On a 2 yr old dishwasher we called out Baumatic engineer as catch had failed. He replaced metal catch with plastic one. In doing so he caused the main electronic motherboard to blow. Have since had engineer back 3 times, each time changing the board - all to no avail. The machine currently lights up, attempts to take water in but displays error code 4. Door seal has been allowing steam through since catch change and now the integrated fascia door is damaged. Engineer has checked sump for water but says that's not the problem. He is flummoxed (and we are exasperated). Baumatic now saying that the kitchen needs a voltage check as they are claiming there is 260v of electricity either from that one socket or the whole apartment. We are waiting for and are paying electrician to test. This machine has been out of action since their first visit to repair the catch in February. Any help/comments would be most welcome. Has anyone experienced a similar problem?

Phil, June 2008

i had same problem with dishwasher and fix it for good! with self investigation i realised that the bottom pan fills up with water to the cut off swich after about 2 washes, enforcing the dreded e4 error code! so what i done was found the sorce that was filling it which is to little pipes coming from bottom of front door and go straight to bottom pan! this is to stop water getting inside the door and short curcuiting the electrics as the control pannel is located in the door! anyway the ends of the pipes that went to the bottom of the machine causeing the problem i re routed out of the bottom and into a boul infront of the machine, now after every wash i just empty the boul.

james, April 2009

Error code E4 means the bottom sump has too much water in it. The polystyrene float floats up and trips a microswitch (at the front of the machine).

The black plastic covers facing front can be removed (quite frim) and the sump mopped out with a sponge - this should release the float switch.

General concensus of opinion is this is a poor design fault - so you may need to do this at intervals. I've had to do this about 4 times now - machine is about 2 years old. (I also got a small file to the lugs on the covers to make subsequent removal easier).

If there is none or very little water in the sump, I suppose it's possible the float switch has tripped, and then lodged in the "up" position.

On my BDW45.1 the float had actually stuck down to the metal base (soapy water - cheap tablets i guess), and the motor got flooded causing the house fuse board to trip. Cost me a new motor (and I can tell you where to get one much cheaper than mainstream suppliers if you need one). I have attempted to cure this by stopping the float from completely resting flat (I glued a strip cut-off a cable tie-wrap to the metal base - should stop the two faces coming together).

I don't know why water collects in the sump - here's my guesses:-
1. there are two small drain hoses into the sump, one comes from the turret shaped overflow in the bottom of the cabinet designed to prevent the machine overfilling. But if there isn't a well-designed valve in it I guess water could be ricocheted into it from the wash jets hitting the dishes..
2. there are vents in the sides of the cabinet to let steam escape - I suspect if water was getting out through these there would be evidence on the inside of the side panels - which there isn't.

Hope this info helps

daba, October 2008

Sorry about the rant about service engineers, but the 260 volt story takes the biscuit.
There is a float in the sump to detect overflow water; although the sump was dry I still got the error. Tipping the machine up on end finaly unjammed the float and the machine now works. Try this- but check for leaks.

Paul Nethercott pnethers@tiscali.co.uk, August 2008

Lying rogue. I had a similar problem last year on an 18 month old dishwasher and the "repair man" convinced me that I had to buy a new machine. He sold me a Baumatic BDW45.1 which(a month out of guarantee) displays error code 4. This means "overfill" Its in peices on th the kitchen floor at the moment and I can't find the problem. I think it means you've been done. If I can fix it i'll let yo know.

Paul Nethercott pnethers@tiscali.co.uk, August 2008