First identify the upper or lower drawer and the level of the water. Fisher & Paykel’s DishDrawer guide says water beneath the drain filter is normal. Excess water in the drawer is a separate problem: the guide lists bent hoses and blocked filters as possible causes. Photograph the water level and any code before clearing the display. User guide 591150E, pages 37 and 42.
Match the guide to the drawer
The DishDrawer Dishwasher User Guide, 591150E, August 2017, covers DD60 and DD24 double and single models. Its fault instructions distinguish DD*A and DD*C controls with a displayed code from DD*F and DD*I controls that use flashing indicators. On a double model, record the affected drawer; the drawers can report different faults.
The US/Canada Double DishDrawer Installation Guide, 431376A, April 2023, names DD24DDFT9, DD24DA9, DD24DCT9, DD24DCHT9, DD24DTN9 and DD24DVT9 on its cover. That is a double-drawer installation reference, not a guide for every single drawer. Keep the full model suffix when looking up either a tall or standard-height version; cabinet height alone does not identify the controls. Installation guide 431376A.
A3 and the other displayed A-codes
These are the owner alerts on page 45 of guide 591150E for DD*A and DD*C controls. They describe different problems; only the drainage alert points directly to a drawer that cannot empty.
- A1: A problem with the water supply.
- A3: Drainage has failed. The hose may be kinked or obstructed, or the pipe connection may be blocked.
- A6: The spray arm may be loose or detached, or water pressure may be insufficient.
- A7: Too much foam has triggered automatic recovery.
- A09 (DD*C models only): The sanitizing wash did not reach its required temperature.
For DD*F and DD*I models, use the illustrated indicator chart on pages 46–47. Don’t read a light pattern as a displayed number. Displayed alerts, printed page 45 (PDF page 49).
Checks you can make before booking
Disconnect power and let the parts cool before cleaning. Use an accessible, dry plug or the circuit breaker; don’t reach for a wet connection. The filter plate can be hot. These are the owner’s maintenance steps in guide 591150E, pages 34–37:
- Lift out the rack as shown in the guide, then turn the circular drain filter counterclockwise to remove it. Pinch one side of the mesh to separate it from the holder; squeezing opposite sides together can damage it.
- Wash the filter parts in hot soapy water and rinse them thoroughly. The removable filter plate can also be cleaned this way after foreign material is removed.
- Refit the plate fully, click the mesh onto its holder and align the arrows shown in the illustration. Lock the filter clockwise into position and replace the rack. Do not run the drawer without its filter, plate and spray arm correctly fitted.
For excess water, page 42 also says to straighten a bent or kinked drain hose. Limit that check to an exposed hose you can reach without pulling the appliance out or taking it apart. Concealed hoses, disconnected plumbing and drawer removal belong with a technician. Filter removal and refitting, printed page 37.
Clearing a code is not clearing a blockage
After the drainage check, the DD*A/DD*C A3 instructions say to press the power button to silence the alert, press it again to clear it, then press Start/Pause to resume. The same guide gives a separate F-fault reset: silence the alert, switch the dishwasher off with its power button, wait a few seconds and switch it back on. These are normal control actions, not service-mode commands. Guide 591150E, pages 44–45.
If the fault persists, record it, shut off the water and power supplies safely, and arrange service as the guide directs. Stop using a leaking or damaged appliance. A reset does not establish which part needs repair.
When a technician needs to take over
If the filter is clean and the accessible hose is straight but the drawer still won’t drain, book a diagnosis. A technician can inspect the hidden drain path and installation. Guide 431376A, pages 19–22, shows the hose support, drain connection and air-gap arrangements that must be checked against the actual installation. Don’t remove a drawer or drill a drain connection as an owner troubleshooting step.
Our El Granada top-drawer repair involved an electrical connection on a DD605I. It is one documented repair on a DD605I, not the fault chart for the DD24/DD60 controls above.
ADRIUM provides independent Fisher & Paykel dishwasher repair. If the appliance is under manufacturer warranty, contact Fisher & Paykel service first. Otherwise, send the model, affected drawer and code when requesting a visit. The $99 diagnostic is per visit, includes additional units checked at that visit and is credited toward the repair. The repair price comes after diagnosis.