Fisher & Paykel Washer Error Code 58 or 68

When a Fisher & Paykel washer throws Error Code 58 or 68, it’s flagging trouble with the water-level pressure system—specifically the pressure transducer that tells the control how much water is in the tub. If that reading goes missing or out of range, the machine can’t manage fills, rinses, or spin speeds correctly, and it stops to protect itself.

What these codes actually mean

Inside most Fisher & Paykel SmartDrive-style washers, a pressure transducer (temperature-sensitive resistor, aka NTC/pressure sensor) is built into or connected to the motor control module. It reads tiny air-pressure changes from a thin hose that runs to an air dome on the tub.
When the signal looks impossible—open circuit, short, or values that don’t change as expected during fill/drain—the control posts 58 or 68 and halts the cycle.

You’ll often notice longer-than-normal fills, random pauses, or a cycle that refuses to advance. Sometimes the machine drains unexpectedly (it “thinks” it’s overfilled) or won’t spin (it “thinks” the tub is still full).

Why it happens (most common causes)

• A loose, kinked, or split pressure hose between the air dome and the control.
• Blocked air dome or soap residue trapped in the hose after heavy suds or fabric-softener buildup.
• Corroded or damp connectors on the control board or sensor harness.
• A failing pressure transducer inside the motor control module.
• Less often: siphoning (drain hose too low), unstable water supply, or a control firmware fault.

Safe first steps (quick checks before tools)

Unplug the washer or switch off the breaker. Work on a dry floor.

1. Hard reset: leave it powered off for 5–10 minutes, then try a rinse/spin. Transient faults sometimes clear after a full reboot.
2. Confirm drain-hose height: the outlet should typically be 30–96 in (76–244 cm) above the floor (check your model’s guide). If it’s too low, water siphons out and confuses the sensor.
3. Check for oversudsing: run a quick rinse with no detergent. Excess suds trap air and distort pressure readings.

If 58/68 returns at the same point in a cycle, move on to inspection.

Hands-on DIY (simple, targeted steps)

Keep it light—you don’t need to dismantle the entire washer to rule out the usual suspects.

• Inspect the pressure hose.
  Remove the top or rear service panel (varies by model). Trace the thin clear/opaque hose from the tub’s air dome to the control. Look for kinks, sharp bends, pinholes, or splits—especially near clips or rub points. Reseat both ends: pull off, check for debris, push back until fully seated.
• Clear the hose and air dome.
  Detach the hose at the tub side and gently blow through it toward the control end. You should feel clear airflow. If it’s blocked or soapy, flush with warm water, shake out, and let it dry completely before reinstalling.
• Dry and reseat connectors.
  At the control module, unplug the pressure hose and the sensor/control plugs, inspect for corrosion or moisture, and reseat once. If you see green/white oxidation, let it dry thoroughly before reconnecting.
• Test a controlled fill.
  Reassemble panels, power up, and start a fill or quick wash. Watch the water level: if it overshoots and errors again, the control still isn’t reading level changes—pointing to the sensor or board.

If you’re meter-savvy: with power off and the harness unplugged, measure the sensor circuit per your service manual. An open (infinite) or short (near zero) reading on the transducer path confirms a failed sensor/control.

When replacement makes sense

If the hose and dome are clean, connections are solid, and 58/68 persists, the failure is likely inside the motor control module (where the transducer lives on many models). Replacement of that module is the reliable fix. A trained technician can also check for related issues—heater/valve misreads, wiring damage, or firmware updates—and calibrate water-level logic after the repair.

Practical tips that prevent 58/68 from coming back

Keep the pressure path clean, dry, and predictable:

• Right detergent, right dose. High-efficiency (HE) only, minimal amounts. Oversudsing is the #1 enemy of accurate level sensing.
• Monthly hot maintenance cycle. Run an empty hot cycle with a washer cleaner or a little citric acid to dissolve soap film in the air dome and hoses.
• Mind the drain hose. Keep it within the specified height and avoid tight loops that create vacuum or kinks.
• Leave the lid/door ajar after washes. Reduces condensation around the control and connectors.
• Gentle loading. Don’t slam heavy items against the back panel; vibration and chafing can loosen the small pressure hose or clips.
• Annual quick check. Pop the top, confirm the hose is intact and not rubbing on sheet metal—30 seconds well spent.

Quick action plan (at a glance)

• Power reset → check drain-hose height and suds.
• Inspect, clear, and reseat the pressure hose and connectors.
• Re-test a simple fill.
• If codes 58/68 return: plan on motor control module replacement or professional diagnosis.