What 3C Means
3C is the pump operation error on Samsung’s US dishwasher article: the circulation pump is not running the way the control expects. Samsung’s step is to turn the dishwasher off and start the cycle again. On Samsung washers and dryers 3C is a motor error, a different machine and a different part.
Common Causes of 3C
- Object in the sump jamming the circulation pump
- Circulation pump motor or its capacitor failed
- Control not receiving pump feedback
🔧 One Safe Check You Can Try
Turn the dishwasher off, wait a moment and start the cycle again. If it stops with 3C a second time, switch it off at the breaker and, once the water inside has cooled, remove the lower rack and lift out the filter to check the sump beneath for a piece of glass, a fruit stone or a label that could be jamming the pump. Refit the filter fully. A pump that still will not run is tested from underneath by a technician.
⚠ Why You Shouldn't Go Further Than That
- The circulation pump is under the tub and reached with the dishwasher pulled from the cabinet and laid over; it is not an owner job.
Opening a panel to inspect or repair something yourself doesn't automatically cancel your manufacturer's warranty — but it can risk accidental damage, and some manufacturers do have specific service conditions. Check your product's warranty terms, or ask us, before deciding.