FETCO Coffee Brewer Error Code 103: Liquid Level Probe
Code 103 on a FETCO XTS brewer is a liquid level probe error, with the manual listing a fouled or shorted probe. The action is to clean the probe and check all connections, replacing the probe if necessary. The code does not clear by power cycling; reset it in the menu.
High: an unreliable level probe can lead to heating with too little water, so the brewer should not run until it is checked.
- Code
- 103
- Maker
- FETCO
- Equipment
- Coffee brewers
- Applies to
- CBS-2150 XTS series (2151/2152/2152-2)
What does FETCO error code 103 mean?
The brewer finds out whether the tank is full or low through a liquid level probe. The control sends a small signal through the probe and expects water to complete the circuit. Code 103 is posted when the probe is not behaving, and the manual gives the cause as a probe that is fouled or shorted. Mineral film on the probe can make the reading look wrong, and a short can make the tank appear full when it is not. The manual's action is to clean the probe and check all connections, then replace the probe if necessary. Note that this is a different code from 107, which is the lower liquid level probe, and from 102, an unwanted fill. Turning the power off and on will not wipe it, since errors on this model wait for a manual reset. When the probe has been cleaned or replaced, go to PROGRAMMING, OTHER, ERROR CODES, Display Errors, and Reset Errors. Because the brewer decides when to fill and when to heat by what this probe reports, a bad probe can lead to heating with too little water.
Affected models and control systems
This covers the FETCO CBS-2151XTS, CBS-2152XTS and CBS-2152-2XTS brewers, per the User's Guide for those models. Wire-order and very pure water issues belong to the lower probe code 107, not to 103.
Code numbers and their meaning can change between control generations. We match the full model and control before acting on a code.
What you may notice
- 103 appears in the error list
- The tank fills inconsistently or not at all
- The brewer stops before or during a cycle
- Scale or film is visible on the probe when it is inspected
Possible causes
Listed in FETCO's documentation
- Probe fouled or shorted
Other likely causes — what usually sits behind error code 103 on this control. A technician confirms which one it is before any part is replaced.
- Hard-water scale has coated the probe, changing what the control reads
- The probe lead has been pinched and shorts to the tank
- A connector at the probe has corroded from steam and moisture
Safe checks before calling for service
- Switch the brewer off and let it cool before doing anything.
- Leave the power switch alone as a fix, since errors on this brewer persist through a power cycle.
- If you are trained to descale, note when the brewer was last descaled and what water filter is fitted.
- Call a technician and report the code and the date of the last descaling.
How a technician diagnoses error code 103
- Read the error list and confirm 103 rather than 107.
- Inspect the probe for scale, discoloration and damage with power isolated.
- Clean the probe and check the connections and lead for pinches or shorts.
- Replace the probe if it still reads wrong after cleaning.
- Reset errors in the menu and run a fill and heat cycle.
- The probe sits in the tank next to the heating element
- A short can hide in the lead or connector, not just on the tip
- Wrong tank level can lead to heating with too little water
How error code 103 differs from similar codes
103 is the main liquid level probe fouled or shorted; 107 is the lower probe code and has its own causes such as reversed wires and very pure water.
Technical reference
- Maker documentation
- FETCO owner support
- Edition
- May 2015 P129 rev 002 (also issued as October 2014 P129 rev 001)
- Models / control
- CBS-2150 XTS series (2151/2152/2152-2)
- Section
- Error Codes table, p. 13
- Checked
- October 2026
We use the maker's document to read the code and do not reproduce it. Always confirm the complete model and control before applying these steps.
Related FETCO coffee brewer error codes
What does cleaning fix on 103?
The manual lists a fouled probe as one cause, so removing scale can restore a correct reading. A shorted probe still needs replacing.
Is 103 the same as 107?
No. 107 is the lower liquid level probe problem and mentions wiring and very pure water. 103 is the liquid level probe fouled or shorted.
Can I run the brewer with 103?
It is risky. Without a reliable level reading, the brewer may heat without enough water or fail to fill.
Need help with FETCO error code 103?
A technician confirms the cause on site and gives you the price in writing before any work starts.