 (wash pump fault): Check pump impeller for broken glass or debris. Verify pump motor is drawing correct amperage. Meiko wash pumps are robust but can jam on foreign objects.
F8 (door interlock): Confirm door closes fully and interlock switch activates. Meiko door interlocks are safety critical — do not bypass.
Parts Often Needed
| Part | Notes |
|---|---|
| Wash pump impeller | Amazon | Replace if cracked or damaged |
| Heating element | Amazon | For F3/F6 on electric models |
| Steam trap | Amazon | For F3 on steam-heated models |
When to Call a Pro
Meiko flight machines and large installations require Meiko-authorized service for all major repairs. Contact Meiko USA or a certified service partner.
More Meiko Dishwasher fault codes
Compiled from manufacturer service manuals and authorized documentation.
| Code | What it means | Likely cause | How to fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | EEPROM plug-in fault | EEPROM not available, incorrectly plugged in, or defective / empty or incorrect EEPROM | Replace the EEPROM with the correct parameter set (service task). |
| 111 | Floor pan leakage | Leak inside the machine (pump sump, motor, etc.) tripping the base-pan leak-water switch, or a defective leak-water switch | Repair the internal leak and remove the water from the floor pan so the float resets. |
| InFO 120 | Tank is not heating / fresh water is not entering the unit | Water supply or tank/boiler heating issue (emergency program, restricted wash) | Verify the water hose connection and that the supply is turned on and not kinked; confirm the boiler/tank heat switch is on. |
| InFO 121 | Door/hood is not closed, or door switch defective | Door/hood not fully closed or the door microswitch (S1) has failed or is out of adjustment | Ensure the door/hood closes fully; if it is closed and the code stays, check or replace the door microswitch. |
| 201 | Level not reached during 1st filling | Fresh water inlet insufficient (water faucet closed, Aquastop hose kinked, inlet filter soiled, Aquastop or boiler switch defective) | Check the water supply, inlet hose and filter, and confirm the boiler switch is on. |
| 202 | Level not reached early enough during filling (fill takes too long) | Same family as 201 - restricted or slow fresh water inlet | Inspect the water supply, hose connection, and inlet filters for restriction; see remedies for 201. |
| 203 | No change detected by the level switch during emptying | Boost pump defective, plug connector loosened, or start capacitor defective | Test the boost pump (DSP/S2) via manual control; replace if it does not run or move water. |
| 204 | Following the end of rinse time, still no change detected at the level switch | Same family as 203 - drain/boost pump, connector, or start capacitor fault | Check the boost pump and level switch via manual control; see remedies for 203. |
| 324 | Opening the hood after a blockage | A basket was under the closing hood | Clear the basket; the information remains pending until the start button is pressed again. |
| 420 | Shortage of rinse aid | Rinse agent container low or empty (signalled only if the warning system is installed) | Refill the rinse aid container and prime the dosing line. |
| 520 | Shortage of detergent | Detergent container low or empty (signalled only if the warning system is installed) | Refill the detergent container and prime the dosing pump/line. |
| 521 | Shortage of detergent with dosing system ADT | Impulses of the flow meter are recognized although detergent dosing is not approached; valve of the dosing unit is not closing | Inspect the ADT dosing unit valve and flow meter (service task). |
| 522 | Error in the dosing system ADT | Impulses of the flow meter are recognized although detergent dosing is not approached; valve of the dosing unit is not closing | Service the ADT dosing valve/flow meter. |
| 720 | Regeneration in progress | The water softener regeneration program has started and is in progress | Wait for it to finish; the program can be paused but not cancelled during regeneration. |
| 721 | Regeneration is not possible as no salt available | Regeneration is necessary but no brine/salt is available | Refill regeneration salt and confirm there is water in the salt reservoir. |
| 722 | Refill with salt | No water in the salt solution reservoir, or float switch S5 not working | Add regeneration salt; if it stays after refilling, check the salt-reservoir water level and float switch S5. |
How to troubleshoot Meiko Dishwasher
Meiko commercial machines (undercounters like the FV/UPster, door/hood machines like the DV series, and rack/flight conveyors) report faults as numeric Info codes and Err codes on the control display, not as the generic “F1-F8” style seen on many domestic units. Info codes flag a minor, self-clearing condition (low rinse aid, salt needed, hood open); Err codes flag a fault that usually halts the wash. Most codes clear on their own once the underlying condition is fixed.
Start with the cheap, common causes before assuming an electronic failure. The everyday codes are consumables and water supply: a shortage of rinse aid (420) or detergent (520), a closed or throttled water supply behind a fill fault (201/202), or an empty regeneration-salt reservoir (721/722). Confirm the supply isolation valve is fully open, inlet hoses and screen filters are not clogged or kinked, the drain is clear, and the dosing containers are full and primed. Clean the wash and rinse arms and the tank strainer, which resolves poor wash results and many temperature and fill complaints without any parts.
If a fill or drain code persists after the supply and filters check out (201/202 fill, 203/204 drain, 324 basket blocking the hood), the likely hardware is the boost/drain pump, a solenoid fill valve, or a level switch. A door/hood fault (121) that stays with the door fully closed points to a failed microswitch. Codes tied to the control board or memory (001 EEPROM) and the ADT dosing system (521/522) are service-level items. Never bypass the door/hood interlock; it is a burn and moving-parts safety device on high-temperature machines.
Call a Meiko-authorized service partner when a code returns after the basic checks, when it involves the control board, heating circuit, pumps, or dosing valves, or on flight/conveyor machines where the guarding, steam, and electrical systems require certified service. These are 208-240V (often three-phase) high-temperature units, so isolate power before opening any panel.
Frequently asked questions
My Meiko shows code 420 or 520 - what does that mean?
Those are Info codes for a consumable shortage: 420 is low rinse aid and 520 is low detergent. Refill the correct container and prime the dosing line. The message clears once the machine detects supply again. If it returns immediately with a full container, the dosing pump or pickup tube may not be drawing.
The dishwasher won’t fill and displays 201 or 202. What should I check first?
Both codes mean the water level was not reached in time during filling, almost always a supply problem rather than a machine fault. Confirm the isolation valve is fully open, the inlet hose is not kinked, and the inlet screen filter is clean. Also verify the boiler/tank switch is on. Only after the supply checks out should you suspect the fill valve or level switch.
What do codes 721 and 722 mean on my Meiko?
Those relate to the built-in water softener. 721 means regeneration cannot run because no salt is available, and 722 is a prompt to refill with regeneration salt. Top up the salt reservoir with coarse regeneration/dishwasher salt (not table salt). If 722 stays after refilling, the reservoir may have no water or the salt float switch (S5) has failed.
The door/hood code 121 stays on even though the door is shut. Why?
121 is the door/hood-not-closed signal. If the door is genuinely closed and latched but the code remains, the door microswitch is usually out of adjustment or defective and needs to be checked or replaced. Do not bypass or tape the interlock - it stops the wash and heat for burn safety.
Are Meiko dishwasher error codes something I can fix myself?
The consumable and supply codes (rinse aid, detergent, salt, water fill, clearing filters and wash arms) are safe operator-level fixes. Codes involving the control board (001), pumps (203/204), fill valves, heating, or the ADT dosing valves (521/522) are service items - and on flight and conveyor machines nearly all repairs should go to a Meiko-authorized service partner.