Samsung · Dishwasher
Samsung Dishwasher 5C Error Code
Drain timeout with water remaining
What this error means
5C is Samsung's drain fault—the pump ran but water level remained high after the drain window. Same family as 5E display variant; water stays in the tub bottom and the cycle stops before dry.
How 5C is detected
When 5C appears on a Samsung dishwasher, the control board has confirmed that water did not leave the machine within the programmed drain window. On Samsung DW80R5060US, Samsung DW80N3030US, and similar variants, the drain pump runs for a fixed interval—often three to seven minutes on washers and dishwashers—while a pressure switch or turbidity sensor verifies the tub or sump is empty. If water remains, the cycle stops to prevent spin with a full tub or overflow on the next fill.
Most 5C calls are resolved without parts: remove and rinse filter assembly under hot water. Restricted drain paths mimic pump failure because the impeller spins against a blocked hose or filter. Document whether the pump hums audibly during the drain step; a humming pump with no water movement points to a clogged filter or kinked hose, while silence may indicate a failed pump motor or loose wiring at the harness.
After clearing blockages, run a short cycle and listen at the drain hose for steady water flow. If 5C returns on the next load with a clean filter and straight hose, measure resistance at the pump motor connector per the service manual for your model before ordering a replacement pump assembly.
Common causes
- Fine filter and sump clogged under the lower rack
- Drain hose missing high loop under the counter
- Garbage disposal knockout plug still in place on new installs
- Check valve at pump outlet stuck closed
Step-by-step fixes
- 1Remove the lower rack and twist out the cylindrical filter counterclockwise
- 2Rinse the mesh and clear debris from the white sump cavity
- 3Verify drain hose routes up to the underside of the counter before descending to disposal
- 4Run Cancel/Drain and listen—humming without water movement suggests jammed impeller
When to call a technician
Clear sump with silent pump requires drain pump or check valve replacement under the tub.
Affected models
- Samsung DW80R5060US
- Samsung DW80B6060US
- Samsung DW80R7031US
Prevention & maintenance
- Clean drain filters and hose terminations monthly on high-use dishwashers to prevent 5C from lint and food debris buildup.
- Record when 5C appears in the cycle and whether it clears after a 60-second power reset on your Samsung dishwasher—that detail speeds diagnosis if you call service.
- Keep the model and serial number from the rating plate when ordering parts for 5C; Samsung uses multiple revisions with different harness lengths and board firmware.
- Photograph wiring connector orientation before disconnecting any component while troubleshooting 5C; reversed plugs on pumps and valves cause immediate repeat faults.