Frigidaire Dishwasher i40 — What It Means & How to Fix It
Food soil has built up in the sump and filter to the point water can't circulate freely, and Frigidaire's own remedy is to pull the glass trap and filter and rinse them clean.
What this code means
i40 is Frigidaire's clogged-filter-or-sump alert: debris packed into the tub-floor filter stack has restricted the wash water enough for the control to flag it. It sits one step upstream of the i20 drain code, pointing at the strainer that's meant to catch food before it ever reaches the pump. Clear the stack and the code almost always goes with it.
Frigidaire documents i40 as a sump-and-filter blockage on current models. If a drain problem tags along you may also see i20; tackle the filter first, since a choked strainer feeds both faults.
Most likely causes
| Cause | How likely | DIY-fixable? |
|---|---|---|
| Glass trap and fine filter packed with food debris | Very common | Yes — remove and rinse |
| Grease and scale film narrowing the filter mesh | Common | Yes — soak and scrub |
| Soil trapped in the sump recess below the filter | Occasional | Partly — clear what's reachable |
| Drain pump impeller fouled behind the sump | Less common | No — technician job |
What you can try yourself
- Take out the lower rack and lift the filter assembly and glass trap from the tub floor — most release with a quarter-turn and come away by hand.
- Rinse both under a hot tap and work a soft brush through the mesh until water passes straight through; a greasy film softens with a warm soapy soak first.
- Wipe the sump recess the filter sat in and shine a light into it for the single seed or sliver that re-clogs everything on the next run.
- Refit the filter exactly as it came out — left loose or cross-seated, it lets soil slip straight back into the sump.
- Run a short hot cycle empty and check i40 stays away before you reload.
When to call a technician
- i40 comes back within a cycle or two of a thorough filter clean.
- Something is lodged in the sump below the part of the strainer you can reach.
- Drain trouble lingers, or an i20 appears, once the filter is spotless.
Typical professional repair cost: Nothing if a filter clean does it; a fouled drain pump or sump repair, if it comes to that, typically runs $150–$280 with labor.
Frequently asked questions
How do I clear the i40 code on my Frigidaire dishwasher?
Lift the glass trap and filter out of the tub floor, rinse away the trapped food soil, refit them snugly, and run a short empty cycle. Frigidaire treats i40 as a sump-and-filter blockage, so a proper clean resolves it in the large majority of cases.
How often should I clean my Frigidaire dishwasher filter?
Every couple of weeks for heavy use, monthly otherwise, and sooner if you rarely scrape plates first. A filter cleaned on a schedule almost never reaches the i40 threshold; one that's never touched gets there eventually.
Is i40 the same as the i20 drain code?
They're neighbors rather than twins. i20 is about water not leaving the tub, while i40 is about the filter and sump being clogged enough to choke circulation. A bad enough clog can set off both, which is why you clear the strainer first.
Related Frigidaire codes
- Frigidaire Dishwasher i10 Water isn't reaching the tub fast enough — the under-sink valve, a kinked line, or a stuck float explain most i10 errors before any part needs replacing.
- Frigidaire Dishwasher i20 The unit didn't drain properly — Frigidaire's filters and glass trap clog like any brand's, and the drain hose and disposal connection make up the rest of the usual story.
- Frigidaire Dishwasher i30 Water collected in the pan beneath the tub and the anti-leak response took over — the cause ranges from a one-off overflow or suds episode to a genuine seal failure.
- Frigidaire Dishwasher i60 The water isn't heating the way the cycle requires — the element, its relay, or the temperature sensor is at fault, and all of them are mains-voltage parts for a professional.
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