With a flashing light or a combination of different flashing lights, the Frigidaire dishwasher sends a signal for any error or problem in the appliance. 

When you see the light blinking in your dishwasher, don’t panic. This serves as a sign for keeping your Frigidaire dishwasher in good order. If you need clarification about which issue the appliance is referring to, this guide is here to help you eliminate any blinking or flashing light in the frigidaire dishwasher. 

So, let’s check the common causes and the potential solutions of the flashing or blinking light in your Frigidaire dishwasher. 

Heating Element 

The Heating element is a crucial part of the Frigidaire dishwasher, normally located at the bottom of the dishwasher underneath the rack. It takes part in heating the water during the wash cycle because hot water removes stains and food soils from dishware effortlessly.  

While a malfunctioning heating element can make the water lukewarm, the water cannot attain the temperature required for dish cleaning.  

Subsequently, the temperature sensor, after failing to sense the right temperature, triggers the light to flash or blink. Gradually, with the use and time, the heating element gets burnt out from overheating and becomes defective. So you should check it to ensure the conditions of it.

To check its condition, remove the elements from the dishwasher and check visually for any broken, burnt, or damaged parts. Then, with the help of a multimeter, test if the electricity is still flowing through the heating element. If you find no continuity on the multimeter, you must change the heating element of the dishwasher. 

Sometimes, the heating element might be in proper condition. In that case, you can ensure the device fits well into the tub and electrical connections are fine.

Defective Control Panel and Touchpad

The flashing light can also originate from a faulty control panel and touchpad. Test the touchpad for defects by pressing the buttons and checking if they are responsive. You may discover that some buttons respond while the rest do not.

You can also remove the whole control panel to check the condition of the touchpad, as it is fairly easy to remove both the control board and the touchpad. Once you locate and remove the touchpad, check for visible damage or wear. Ensure that the buttons are clean and not obstructed by debris. 

Once the inspection is over, reconnect the touchpad to the control panel. Then, plug the dishwasher back in and turn it on. Now, observe if the flashing light still exists. If it does, you need to replace either the touchpad or, in some cases, the entire control panel.

You may find a replacement touchpad for your Frigidaire dishwasher if you’re lucky. In such cases, you can replace just the touchpad. However, addressing a defective touchpad in many models entails replacing the entire control panel.

Clog and Water in the Drain System

Sometimes, you may find yourself in a situation with your Frigidaire dishwasher where all three dishwashers wash, clean, and sanitize lights are flashing or blinking. In such cases, you can’t even restart a washing cycle again. 

However, the root cause of the problem might be the water accumulation in the bottom of the drain system, and debris clogs the drain filter, which triggers the appliance to display flashing lights. 

The solution is straightforward. You need to clean those water and clog the drain system. Here is the step-by-step process: 

• Access the drain area by pulling out the lower rack.
• Now, you might see a circular drain filter. There is a small side branch from the filter, and you need to push it down and turn it to the side simultaneously to remove the filter. 
• Clean out clogs, food particles, and residue buildups in the filter and drain area. 
• Once you remove the filter, you can also locate the trap. Take this part and the circular cover out. Check for any standing water or debris inside. Also, clean out the trap thoroughly to ensure it is free from any clog.
• Inspect the tiny holes of the removed parts for any clogs and clean them out. Sometimes, the lights keep flashing for the clog in these small holes.
• Put the trap and filter back in place. Make sure they fit snugly and are properly aligned.
• Lock the filter by pushing it down and turning to secure it in place.
• With everything cleaned and reassembled, start a test cycle on your dishwasher to ensure that the issue exists no more.

Door Closed Properly

Frigidaire dishwasher may display a flashing or blinking light and not start the wash cycle when the switch detects the door is not closed properly. Securely closed door ensure the water or liquid inside the dishwasher doesn’t leak out to flood your home. 

You may think the door is closed, but sometimes, the door switch may not be activated to signal the dishwasher that the door is closed. This can happen if the latch on both sides doesn’t engage. Check for any obstruction, debris, or broken part in the latch preventing the door from staying closed. 

If everything is fine, it is time to examine the door switch with a multimeter to check the electric continuity and ensure the circuit is functioning. 

Pro Tip: When you close the door, you may hear a clicking sound indicating that the latch is engaged in place. After closing the door, try pulling on the door to check it.

Faulty Control Board

A faulty control board can also be the culprit behind the flashing or blinking light in the Frigidaire dishwasher and can cause miscommunication between different components.

For example, in some cases, a faulty PCB, which is the central component of the control board, can cause the dishwasher to have no lights or only flashing lights. Additionally, issues with the PCB can lead to other problems such as random beeping, the dishwasher going completely dead, or the wash and clean lights not remaining lit at the end of the cycle.

Plus, the control board might encounter problems due to short circuits or excessive heat. Bear in mind that this part of the dishwasher is quite expensive to replace. So, as a cost-effective solution, you can hire a technician to diagnose and fix the problem if possible. 

Reset the Dishwasher

Resetting the appliance for any error or glitch can resolve the issue, and this holds true for almost all devices, including the Frigidaire dishwasher. But only reset the Frigidaire dishwasher after you tried other troubleshooting methods. 

The flashing or blinking light is nothing but some error code indicating some issue in the Frigidaire dishwasher, and they must be addressed with proper action. If you reset the dishwasher without addressing the underlying issue that triggered the blinking light, there’s a high possibility that the light will return.

The resetting process is also quite simple. You need to unplug the Frigidaire dishwasher or switch off the circuit breaker of that dishwasher and wait for a couple of minutes. After the wait, push the circuit backer to the “on” position or plug the dishwasher into the outlet to restore the power. That’s it! The dishwasher should now be reset and ready to use.

Conclusion

The blinking or flashing lights often represent specific error codes displayed on the digital control panel. To be more specific during troubleshooting, consult your owner’s manual, wiring diagram, or text sheet to understand what each flashing light indicates. If you already know the cause of the flashing light in your Frigidaire dishwasher, you can move forward with the exhaustive troubleshooting process. For instance, a Bosch dishwasher displays a blinking or flashing red light to indicate that the door latch is not properly engaged.