Fisher & Paykel Dishwasher Error Code F97

The F97 error code on a Fisher & Paykel dishwasher indicates a rinse aid pump control failure in which a component within the system is drawing electrical current even when the dishwasher is switched off. This points to a fault in the wash controller located in the affected tub, specifically in the circuit responsible for managing the rinse aid pump. When the control circuit fails to cut power to the pump or its associated components during the off state, the controller detects this abnormal current draw and throws the F97 fault to prevent potential damage or safety hazards.

The wash controller governs the activation and deactivation of the rinse aid pump as part of the rinse cycle. A failure in this controller can result in the pump relay or output driver remaining in a closed or partially energized state, allowing current to flow when it should not. This type of fault is often internal to the controller board itself rather than in the pump wiring or the pump motor, meaning the pump and its wiring harness may be entirely functional while the controller is still unable to properly manage the circuit.

Because the fault is tied to parasitic current draw during the off state, the primary and indicated corrective action is replacement of the wash controller in the faulting tub. Attempting to reset the error without replacing the controller is unlikely to resolve the underlying electrical fault, as the control board itself is the source of the abnormal behavior.