Starline M2C Manual and Quick Guide

Starline M2C down mid-service? Call 0800 90 60 30. Calls are answered 24 hours, 7 days. Technician cover runs 7 days, with after-hours emergency cover. We aim to respond to emergencies within 2 hours, depending on workload. This is a target, not a guarantee.

CES Wellington services and repairs Starline M2C dishwashers across Greater Wellington, the Kāpiti Coast, the Wairarapa and Manawatū. This page is a short kitchen-facing guide drawn from Washtech’s current official Series-5 documents. It is not a substitute for the manufacturer’s manuals, and we have not re-hosted those PDFs. Older M2C machines can differ, so check the model and serial number on the rating plate.

Official Starline manuals

Starline is manufactured in New Zealand by Washtech. The current official documents are published on Washtech’s Starline M2C product page (the starline.co.nz address redirects there):

Starline M2C Series-5 Operator Manual (4 November 2024)
Starline M2C Series-5 Operator Use chart (October 2024)
Starline M2C specification sheet (SM2C0040, August 2024)

Further installation and cleaning resources are listed on Washtech’s resources page, including a professional pass-through cleaning procedure video.

Key specs (current Series-5 heat-recovery M2C)

These figures are from Washtech’s current official specification sheet and product page for the standard Starline M2C with integrated heat recovery. They are a starting point only. Confirm against the rating plate and the official documents for the machine on site.

Pass-through (hood) dishwasher with an integrated heat recovery unit, touchscreen controls, autostart on hood closure, a soft-start wash pump, detergent and rinse-aid pumps, a drain pump, and a self-cleaning cycle.
Light, medium and heavy cycles of 60, 120 and 180 seconds.
Washtech states a capacity of up to 1,080 plates or 1,500 glasses per hour, with 500 mm racks, and water use of 2.4 litres per cycle on the current specification sheet and product page.
Fits bench gaps of 595 mm to 640 mm. Machine dimensions on the specification sheet are 730 mm wide, 710 mm deep and 2,025 mm high, with a weight of 118 kg.
The specification sheet lists a three-phase 400 V, 50 Hz, 15 A per phase supply, maximum 11.25 kW. It says a single-phase option is possible but needs a technician modification and will increase recovery time between cycles. An isolating switch must be within 1 m of the machine and must not sit directly behind it.

The official Operator Manual (4 November 2024) lists different electrical figures: a 15 A 230–240 V 50 Hz supply, upgradeable to single-phase 25 A 230–240 V or three-phase 15 A 400–415 V. Because those official documents disagree, we are not treating either set as the only correct supply for every M2C. A qualified electrician should confirm the supply against the rating plate.

Installation and water requirements

Installation and servicing must be carried out by a suitably qualified person and must comply with local codes, including AS/NZS 3500.1. The official documents say to install the machine level on a sound, waterproof, self-draining floor — if it is not level it can leak, overflow, drain poorly or sit with an uneven door. The touchscreen control pod can be mounted on either side of the machine, under the bench or on a wall, using the mounts supplied. Leave space for detergent alongside the machine or in an adjacent cupboard. The drain hose can be routed out either side or the lower rear; it should not be kinked or left lying loosely on the floor. Do not hose the machine down or splash water over the exterior.

On water connections, the official documents agree on a 20 mm (3/4 inch) male inlet with a hose supplied, and an atmospheric vacuum breaker for backflow prevention. Flush the supply line before connection. The current specification sheet describes the heat-recovery M2C as a cold-water machine:

Incoming water temperature below 25°C
Pressure 100 to 500 kPa
Flow 10 litres per minute, and suitable for lower-flow supplies
2.4 litres per cycle

The official Operator Manual instead lists a 65°C inlet, 200 to 350 kPa, a minimum of 20 litres per minute, and about 2.6 litres per cycle. Washtech’s product page says the heat recovery unit “optimises cold water operation”, and Washtech’s heat-recovery ventilation bulletin discusses incoming water above 25°C as a case that can affect heat-recovery performance. Because the official inlet figures conflict, have a qualified installer confirm the supply for your machine against the rating plate and the current documents. We have not tried to flatten those numbers into one set.

Water-quality limits in the official specification sheet and Operator Manual agree: hardness 20 to 100 ppm, pH 7 to 8, and maximums of 100 mg/L chloride, 400 mg/L sulphate, 0.1 mg/L iron, 0.5 mg/L manganese, 0.05 mg/L copper and 0.1 mg/L chlorine. Levels outside those limits can increase wear. If the supply sits outside them, the official documents recommend filtration and water treatment, and say to consult a water specialist.

The specification sheet says no external extraction canopy is required, subject to adequate general ventilation. Washtech’s heat-recovery ventilation bulletin (TB26008) covers layout and airflow in more detail. The heat recovery unit reduces steam emissions; it does not remove the need to think about ventilation in the wash-up area.

Daily use, cleaning and end of shift

From the official Operator Manual and Operator Use chart, a typical start is: turn the machine on at the wall, check the scrap tray and the wash and drain filters are in place, shut the door, and press Standby so the machine can fill and heat. The screen reports progress and turns blue when wash and rinse are up to temperature. Load a rack, shut the door, choose Light, Medium or Heavy, and press Start.

Two automatic functions are described in those guides. If Wash Interlock is active, a cycle waits until the wash water is hot enough, and the screen shows Heating before it starts itself. If Thermostop is active, a cycle can be started while the rinse water is still heating; the wash continues until the rinse reaches the required 83°C, then the rinse runs. The Operator Manual says machines ship with Thermostop enabled. Official operator documents show a wash temperature in the 60°C to 65°C range and a rinse of 83°C.

This machine is not a waste-disposal unit. Scrape and, where needed, rinse trays, plates and glasses in cool water before they go in, and use the longer cycle for heavier soil. Do not put your hands in the wash water, which can be over 60°C and contain caustic detergent, or in the rinse, which can be over 90°C. Some surfaces can be hot. Door safety switches are for emergency use only. Leave the panels on — there are live electrical parts and very hot surfaces inside.

For end of shift, run the self-cleaning drain cycle so the machine empties and turns itself off, then wait until it is in standby and has cooled before you clean it. The official Operator Use chart says to open the door, press Drain/Standby, then close the door. The official Operator Manual says to close the door, press Drain/Standby, then press Start. Follow the official guide that matches your machine. Once it has cooled, remove and rinse the scrap tray, wash inlet filter and drain filter basket, clear waste from the drain sump and any other build-up, and refit the filters.

At least once a week, with the machine cooled, also take off the wash and rinse arms (undo the thumbscrew), inspect and clear the jets — a toothpick is the example given in the official guides — and check the wash element, cleaning it if needed, once it is cool.

Chemicals and descaling

Use a good quality non-foaming commercial detergent and a drying agent (rinse fluid). Do not use domestic detergents, which will cause foaming, or domestic tablets or excessively chlorinated chemicals, which the official documents say can damage the machine. The M2C is supplied with detergent and rinse-fluid pumps. Those pumps are pre-set and need to be calibrated on site for the chemical, the water and how the machine is used. If wash results are poor, or you are changing chemicals, consult your chemical supplier. Take care not to put detergent on the rinse-fluid line.

The official operator documents do not give a descaling recipe, so we have not invented one here. They treat scale as a water-quality issue: at dishwasher temperatures, scale can build up in the wash tank, on the arms and in the rinse tank, and the incoming water should be treated. If other equipment on the same supply already needs filters, or you can see scale in the machine, consult a water specialist. High chloride levels can cause irreversible damage. If you want the machine inspected or descaled, book a technician.

For water treatment options we install and service, see commercial water filters and Kitchen Talk on water treatment.

Common faults and simple checks

The official M2C operator documents use a wash-results chart rather than a numbered error-code list. Current Series-5 machines have a touchscreen, and Washtech describes immediate fault diagnosis on the electronic controls. If a code or fault message appears, photograph the display, then see our Starline and Washtech error codes page for the WI-200 keypad and touchscreen codes used on current M-Type Professional machines. That page is the place for numbered codes; we have not copied a code list onto this guide.

These are safe checks a chef can try, drawn from the official Operator Manual’s installation troubleshooting and operator troubleshooting. Only do them if it is safe. Switch off and let the machine cool before you handle filters or arms. Leave the panels on.

Not starting or not filling: confirm the water and power supplies are on, and that the inlet hose is not twisted or kinked.
Door not closing properly: check the machine is level.
Cycle taking a long time: with Thermostop on, the wash keeps running until the rinse reaches 83°C. Low incoming water temperature or the electrical supply can also lengthen recovery time.
Poor wash results, food residue or staining: improve pre-scraping, avoid overloading racks, use a longer cycle for heavier soil, confirm a non-foaming commercial detergent is connected, check that the wash arm spins freely and the jets are clear, and check that the wash temperature is in the 60°C to 65°C range described in the official manual.
Foaming: check there is adequate water pressure and flow (a short supply can effectively overdose the chemicals), that sink soap is not being carried into the machine, that the detergent is a non-foaming commercial product at a suitable dose, and that the wash water is at least 60°C before the first cycle.
Film, spots, wet ware or chemical residue: check the arms and jets again, and ask your chemical supplier to review detergent and rinse-fluid dose.
Scale, or filters already needed on other equipment: treat this as a water-quality issue and consult a water specialist.

For chemical dose and water-quality problems, the official guides recommend speaking to a chemical supplier or water specialist before calling a dishwasher technician. If the machine still will not fill, drain, heat or start after the supply and filter checks, or a display fault comes back, call us. See also Starline dishwasher not draining.

When to call a technician

A fault or error comes back after the safe checks, or you are not sure what the display is showing.
The machine will not fill, drain, heat or start once power, water and hoses have been checked.
There is a leak, overflow, burning smell or tripping power.
Wash or rinse results stay poor after cleaning, pre-rinse and a chemical-supplier check.
You need chemical-pump calibration, a cycle-time adjustment, a water-treatment assessment, or help with installation or the electrical supply.
It is due for a service. The official operator documents recommend a technician service at least every 6 months or 15,000 cycles, including consumable items such as chemical squeeze tubes.

You get an electronic service report, with electrical certification as required. Our work is covered by a 90-day parts and labour warranty. A dishwasher hygiene check starts from $140 + GST, depending on the model, and a full dishwasher service including a hygiene check starts from $220 + GST.

We service and repair Starline dishwashers across Greater Wellington, the Kāpiti Coast, the Wairarapa and Manawatū. See also commercial dishwasher repairs and the Dishwasher Hygiene Check.

FAQ

Where is the official Starline M2C manual?

Washtech, which manufactures Starline in New Zealand, publishes the current Series-5 Operator Manual, Operator Use chart and specification sheet on the official Starline M2C product page and its resources page. This CES Wellington page is a short kitchen-facing guide only. It is not a copy of those documents.

What water supply does a current Starline M2C need?

The current official Series-5 specification sheet lists cold incoming water below 25°C, a pressure range of 100 to 500 kPa, a flow of 10 litres per minute, and 2.4 litres per cycle, with a 20 mm (3/4 inch) male connection and an atmospheric vacuum breaker. The official Operator Manual lists different inlet figures, so have a qualified installer confirm the supply against the rating plate and the official documents for your machine. Water hardness should be 20 to 100 ppm and pH 7 to 8. If the supply sits outside the published water-quality limits, the official documents recommend filtration and water treatment.

How should we shut the M2C down at the end of the shift?

Run the self-cleaning drain cycle from Drain/Standby, then once the machine is in standby and has cooled, remove and rinse the scrap tray, wash inlet filter and drain filter basket, clear waste from the drain sump, and refit the filters. The official Operator Use chart and Operator Manual differ slightly on whether you open the door first and whether you also press Start, so follow the official guide that matches your machine.

What chemicals can we use, and how do we deal with scale?

Use a good quality non-foaming commercial detergent and drying agent. Do not use domestic detergents, domestic tablets or excessively chlorinated chemicals. The built-in detergent and rinse-aid pumps need to be calibrated for the site. For scale, the official documents treat it as a water-quality issue and say the incoming water should be treated; consult a water specialist. We have not reproduced a descaling recipe because the official operator documents do not give one.

The display is showing a fault. What should we do?

Photograph the display and note the model from the rating plate. The official M2C operator documents use a wash-results troubleshooting chart rather than a numbered error-code list. If a code or fault message is on the screen, see our Starline error codes page for WI-200 keypad and touchscreen codes, try only the safe checks, and call us if it comes back. Leave the panels on.

How quickly can you come out?

We offer same-day response, and a 2-hour emergency response target, depending on workload. Calls are answered 24 hours, 7 days on 0800 90 60 30.

Starline M2C manual and quick guide