Troubleshooting the W-4 Slow Cooking Warning

Overview

The W4 Slow Cooking error appears on the fryer at the end of a cook cycle. This message indicates that the actual cook time exceeded the programmed limit for that product. It does not indicate a technical failure but rather a cooking delay, often due to overloading the fryer basket.

Call Avoidance

To help the end user resolve the issue without a service call:

1. Check product load in the fryer basket.

• Verify the product is not frozen

2. Press the check mark button to clear the W-4 message.

3. Verify if a discard warning is shown:

• If no discard warning appears, the food is still safe to serve.

• If a discard warning appears, the food must be discarded.

Field Troubleshooting

If call avoidance steps do not resolve the issue, proceed with the following field troubleshooting steps:

Recommended Parts:

• No replacement parts are typically required for this issue.

Recommended Tools:

• No tools are required unless further diagnostics are needed.

Troubleshooting Steps

1. Check the display for a W-4 Slow Cooking message.

• If W-4 only, proceed to Step 2.

• If Discard warning also appears, advise the customer to discard the product.

2. Ask the operator if the product is frozen.

• If the product is not frozen, go to Step 3.

3. Check amp draw (typically this would cause a W-7 Error).

Other Possibilities

Rare case: If the fryer consistently shows W-4 errors without frozen product and amp draw is normal, the issue may be due to:

• Cold oil temperature at start of cook cycle.

  • Ensure oil is at proper temperature before cooking (e.g., 350°F / 177°C).

• Too much oil in fryer.

  • Verify oil level at cooking temperature does not exceed higher than the upper fill line in the vat.