Having a dishwasher is a convenient way to save time on doing dishes and save on water consumption. But when it is not working correctly, it can become frustrating and expensive to fix. The good news is that there are several common fixes you can perform at home.
If your Bosch dishwasher is not completing a full cycle or stopping mid-cycle, it may be an issue with the door latch. Check for damage and replace the part if needed, and perform a system reset to have the cycle finish. If your unit won’t start, check that there is sufficient power and water.
This article will explore the common causes of dishwasher cycles becoming interrupted and why they may not finish. We will also discuss why your dishwasher may not start or why it may be stuck in a continuous cycle.
Bosch Dishwasher Not Completing Full Cycle
In the vast majority of models, a dishwasher will pause its cycle if the door is opened. This can happen if the user opens the door to add a dish, generally just after the cycle has begun.
However, in some cases, a broken door latch or switch can make the unit think the door is open, causing it to pause the cycle. Though it may have closed and started to run normally, the agitation within can cause the door to vibrate slightly. If the latch is broken, this can lead to the connection being lost and the machine believing that the door has been opened.
It can also be affected by outside interference. A dog or small child running into the door can knock the latch out of place and make the machine pause the current cycle.
How to Fix
In most cases, you can unpause the cycle by firmly pressing the start button and shutting the door. Press it in firmly and wait for five to 10 seconds. If the door latch is in working order, the cycle should restart and continue as usual.
However, if the cycle does not continue, chances are you have a faulty door latch or switch, or the internal program has become stuck. Most models will have a latch used to secure the door closed and a switch that will send information to the appliance. If either of these is faulty, the cycle may not complete. Similarly, if the internal program has become stuck, the cycle will not continue.
Always remember to unplug the appliance and turn off the water supply before performing any diagnostics or repairs. In some situations, you may need to uninstall the unit entirely from a counter or cupboard.
If you are not confident in your electrical abilities, call a repairman to perform a service. However, if you feel you have the skills required, follow these steps to remove the dishwasher from its current location safely:
- Turn the power off completely either by unplugging the appliance or shutting the power off in the circuit breaker.
- Shut the water supply off at the valve either under the sink or the home’s water main.
- Disconnect the water inlet pipes attached to the appliance.
- Disconnect the drain hose, which is usually located behind a front panel under the door.
- Unscrew any mounting brackets that are holding the unit in place.
- Carefully lower the legs so that the appliance will slide out evenly.
- Gently lift and pull the unit free.
Check the Door Latch
First, visually inspect the latch both on the moving door and the stationary unit. Sometimes a damaged prong is visible, and you will know it needs to be fixed or replaced without removing the appliance altogether. This part can be ordered online and changed relatively quickly at home.
In the video below, you can see how to remove and replace a broken door latch:
If no damage is apparent, you may need to unscrew the panel in front to access the door switch from the inside. You can test this switch using a multimeter. You can see how to test the switch for continuity in the video below:
A faulty latch or switch can also be the main reason you may find that your Bosch dishwasher stops mid-cycle. Even if you have not opened the door, the unit will pause the cycle if it thinks the door is open.
Try to Reset the Program
If the door is in working order, the most common issue behind a cycle not completing is a bug in the internal programming. Just as with phones or computers, the inner workings are electrical. The control board works from the signals sent by the control panel. However, sometimes, bugs can cause things to freeze. In most cases, this can be fixed by performing a unit reset.
There are a few ways to reset your Bosch dishwasher:
- Push and hold the start button until the lights on display dim. Once the unit is no longer active, wait for the water to drain and rerun the cycle.
- Press the start button along with the power button at the same time, letting go immediately. This is often used to reset the appliance after a power outage.
- Unplug the unit and leave for a few minutes. After two to three minutes, plug the appliance back in. This should clear any settings that may have become stuck.
A reset will often solve many error codes and issues with incomplete cycles. To avoid this in the future, try not to open the door when the cycle has already begun.
Bosch Dishwasher Stops After 3 Minutes
A Bosch dishwasher stopping after 3 minutes can indicate a fault in the water inlet valve, preventing sufficient water from entering the appliance. To rectify this, first, check if the water supply valve is fully open. If the issue persists, inspect the water inlet valve and hose for any blockages or kinks, and clean or straighten them as necessary to restore proper water flow.
Another possible reason for this problem is a faulty door latch or sensor. The dishwasher has safety mechanisms in place to halt operation if the door is not properly secured. A defective door latch or sensor might signal the dishwasher that the door is open, causing it to stop shortly after initiation. To address this, check the door latch for any physical damages and ensure it’s properly engaging. If necessary, replace the faulty door latch or sensor to guarantee that the door is securely closed during operation.
Lastly, the issue might stem from a glitch in the dishwasher’s control panel or software. Sometimes, electronic appliances can encounter errors that disrupt their normal functioning. To resolve this, you might try resetting the dishwasher to clear potential glitches. Disconnect the dishwasher from the power source, wait for about 10-15 minutes, and then reconnect it. This reset could rectify minor glitches and allow the dishwasher to function normally. If the problem persists, consulting with a professional technician to diagnose and address the issue is recommended. They might update or repair the control panel to restore the dishwasher’s proper functioning.
Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on December 1, 2020.
Bosch Dishwasher Won’t End Cycle
Performing a reset will also be called for if your Bosch dishwasher won’t end the cycle. In this case, it could be that the program has become stuck, or in some cases, an internal issue is not registering that the cycle is finished.
How to Fix
Once you have opened the door, the cycle should pause itself as described above. Force a cancellation of the cycle by holding the start button down for three seconds, resetting the unit. Once the water has drained, turn the appliance off to ensure the program has completely reset.
Bosch Dishwasher Not Starting Cycle
If your Bosch dishwasher does not start a cycle, there are several common issues that you can look for at home:
- Loss of power due to a damaged cable or outlet.
- The door has not been closed properly, or the latch is defective.
- The child-lock is active, or the wrong cycle has been selected, such as the delayed start option.
- There is not enough water supply to run the cycle, caused by an issue with the water valve or the intake hose.
Although there are a few internal issues that can cause your dishwasher not to start, these are often best left to a professional to diagnose and fix.
How to Fix
In the same way, you may check the door latch and switch for an incomplete cycle; you can look over the same parts in the same way. However, before you take any panels off to check the internal switch, try looking at the other issues first.
Check the Power
Carefully unplug the unit and inspect the cable and plug. You may see damaged wires or a crack in the past that could be affecting the power supply. If you see no issues with the cable and plug, move onto the outlet.
Using a small device, such as a lamp, plug the new appliance into the same outlet to check that it is in working order. Leave the small appliance for a few minutes to check that the power supply is continuous.
If you notice flickering in the lamp, or it won’t turn on at all, you will need to call an electrician to inspect the outlet and possibly rewire the area.
Check the Settings
It is not uncommon to accidentally engage the child lock or select the wrong setting. Where the child-lock will prevent you from selecting and starting a new cycle, choosing the wrong setting may delay the cycle from the beginning for an hour or two.
Check that the child-lock is not engaged. You may need to engage it to disengage to be sure it is not working.
Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on December 1, 2020.
When selecting your cycle, be sure that no other selections have been made. In the same way, a delay-start will prevent the cycle from starting right away. It could be that you have selected something such as the ‘air-dry’ mode by mistake. Check the button and display to confirm you have chosen the right cycle.
Check the Water Supply
Sometimes, if the drain hose is not installed correctly, you may find that the water is cycling into the appliance but is immediately draining away. You can check that it is installed correctly by ensuring it is at least 18 inches (457.2 mm) off the ground.
If the drain hose is in the right place, check the water inlet valve, which can be found behind the front panel under the door. With the power and water supply shut off, check the valve for damage or blockages preventing proper water flow. If you see damage, the part may need to be replaced.
Final Thoughts
The most straightforward fixes for a dishwasher that will not finish its cycle or that stops mid-cycle is to replace a faulty door latch or to perform a system reset. A reset will also help if the cycle will not end.
For a Bosch dishwasher that does not start, you will need to check that the unit has power, along with the water supply. In some cases, it is as simple as choosing the wrong setting, such as the delay-start option.
If these fixes do not help, you will need to call a repairman.
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ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on December 1, 2020.