Kitchenaid dishwasher - KDTM404KPS0 - Cannot Reset F8E4 Error Code

[rebelbuc]

Model Number

KDTM404KPS0

Brand

KitchenAid

Age

1-5 years

Our KithenAid dishwasher is less than 2 years old. Dishwasher recently began to fill, heat up, and drain without washing the dishes. Eventually, I realized that the 8 beeps/flashes followed by 4 beeps/flashes were indicating an F8E4 error code. Running the diagnostics later indicated the same F8E4 error code. I found the drip tray full of water and the float switch contact tripped open by the leak. I removed the water in the tray, checked functionality of the float switch with my ohmmeter, and proceeded to attempt a wash cycle. I did turn the breaker off and on to reset the F8E4 float switch error code as needed.

The overflow drip tray did fill up a second time, although I was not able to confirm audibly or by opening the door during the cycle that the wash arms were spraying water. I suspected a leak of the door seal since months earlier we did have very small amount of wash water leaking to the floor on both sides (possibly from adding dishes after the wash cycle started). However, the dishwasher at that time was washing the dishes and completing the cycle! I attempted to do another wash cycle this week while watching the float switch after locating it out of the drip tray so that the contact would remain closed if the drip tray filled up with water.

I verified the closed contact with my ohmmeter at this time, however, the dishwasher refused to complete the wash cycle and at the end provided the same error code - F8E4 - indicating that the float switch contact was open. I am sure that the contact remained closed during this test. Only a few drops of water had entered the drip tray during this test and I'm pretty sure that the arms did not spray water during this test. Knowing that the contact remained closed during this test, what else could possibly be wrong that would result in the F8E4 error code? Thanks for your help!

Added complete model number

 

[Jake]

Hi,

We would need the complete model number first, your missing a digit at the end.

Here's the results I get:
KDFM404KPS0
KDFM404KPS1

Read it from the model number tag, located inside the door on the tub frame.

However, the dishwasher at that time was washing the dishes and completing the cycle! I attempted to do another wash cycle this week while watching the float switch after locating it out of the drip tray so that the contact would remain closed if the drip tray filled up with water.

I verified the closed contact with my ohmmeter at this time, however, the dishwasher refused to complete the wash cycle

So water did fill into the tub? But the wash motor did not start to make the spray arms spray water out of them?

Any sounds at all from the wash motor, like a humming sound? Like its trying to start the wash motor to start washing?

Only a few drops of water had entered the drip tray during this test

You shouldn't be getting any water into the drip tray, can you pinpoint where that water is tripping into the drip tray from?

Get a flashlight or drop light to see underneath there better.

 

[rebelbuc]

I was off on one of the letters above. Here is the complete model number: KDTM404KPS0.
The tub filled up every time and the water was heated by the element.
I never heard the spray arms move and never had water spraying if the door was opened.
The only sounds seemed to be when filling or draining the tub.
I could the water entering the drain during the drain cycle.
I do realize that there is a likely door seal leak, however, the overflow/float switch was kept
dry during my last test and the dishwasher still gave me the F8E4 float switch alarm.
I watched all activity during the cycle with a light to look for a leak.

 

[Jake]

Thanks!

Here's your service manual: https://drive.google.com/file/d/16JlVUq65LUiZdSpsIJJqAnEAS7sDAYHL/view?usp=sharing Look on page 41, then page 45 tells how to check the float switch(aka Overfill Switch Circuit).

Wash motor testing is on page 3-14, make sure your getting 120 volts to those blue wires that connect to the wash motor.

If so, Then it could be a bad wash motor or a broken filter screen, like in this thread:

FIXED - Kitchenaid KDTM404KPS0 dishwasher not cleaning properly yet no code.

I’m at my wits end on this dishwasher. Got the dreaded “Dishwashers not working” call from the wife on Friday and been hand washing dishes all weekend. Model: KDTM404KPS Age: 15 months from a big box store. Installed myself. No other issues prior to this. Issue: Wife said she ran a cycle and...

www.applianceblog.com

Disconnect power to your dishwasher. Then you will need to remove the dishwasher from underneath your cabinet to access those parts.

 

[rebelbuc]

Thank you very much for the info and service manual. I will proceed to check out the wash motor.

 

[Jake]

Ok, sounds good.