Fisher Paykel dish drawers - ready to send them packing

12 years ago

Well here's my problem. Thought I take a chance with the drawers since I love the *idea* of them, and some here have had luck with them more recently despite old complaints I read about. Figuring the problems had been worked out by F/P, I swapped my order at Sears to F/P model DD24DCTX6V2. I had paid for installation from Sears, but when our plumber/electrician said he would install it, I gave him the go-ahead. Since I worked the day he did the install, I could hardly wait until the next day to do a trial run (12min rinse cycle per manual). Much to my dismay, the top drawer wouldn't start - just heard low level beeps, but the bottom drawer worked ok. I called F/P and with their help located an authorized installer/technician. Basically the tech checked all the connections and had me flip the circuit breaker, wait a few minutes. He ran the top and bottom drawers and everything was up and running when he left (on Thursday). The dishwasher sat a few days while gathering dirty dishes and by Sunday I finally had an adequate amount of dishes to do a real load, and *again* same problem (deep breath) - top drawer not starting, but low beeps when hitting start button. I'm starting to second guess my decision to have had my guy install, wondering whether it should not have been hardwired, although my installer said he could put an outlet in but it would be the same power source no matter what, and the installation instructions show optionally hard wiring the product. Looking on the appliance forum I came across a post about F/P being sensitive to power blips (posted problem over there, but not as a separate thread) Tomorrow I have the authorized service technician coming out again to diagnose the problem. Whats a woman to do (I really wanted these to work) but my DH says return dishwasher to Sears and get another model.

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Comments (7)

gbsim1
12 years ago
What a disappointment!

Please do a follow up after you know more. Was your installer experienced with the FP installation and do you think that he took the time to read the directions?

At any rate, please let us know the outcome. If the installation is at fault, I wouldn't be in a hurry to send them packing!
beachlily z9a
12 years ago
I've had F&P dishdrawers for 4 years with never a problem. Your drawers are either defective or the installation was crap, take your choice. I love my drawers and won't trade them for any standard dishwasher. Nor would my husband.
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Fori
12 years ago
Get FP to send out another technician, or, if you just choose to return the unit, get another one. You'll be glad eventually.

(Professionals screw up installation on these I've noticed. My first one was installed by a wonderful GC who knew what he knew and what he didn't know and read the simple instructions. My second one was installed by a guy sent from Lowe's who didn't do it right and threw out parts as well. He had to come back. And I still had to reinstall it myself. It was removed for a remodel and put back in by a guy who didn't read. I had to reinstall it myself. It was removed when I had the pipes redone in my house. The plumber smashed up my cabinets and the panels, installed it wrong, and damaged some electronics after acting insulted when I offered to get the instructions. The service tech sent by FP fixed it and installed it nicely. When I moved and bought my new DD, I just said "put it THERE" and installed it myself. It isn't hard but it must be different.)
enduring
12 years ago
Is there a read out on your machine that indicates the problem when it beeps?
celineike
12 years ago
I feel ya.
I would have a whoever you can get that is the MOST experienced with these dishwashers to come and to a proper install. (You can ask Sears to send their most experienced guy to do it.)
We got our F&P last Sept and i was SO concerned about reviews and reliability of these things. My neighbor has one and seemed to always had a repair there to work on it, so i wrote it off. But DH went shopping with me that day, and he liked it so much, i couldn't say no.
I DID get the extended warranty with Sears and let them install. They had to come and reinstall it 3 times before it was done right. They've come out at least 1 other time to because it wasn't draining right and it was just a thing stuck in the hose. I have 18 months with sears to decide if i want to keep it. I highly recommend getting their warranty. It may not be too late to get it.

It's been running perfectly since.
Have faith - they are SO cool to use!
Do post an update please!
pamike1
Original Author
12 years ago
UPDATE
After reading comments here, I thought it worth my while to read the service manual cover to cover. Enduring's suggestion to see if there was an error code displayed lead me to try reprogramming the top drawer to turn on when the drawer was opened (like the bottom drawer would do). In trying to do this, I discovered that I couldn't; I also read in the manual that there were two separate circuit panels (duh, one for each drawer). Since the top drawer wasn't responding to re-programming, I felt the circuit panel was bad. So when the F/P serviceman showed up this morning, I told him this; he also tried to program the top drawer and was unsuccessful. He ended up replacing the circuit panel in the top drawer and was able to get it to work. He stated the circuit panel was weak and that's what was causing the problem with the top drawer turning on, but not starting. He ran a rinse cycle and everything worked like it should (Houston we have lift-off!) No sooner did he leave, I ran a fast cycle and so happy with the result- sparkling, clean dishes. Thanks one and all for your support and help! PS I did buy the service contract with Sears; just for peace of mind...PQ
allison0704
12 years ago
That's good to hear. I've had mine almost 6 years with no problems.. and we do have surges/outages more often lately.

Fisher Paykel dish drawers - ready to send them packing

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Fisher Paykel dish drawers - ready to send them packing

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