Zanussi dishwasher symbols: indicators and programmes explained

Look at which symbol is lit, whether it flashes, and what the dishwasher is doing. Those three observations are more useful than the colour alone. A light beside a programme name, a refill indicator and a repeating fault signal call for different responses.

Use this guide to choose the right next check. Compare an unfamiliar picture with Zanussi's illustrated symbols guide and the chart for your exact model; similar-looking panels can have different functions.

Quick guide to the indicators

In Zanussi's documented examples, salt and rinse-aid indicators stay off during a programme. Do not use that alone to judge the level halfway through a wash.

What do ECO, AUTO and the short programme mean?

ECO prioritises efficient water and energy use and takes longer. AUTO uses sensors to adjust the wash to the load. The documented 30-minute programme is for lightly soiled items and omits drying. A pre-rinse removes residue before a later wash and is used without detergent.

These are programme choices. Delay start postpones a wash; ExtraPower changes wash temperature and duration; AirDry opens the door during drying on supported models. Check which options your appliance actually offers.

Salt light: where should the salt go?

The refill point is the appliance's separate salt reservoir, not the detergent compartment. Use dishwasher salt and the filling instructions for your model. Zanussi's salt guidance describes removing the reservoir cap, filling through a funnel, tightening the cap and wiping away spilled salt. It then recommends an empty short cycle to rinse away residue and reduce corrosion risk.

Before filling, identify the correct cap from the appliance diagram. Check the water-softener setting and detergent guidance for your model rather than inferring them from the tablet packaging. Adding salt to the wrong compartment is not a way to clear an unknown light.

Is the star or square-shaped light Machine Care?

It may be, but compare the full symbol. Zanussi's Machine Care guidance discusses a square-with-a-star example and notes that the icon varies. A confirmed Machine Care light is normally a maintenance reminder, not a failed-part diagnosis.

Machine Care cleans the appliance interior. Remove dishes and use a product intended for dishwasher cleaning according to its packaging. Clean the filters and spray arms as instructed for your model first: the cleaning programme does not replace that maintenance.

The controls are not universal. Zanussi gives examples involving ExtraPower with AUTO Sense, or holding AUTO on some models. Find the sequence for your panel before holding buttons; don't try different combinations to make a light disappear.

A light is flashing and the wash will not start

A stopped or unstarted programme needs more context than a symbol name. Zanussi's flashing-cycle-light guidance recommends checking door closure and delay start, alongside routine loading and maintenance checks.

1. Record the lit symbol, any displayed code and the repeating beep or flash pattern.
2. Check that items in the baskets are not preventing the door from closing. Do not force it.
3. Check whether a delay countdown is active; use your model's instructions to wait for or cancel it.
4. Check user-maintenance items such as correctly fitted filters and freely moving spray arms, following the appliance's safety instructions.
5. If it still will not start, contact Zanussi service with the full model number and your observations.

Cancelling a programme can change what is shown. Record the original problem first, and use only the cancellation controls identified for your panel.

When the display is a fault signal

Zanussi's fault overview groups i10 with water-supply problems, i20 with drainage and i30 with detected leakage. The corresponding beep patterns in that guidance are one, two and three. Use the chart for the actual model before interpreting a light pattern; one unidentified flash is not enough to diagnose a component.

For i20 or a documented two-beep drainage warning, the manufacturer's drainage guidance points to filters, the drain hose and the sink connection. Limit your checks to accessible user-maintenance parts. If the appliance was just installed, tell the installer; persistent drainage problems need service.

If water is leaking outside the dishwasher, stop using it. Isolate water and power only where safe, keep clear of wet electrical equipment and arrange professional help. Do not repeatedly restart it to clear a warning.

Before asking support to identify a symbol

Have the full model and product number ready, plus a clear description or photograph of the whole control panel. State whether the programme starts, finishes or stops, and whether the indicator is steady or repeating. This avoids asking support to identify a cropped symbol without its surrounding controls.

If the flashing display belongs to a cooker rather than a dishwasher, use our Zanussi oven clock guide. Its clock-setting instructions concern a different appliance and should not be used on this panel.