What Fault Code 38 means (fisher paykel 38 error)
A fisher paykel 38 error on a top-load washer is a pressure-sensor fault — the level reads empty during agitate even though the bowl should hold water. On a Fisher & Paykel top-load washer, numeric fault codes are signalled by continuous beeping with the progress lights off and a number shown or counted out. The same number can mean different things on the SmartDrive direct-drive platform versus the later AquaSmart platform, so the meaning below names the platform. On AquaSmart this presents as a pressure-transducer air-tube fault. A blocked, kinked, or detached pressure air tube is a common cause, and the sensor or control may need testing.
Symptoms to look for
Fault 38 makes the washer act as though the bowl is empty even when it clearly is not, because the pressure sensor has lost its read on the water level. Alongside the steady beep with the lights off and “38” counted out, you will notice fill or wash behaviour that does not match what is actually in the drum, and the code tends to come straight back after a reset. On an AquaSmart model this points specifically at the pressure air tube; check the markers below against your Fisher & Paykel Washer.
- Continuous beeping with the lights off and “38” indicated
- The washer behaves as if the bowl is empty
- Fill or wash behaviour is abnormal
- The fault recurs after a reset
Likely causes of the fisher paykel 38 error
The level-sensing chain is short, which keeps the causes few but specific. A blocked, kinked, or detached air tube is the most fixable and therefore the first suspect; a transducer that reads incorrectly, a degraded connection, or a control board that misreads the signal follow behind it as progressively deeper faults.
- Pressure air-tube fault — the tube is blocked, kinked, or off
- Faulty pressure transducer — the sensor reads incorrectly
- Wiring fault — a degraded connection to the sensor
- Control module fault — the board misreads the level
What you can check
The pressure system on a “38” lives inside the cabinet, so the owner-level work stays light: a power reset and a couple of observations rather than any hands-on repair. Reset the machine, watch whether the bowl genuinely holds water when the fault shows, and resist hammering the start button over and over while it is present. Because the air tube and transducer are internal, leave a persistent “38” to a technician — never open the sealed cabinet or touch live wiring chasing it.
- Power the washer off at the wall for a minute, then restore power.
- Note whether the bowl actually has water when the fault shows.
- Avoid repeated retries while the fault is present.
- Because the pressure system is internal, leave “38” to a technician if it persists.
Parts a technician may check or replace
When a reset will not shift “38,” the fix sits within the sealed pressure system. A technician may inspect, test, or replace the pressure sensor / transducer, pressure air tube, and motor control module. The correct part for your Fisher & Paykel Washer is matched from the model and serial number, and genuine components are fitted through trusted parts suppliers rather than generic substitutes so that an accurate level reading and the appliance’s long working life are both protected. Confirming the failed part before ordering avoids replacing more than the fault actually requires.
When to call a technician
Fault 38 needs a technician to test the pressure transducer and its air tube and replace the failed part. When the fix calls for trained service, book a visit through our scheduling page and an experienced, qualified technician will diagnose and repair it.
Prevention and care
A pressure-sensor fault is mostly out of an owner’s hands, but you can keep the air tube and transducer reading cleanly on your Fisher & Paykel Washer. Having any installation done to specification stops the air tube from being pinched or pulled loose during a move, which is the single most common way a healthy sensor starts misreading. A stable, correctly rated power supply protects the motor control module from spikes that can distort the level signal, and avoiding repeated retries while “38” is showing prevents needless wear. If the code reappears, note whether the bowl actually held water and what the lights displayed before you reset, so a technician can tell an air-tube fault from a failed transducer.
Related help and Fisher & Paykel resources
Browse other Fisher & Paykel Washer diagnostics, read about Fisher & Paykel Washer repair, look up your unit in the Fisher & Paykel models reference, or the related Fault 39 pressure tube, browse service locations, or schedule a service visit. For Fisher & Paykel manufacturer documentation and model lookup, visit Fisher & Paykel at fisherpaykel.com/us.
