What F04 actually means
The dishwasher has asked for water but the flow meter isn't seeing any coming in, so it stops rather than run dry.
During the fill stage the machine counts pulses from a small flow meter in the water inlet. If the drum stays empty and no pulses are registered, the control board concludes water isn't arriving and halts the programme. On the WK-AT45FSDW you'll typically see it early in the cycle, before any real washing has happened, with the dishes still dry.
What F04 looks like on a White Knight dishwasher
Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a White Knight dishwasher, F04 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 supply tap turned off or only part open
- Kinked, crushed or blocked fill hose behind the machine
- Blocked inlet filter or screen where the hose joins the dishwasher
- Faulty flow meter, or a loose connection to it
- Water inlet valve not opening, or a fault on the control board
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.
- Check the tap feeding the dishwasher is fully open — if you've had plumbing work or a leak recently, it may have been shut off
- Look behind the machine and make sure the fill hose isn't kinked, trapped or squashed against the wall
- Run a nearby cold tap to confirm you actually have mains pressure
- Switch off at the socket for a minute, then power back up and start a short programme to see if the code returns
Which White Knight models show F04
F04 means the same thing on this model. If yours is not listed, the explanation above still applies — the code is set by the control board, not the model number.
WK-AT45FSDW
Common questions about White Knight F04
What does F04 mean on a White Knight dishwasher?
The dishwasher has asked for water but the flow meter isn't seeing any coming in, so it stops rather than run dry. During the fill stage the machine counts pulses from a small flow meter in the water inlet. If the drum stays empty and no pulses are registered, the control board concludes water isn't arriving and halts the programme. On the WK-AT45FSDW you'll typically see it early in the cycle, before any real washing has happened, with the dishes still dry.
Can I fix White Knight F04 myself?
There are 4 checks you can safely do yourself first.
- Check the tap feeding the dishwasher is fully open — if you've had plumbing work or a leak recently, it may have been shut off.
- Look behind the machine and make sure the fill hose isn't kinked, trapped or squashed against the wall.
- Run a nearby cold tap to confirm you actually have mains pressure.
- Switch off at the socket for a minute, then power back up and start a short programme to see if the code returns.
This sometimes clears with those checks. If it comes back, it needs looking at properly.
How much does it cost to repair White Knight F04?
£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 F04?
This sometimes clears with the checks above. If it comes back, it needs looking at properly. 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 White Knight dishwasher codes
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