Dishwasher shows E3 and stops; water inside may be cold and dishes are not clean or dry.

Safety first: Turn off power at the breaker. Water inside may be hot; allow the unit to cool before working.

Step-by-step checks:

• Confirm water supply temperature: Run hot water at the kitchen sink until it is hot. Thor Kitchen dishwashers typically expect 120°F (about 49°C) inlet water.
• Visual inspection of heater: Remove the lower rack and inspect the exposed heating element (if present) for breaks, blisters, or heavy scale. Some models use an inline heater in the circulation pump assembly.
• Check wiring: Remove the toe-kick panel and inspect wiring harnesses to the heater and circulation pump for burns, loose connectors, or melted insulation.
• Run a test cycle: Restore power and start a short cycle. After 10–15 minutes, carefully open the door (pause cycle) and feel if the inner door and water are warm. If not, the heater circuit is likely not energizing.
• Advanced: With power off and unit pulled out, a technician can test the heater and NTC sensor resistance with a multimeter and replace the failed component.

Warning: Do not bypass safety thermostats or run the unit with exposed wiring; this is a fire and shock hazard.