Champion Dishwasher Wash Display Tank-Empty Symbol
A blank or dash-type tank-empty indication on the wash display of a Champion UH-series dishwasher means the wash tank is empty while the tank heater is on. The tank may be extremely hot, so do not touch it. Check that the machine is filling with water.
High: the tank heater is on with no water, which can overheat the tank and is a burn risk.
- Code
- Wash display shows dashes/blank tank-empty indication
- Maker
- Champion
- Equipment
- Dish machines
- Applies to
- Same
What does Champion Wash display shows dashes/blank tank-empty mean?
On the digital temperature board, a special tank-empty pattern replaces the temperature when the wash tank has no water. The manual draws this pattern as an icon rather than text, so the exact segments are not machine-readable here. It is a protective warning: the heater is still switched on, but there is nothing in the tank to absorb its heat. A heating element with no water around it gets hotter than it should, and the tank itself may become extremely hot, which the manual marks with a CAUTION. The correct response is to leave the tank alone, make sure the machine is filling, and not run a wash cycle until the tank is full again. If the machine is not filling, the cause lies in the water supply or the fill circuit. If it fills and the indication stays, the level sensing or the display board needs checking by a technician.
Affected models and control systems
UH130, UH130B, UH230, UH230B and UH330B M4 series dishwashers with the digital temperature display board; the pattern is in the Digital Temperature Display Codes, printed pp. 54-57.
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
- Dash-like or blank tank-empty pattern in place of a wash temperature
- Little or no water visible in the wash tank
- Tank or heater area very hot to the touch
- Machine that sounds like it is filling, or does not fill at all
Possible causes
Likely causes — what usually sits behind Wash display shows dashes/blank tank-empty on this control. A technician confirms which one it is before any part is replaced.
- Wash tank empty with the tank heater on
- Water supply valve closed to the machine
- A fill valve that does not open or is blocked by debris
- A drain that stayed open after the last cycle
- A level sensing problem that reports empty when water is present
Safe checks before calling for service
- Do not touch the tank or the heater area; the manual warns the tank may be extremely hot.
- Check that the water supply valve to the machine is open.
- Close the drain as the machine's controls require and see whether the tank begins to fill.
- Switch the machine off if no water enters, and write down what the display showed and whether you heard a fill valve.
How a technician diagnoses Wash display shows dashes/blank tank-empty
- Read the display pattern and confirm the tank is truly empty.
- Verify water supply pressure at the machine and the fill valve operation.
- Check the drain mechanism for being stuck open.
- Check the level sensing circuit and its wiring.
- Confirm the heater is not running dry before refilling, then run a cycle to confirm normal readings.
- An extremely hot tank and a heater running without water are burn and equipment-damage hazards.
- Fill valve and level checks involve live valve coils and wiring behind the panel.
- The icon patterns on the display need the manual to be read correctly for a given board.
How Wash display shows dashes/blank tank-empty differs from similar codes
This is the wash-side tank-empty pattern; the rinse side has its own tank-empty indication for the booster, which means the booster tank is empty.
Technical reference
- Maker documentation
- Champion owner support
- Edition
- Manual P/N 115440 rev. N4
- Models / control
- Same
- Section
- Digital Temperature Display Codes, printed pp. 54-57
- 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 Champion dish machine error codes
Why is the tank-empty pattern on the wash side dangerous?
The heater is on while the tank has no water, so the tank may be extremely hot. Keep hands away from it.
What do I check first?
Check that the water supply valve is open and that the machine is filling. Do not run cycles until the tank is full.
Is this the same as Lo?
No. Lo means there is water but it is below 100F. This pattern means the wash tank is empty.
Need help with Champion Wash display shows dashes/blank tank-empty?
A technician confirms the cause on site and gives you the price in writing before any work starts.