What F03 actually means
The dishwasher has decided water is still coming in when it should have stopped, so it shuts the cycle down to avoid flooding.
On these Rangemaster machines F03 is the continuous water input fault — the control board is either seeing water keep flowing after it has closed the inlet valve, or it is not getting a sensible signal back from the flow meter that measures the fill. Because the risk here is an overflow rather than a poor wash, the machine stops and drains instead of carrying on. The fault points at the inlet valve failing to close and at the flow meter sending no pulses during fill (it gives up after roughly 50 seconds of filling with no signal), and both faults show the same code.
What F03 looks like on a Rangemaster dishwasher
Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Rangemaster dishwasher, F03 usually shows up as one or more of these:
- Dishwasher not draining
- Water left in the tub at the end of the cycle
- Stops mid-cycle full of water
- Standing water in the bottom
- Not filling with water
- No water going in
- Takes for ever to fill
- Stops right at the start of the cycle
Recognise any of those? That is this fault, and the rest of this page explains what causes it and what you can check yourself.
What usually causes it
- Water inlet valve stuck partly open so water keeps trickling in
- Flow meter not registering the water passing through it
- Loose or damaged connection to the flow meter or the sensor on the heater casing assembly
- Faulty control board misreading the fill signal
What you can safely check yourself
Work through these in order. Anything beyond this — panels off, testing parts, anything to do with the wiring — is an engineer's job, and not one to attempt with the machine plugged in.
- Turn the dishwasher off at the wall for a minute, then switch it back on and start a short programme — a one-off glitch will clear.
- Turn the water supply tap behind or under the unit off if the drum is filling with the machine idle, and leave it off until it is looked at.
- Check the fill hose at the tap end is not kinked or trapped where the machine slides into its housing.
Which Rangemaster models show F03
F03 means the same thing on all 3 of these models. If yours is not listed, the explanation above still applies — the code is set by the control board, not the model number.
RDW1045FI · RDW1260FI · RDW6012D22
Common questions about Rangemaster F03
What does F03 mean on a Rangemaster dishwasher?
The dishwasher has decided water is still coming in when it should have stopped, so it shuts the cycle down to avoid flooding. On these Rangemaster machines F03 is the continuous water input fault — the control board is either seeing water keep flowing after it has closed the inlet valve, or it is not getting a sensible signal back from the flow meter that measures the fill. Because the risk here is an overflow rather than a poor wash, the machine stops and drains instead of carrying on. The fault points at the inlet valve failing to close and at the flow meter sending no pulses during fill (it gives up after roughly 50 seconds of filling with no signal), and both faults show the same code.
Can I fix Rangemaster F03 myself?
There are 3 checks you can safely do yourself first.
- Turn the dishwasher off at the wall for a minute, then switch it back on and start a short programme — a one-off glitch will clear.
- Turn the water supply tap behind or under the unit off if the drum is filling with the machine idle, and leave it off until it is looked at.
- Check the fill hose at the tap end is not kinked or trapped where the machine slides into its housing.
This one usually needs an engineer once you have tried them.
How much does it cost to repair Rangemaster F03?
£66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it, or £84 in total including VAT if it is put right on the visit and no parts are needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.
Tried the checks and it's still showing F03?
This one usually needs an engineer once you have tried the checks above. Then it wants someone who can open it up.
What it costs, before you call: the price is the same whatever the fault turns out to be — £66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it, or £84 in total including VAT if it is put right on the visit and no parts are needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.
Our own engineers, not a call centre. We cover Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire — most dishwasher faults are seen same day or next day.
Call 0115 648 0929 Book online — postcode and number is all we need
Outside our area? The explanation above still stands — take it to a local engineer and tell them the code. Knowing it saves them time and you money.
Other Rangemaster dishwasher codes
- Rangemaster F04 — The dishwasher isn't seeing water flowing in when it tries t…
- Rangemaster F05 — The dishwasher isn't getting enough water in, so it has halt…
- Rangemaster F06 — The dishwasher has shut the cycle down because the water tem…
- Rangemaster F07 — The dishwasher has stopped because the water isn't heating t…
- Rangemaster F08 — The dishwasher's control board has lost or corrupted the set…
- Rangemaster F09 — The dishwasher has lost a reliable signal from one of its wa…
- Rangemaster FE — The machine has spotted that one of its own moving parts has…
- Rangemaster SE — The dishwasher's control board has checked its own stored se…
All Rangemaster fault codes and repairs →