CMA Commercial Dishwasher Troubleshooting

CMA Commercial Dishwasher Troubleshooting CMA Dish Machines allow you to properly clean and sanitize your glassware and dishware for your commercial foodservice business. Since your dish machine unit plays such an important role in your restaurant or healthcare facility, it’s important to know how to troubleshoot any issue that may come up. Take a look at our CMA Dish Machine troubleshooting guide below to know what’s going on and how to proceed to fix it.

CMA Commercial Dishwasher Troubleshooting Solutions

This troubleshooting guide is applicable for models EST-44/66, CMA-44/66 and UC50e/UC60e.

CMA EST-44/66 Troubleshooting

Wash or Power Motor Isn’t Running

  • Motor or capacitor is faulty or broken
    • Have motor replaced
  • Contractor is Faulty
    • Have capacitor replaced

Machine Isn’t Working

  • Fuse is burned out
    • Have fuse replaced
  • Table limit switch is defective
    • Have table limit switch replaced
  • Door reed switch is defective
    • Have door reed switch replaced
  • Start reed switch is defective
    • Have start reed switch replaced
  • Auto/manual switch is defective
    • Have auto/manual switch replaced
  • Conveyor timer is defective
    • Have timer replaced

Machine Runs Constantly

  • Timer setting is for 60 seconds
    • Change settings
    • Replace if necessary
  • Contractor is stuck
    • Have contractor replaced

Heater Isn’t Heating

  • Issue with float switch
    • Check float switch
    • Replace if necessary
  • Thermostat is defective
    • Have thermostat replaced
  • Improper setting
    • Change setting
  • Heater contractor is defective
    • Have heater contractor replaced
  • Heater is defective
    • Have heater replaced
  • Issue with wire connections
    • Check connections and have adjusted

Racks are Stuck

  • Racks are broken or old
    • Replace racks
  • Issue with tray track alignment
    • Adjust track

Wash & Power Rinse Tank’s Temperature is Too Low

  • Issue with the incoming water supply
    • Check the hot water supply
  • Improper thermostat setting
    • Adjust temperature setting
  • Improper vent hood baffle setting
    • Change vent hood baffle as instructed by operation manual

Final Rinse Pressure is Low OR No Rinse Pressure

  • Rinse jets are plugged
    • Remove and clean jets
  • Pressure regulator needs adjustment
    • Have the pressure regulator adjusted
  • Water solenoid valve coil or diaphragm is dirty
    • Have cleaned or replaced
  • Rinse jets are dirty
    • Remove and clean jets
  • Rinse reed switch is defective
    • Have reed switch replaced

Machine is Using Too Many Chemicals

  • Issue with quick drain on the wash end
    • Plumb the quick drain
  • Issues with dispenser or settings
    • Check the dispenser troubleshooting guide in operation manual
  • Improper rinse pressure
    • Set rinse pressure to 20 psi
  • Soil is present
    • Check the scrap basket sand float function

Machine is Losing Water

  • Issue with quick drain on dirty side table
    • Check quick drain connections
  • Sheet pans
    • Use OEM sheet pan racks
  • Drain valves are open
    • Close drain valves

Low Pressure on Wash Arm

  • Debris present in wash and power rinse arm manifolds
    • Check and clean debris from manifold
  • Jets are clogged 
    • Clean jets
  • Wrong motor connections
    • Have motors connected to reverse impeller direction

CMA-44/66 Troubleshooting

Pre-Wash or Power Wash Motors Aren’t Working

  • Faulty motor or capacitor
    • Have motor replaced
  • Mag starter overload has tripped
    • Have mag starter overload checked and replaced if necessary
  • Faulty mag starter or overload relay
    • Have mag starter or overload relay replaced

Heater Isn’t Heating

  • Element is defective
    • Have element replaced
  • Thermostat isn’t adjusted
    • Adjust thermostat to higher temperature
  • Burned or loose wire
    • Check wire connections and have repaired as necessary

Low Heat While Unit is On

  • Low incoming water temperature
    • Adjust the supply or booster heater
    • Insulate the pipe
    • Check if cold water is being mixed in
  • Incoming water is being deflected out of unit
    • Adjust the placement of ware on rack
    • Adjust curtain placement
    • Adjust table slant into unit
    • Check spray arm alignment
  • Water is washing out of unit
    • Adjust the table slant into unit
  • Rinse spray tips have lime deposits
    • De-lime the unit and clean rinse spray tips with a piece of wire
      • NOTE: Drain tanks and disconnect sanitizer chemical pump prior to de-liming

Spray Arm Pressure is Low

  • Low water caused by a clog
    • Follow listed solutions for previously stated causes
    • Check inlet hole for clogs or debris and clean if necessary with toothpick or straws

Water Level is Low

  • Water is washing out of unit
    • Adjust the slant table into unit
  • Final rinse tips have lime deposits
    • De-lime the unit and clean rinse tips with a piece of wire
      • NOTE: Drain tanks and disconnect sanitizer chemical pump prior to de-liming
  • Spray arms are improperly aligned
    • De-lime the final rinse system. Follow proper deliming procedure.
      • NOTE: Drain tanks and disconnect sanitizer chemical pump prior to de-liming

Water Level is High

  • Water isn’t properly draining
    • Check trap opening for clogs or debris and clear

Unit Won’t Work AND There’s Power

  • On/Off switch or contractor is defective
    • Have component replaced
  • Limit switch has been activated or is defective
    • Remove the rack that’s activating switch
    • Have limit switch replaced

Water Pump Motor Runs Continuously

  • Faulty 60-second timer
    • Have timer replaced
  • 60-second timer is at wrong setting
    • Change setting

Racks Won’t Exit Unit

  • Broken or bent racks
    • Replace racks
  • Rack rail isn’t aligned
    • Adjust rail ⅛” above tank top lip or table height
  • Conveyor dogs are too high or low; racks are riding on conveyor dogs
    • Clear the dog movement or alignment to ½” higher than table

Low or No Pressure in Final Rinse Spray

  • Solenoid valve is defective
    • Have replaced
  • Final rinse pressure is too low (below 20 psi)
    • Have regulator adjusted
    • Increase pipe size
  • Jets are plugged
    • Remove jets and clean

Rinse Water Keeps Running

  • Rinse or tilt switch is stuck in the “On” position
    • Switch needs to be removed, cleaned and/or adjusted
  • Water solenoid valve is defective
    • Have water solenoid valve replaced

Chemicals Aren’t Injecting

  • No power to chemical power block
    • Check for power
  • Chemical supply is empty
    • Replenish supply
  • Chemical line is damaged or leaking
    • Have replaced

UC50e/UC60e Troubleshooting

Dish Machine Doesn’t Start

  • Switch is turned off
    • Turn switch on

Unit Doesn’t Load Water

  • Water valve is closed
    • Open main water valve
  • Solenoid filter or spray arm nozzles are clogged or have lime deposits
    • Clean pipes, filter and rinsing arm nozzles
  • Pressure switch is faulty
    • Have pressure switch replaced

Poor Washing Results

  • Washing nozzles are clogged OR washing arms won’t rotate
    • Clean the nozzles and the rotation shaft and refit them correctly
  • Detergent concentration is too low
    • Use less detergent
    • Use non-foaming detergent
  • Fats or starches aren’t being removed during cleaning
    • Detergent concentration is too low. See above.
  • Filter is too dirty
    • Remove filter and clean with a brush under running water
  • Improper tank temperature
    • Adjust thermostat to 160° F/71° C
    • Have heating element operation checked
  • Inadequate washing cycle time for type of grime build-up
    • Choose a longer cycle length if possible
    • Repeat wash cycle
  • Wash water is too dirty
    • Empty water from the tank and refill
    • Clean filters

Dishes or Glasses are Not Completely Drying

  • Inadequate rinse aid
    • Increase amount of rinse aid by turning the screw on the dispenser
  • Rack being used for dishes and glasses is unsuitable
    • Use a different rack
  • Dishes have been inside for too long
    • Pull the rack out immediately after the wash cycle finishes and let the dishes and glasses air dry
  • Rinse water temperature is less than 180° F/82° C
    • Check temperature setting of the booster thermostat
  • Machine is being fed cold water
    • Use longer setting

Dishes and Glasses Have Streaks and Spots

  • Too much rinse aid being used
    • Decrease amount of rinse aid by turning the fine adjustment screw on dispenser
  • Water is too hard
    • Check water hardness
  • Salt is present in dishwasher tank
    • Clean and rinse appliance and avoid spilling salt when filling container

Dish Machine Suddenly Stops During Cycle

  • Overloaded circuit
    • Dish machine needs to be connected separately
  • Safety device has been activated
    • Have safety devices inspected

Dish Machine Stop and Draws Water During Cycle

  • Water from previous day hasn’t been changed
    • Empty tank and refill with clean water
  • Water temperature is too high
    • Have inspected
  • Pressure switch is faulty
    • Have inspected
  • Overflow tube is in incorrect position
    • Remove and reposition tube in correct position

Booster Pump Won’t Prime

  • Not enough pressure on feeding
    • Remove boiler pipe and drain the pump

If you need more troubleshooting, cleaning or operation advice, take a look through our large collection of CMA Dish Machine manuals.

Please contact a local authorized service agent who can help with these specific units and all your commercial kitchen equipment needs.

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