What F-9 means on your Dacor dishwasher (dacor dishwasher f-9)
Dacor dishwasher f-9 points directly at the WPS sensor itself, the single component that gives most of the other EDW/IDW error codes their meaning, since f-1, f-3, and f-4 all depend on readings this sensor provides. Where those other codes describe a specific condition the WPS reported, f-9 means the sensor circuit itself has failed in a way the control board can identify as a sensor failure rather than a genuine fill, drain, or heating problem. Because so much of the EDW/IDW cycle logic leans on this one sensor for water presence, turbidity, and temperature, a genuine f-9 can make several other symptoms appear at once.
Symptoms
What follows helps you confirm that your Dacor dishwasher has this specific problem rather than one that merely resembles it on a dishwasher.
- F-9 appears on the display, sometimes alongside other problems like f-1 or f-3 on the same cycle attempt.
- The dishwasher may behave inconsistently across fill, wash, and drain phases in ways that do not match a single simple cause.
- Water clarity or turbidity readings, if displayed on the model, may look implausible.
- The problem can appear intermittently before becoming consistent as the sensor degrades further.
- A recent hard impact or heavy scale buildup in the tub sometimes precedes the first f-9 event.
Common causes
What produces F-9 on a Dacor dishwasher is not always the component people assume, which is why the dishwasher causes below run from most to least likely.
- Failed WPS sensor element — the sensor has degraded internally and can no longer reliably read water presence, turbidity, or temperature.
- Mineral scale buildup on the sensor — heavy hard-water deposits can coat the sensor and distort its readings over time.
- Wiring failure to the WPS sensor — a loose or corroded connector interrupts the signal path to the control board.
- Physical damage to the sensor — an impact from a dropped dish or utensil striking the sump area can damage the sensor.
- Control board input problem — less commonly, the board’s own channel for reading the WPS sensor has failed.
Troubleshooting steps you can try
These checks cost you nothing on a dishwasher and often end the problem there; anything harder on a Dacor dishwasher needs a technician.
- Run a rinse-only or short cycle to check whether f-9 and any related error codes appear together.
- Check the bottom of the tub near the sump for visible mineral scale buildup that could be coating the sensor.
- Consider a dishwasher-safe descaling treatment if hard water buildup is visible, as a low-risk first step.
- Power-cycle the dishwasher at the breaker and run a fresh cycle to see whether f-9 recurs.
- Note any other error codes that appear alongside f-9, since they point toward the same underlying sensor.
Parts a technician may replace
Diagnosis on your Dacor dishwasher usually points at the wps water-presence/turbidity/temperature sensor, sensor wiring, and control board. Nothing is ordered for the dishwasher until the failing part is confirmed on the dishwasher itself.
When to call a technician
Because the WPS sensor underlies several other EDW/IDW error codes, a technician testing it directly is the most reliable way to confirm f-9 rather than treating each related symptom separately. There is no urgency at Medium severity, yet a dishwasher that repeats F-9 after these checks deserves a technician’s eyes. Nobody here works for Dacor; we are an independent service, and the work we do on your dishwasher is warranted for 30 days.
Related help and Dacor resources
If the checks above did not clear the F-9 condition, book a technician for the dishwasher. Our dishwasher problem index covers the neighboring problems, and www.dacor.com carries the dishwasher spec.
