Samsung Dishwasher Turbidity Sensor Replacement - Signs & How-To

Samsung Dishwasher Turbidity Sensor Replacement — What This Part Does

The turbidity sensor (also called the wash sensor or soil sensor) sits on the sump assembly at the bottom of your Samsung dishwasher and monitors water clarity during the wash and rinse. It sends a signal to the control board so the machine knows when the water is clean enough to move to the next cycle stage. When the sensor fails or gets contaminated, the control can’t get a believable reading and may think the water is still dirty no matter how long it runs.

Most failures come from a bad sensor body, a compromised O-ring seal at the sump interface, or connector corrosion. If the sensor sends no signal or a stuck reading, the dishwasher will over-wash, rinse indefinitely, or refuse to finish a cycle because it never sees clean water.

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Signs It Needs Replacing

• Cycle runs much longer than normal or never finishes The control thinks the water is still dirty and keeps washing or rinsing because it isn’t getting a valid clean-water signal from the sensor.
• Dishwasher over-rinses or repeats wash phases The turbidity sensor is stuck reading high soil, so the machine re-washes or adds extra rinses trying to reach the clean threshold.
• Cycle stops mid-wash or won’t advance A dead or open-circuit sensor can prevent the control from moving forward because it has no clarity data to decide when to proceed.
• Error code related to water sensing or turbidity fault Some Samsung models will flag a sensor fault or water-clarity error when the control stops receiving believable readings.
• Leak or moisture at the sump under the dishwasher A cracked sensor body or failed O-ring at the sump mount can let water seep out and may also corrupt the sensor signal.

How to Replace It

1. Disconnect power at the breaker or unplug the dishwasher and shut off the water supply valve under the sink.
2. Pull the dishwasher out of the cabinet far enough to access the bottom (you may need to remove the lower panel or toe-kick and disconnect the drain hose if it limits travel).
3. Tip the dishwasher back gently or lay it on its back to reach the sump assembly at the base (place towels under it to catch residual water).
4. Locate the turbidity sensor on the side or bottom of the sump (it is a small cylindrical component with a single electrical connector, often black or gray plastic).
5. Unplug the electrical connector from the sensor and release any locking tab or twist-lock ring that holds the sensor in the sump housing.
6. Pull the old sensor straight out of the sump and inspect the O-ring and seating surface (if the old O-ring is damaged or missing, clean the sump bore with a rag).
7. Press the new turbidity sensor into the sump housing until it snaps or locks into place (confirm the new O-ring is seated and not pinched).
8. Reconnect the electrical harness to the sensor and make sure the connector clicks fully.
9. Return the dishwasher to its upright position, slide it back into the cabinet, reconnect the drain hose, and restore water and power, then run a short test cycle and check for leaks at the sensor.

The Part You Need

Related Error Codes

If this part is failing you may also see one of these codes:

• Samsung Dishwasher 3C error code
• Samsung Dishwasher 3E error code
• Samsung Dishwasher 4C error code
• Samsung Dishwasher 5C error code
• Samsung Dishwasher 9E error code
• Samsung Dishwasher Ap error code
• Samsung Dishwasher Be error code
• Samsung Dishwasher Ce error code
• Samsung Dishwasher Hc error code
• Samsung Dishwasher He error code

When to Call a Pro

If you’ve replaced the turbidity sensor and reconnected everything but the dishwasher still over-washes or won’t advance, the problem is likely a wiring fault between the sensor and the control board or a failed control board itself. A technician can check supply voltage at the sensor connector and trace the harness for opens or shorts. Also call a pro if you find active water leaks at the sump beyond the sensor O-ring, since the pump or sump housing may be cracked and need more extensive disassembly.