The other day I was doing dishes in my Bosch dishwasher and everything seemed to be okay. I unloaded what was in there, loaded it back up, and shut the door. Only then it was when I noticed a new blinking red light. It was almost new, so why was this happening?
The most common reason why you would see a blinking red light on a Bosch dishwasher is due to the door being open. More uncommonly, it could be an issue with the power supply, water flow, or dispenser caused by a faulty dishwasher door switch, water inlet valve, or circuit board.
During my research into this issue, I found that the most common issue with Bosch dishwashers is that the door latches break rather easily. This would certainly make the red light begin to blink, but fortunately, it’s an easy fix. There are other reasons too, which I will also cover.
Bosch Dishwasher Red tap Light Blinking – What It Means
There are a few reasons why your Bosch dishwasher has a blinking red light on it. The first is due to an issue with the door latch. The machine will only run when the door is closed tightly and latched. If the dishwasher detects that the door is open or not shut completely, it will flash red and won’t start.
There’s an infrared beam that senses whether the door is closed. If the beam doesn’t sense the door being closed, the red light will flash once the wash cycle begins.
However, if the door latch sensor is beginning to malfunction or if the latch itself isn’t working, the red light will be triggered even if the door is completely closed.
Troubleshooting your Bosch dishwasher is easy and only requires a couple of steps.
Troubleshooting Blinking Light Bosch Dishwasher
The first thing you’ll want to do if you see a blinking red light is simply to check the door. If there’s no change, you should inspect it further. Check for worn-out springs, damaged hinges, racks not pushed in completely, or a broken door latch.
If there’s a rack that isn’t pushed in all the way, it won’t allow the door to close completely. I’ve had this happen to me before. Just rearrange your dishes and make sure the rack goes in completely.
If this isn’t the issue, you may have to perform other troubleshooting methods such as resetting the control panel and simply inspecting the latch.
Reset The Control Panel
Before you start taking apart anything, I want you to reset the control panel. This is the quickest fix you could possibly perform. It will trick a faulty sensor into working again. You reset the control panel because it could be getting a faulty signal from the door latch that it doesn’t recognize.
If you reset the control panel, you can trick it into accepting a correct signal so you don’t need to replace the panel at all.
Resetting the dishwasher is something that should be done only as the instructions are stated by the manufacturer. Older models may require you to press the power, drain, or cancel buttons.
Resetting the control panel involves just one task. All you have to do is press and hold the “start” button for 3 to 5 seconds. This will reset the whole main control panel, which could solve the blinking light problem.
If resetting the control panel doesn’t make the blinking light go away, it could be an issue with the door latch.
Is There A Problem With The Door Latch?
The door latch is a mechanical device attached to the dishwasher door. When you close the door, the latch will secure the door shut. There’s a sensor connected to the latch that communicates to the system. It senses when the door is open or closed.
Once the dishwasher confirms the door is closed, it won’t open during the wash cycle. It will then signal the control panel to begin the wash cycle. The door creates a water-tight seal and prevents water and debris from leaking out of the dishwasher.
If you notice that the dishwasher won’t start or it stops mid-cycle, check to ensure the door latch is properly functioning. Additionally, if you notice that the dishwasher is leaking from the door, this is a chance that the latch
To investigate further, you should first turn off the breaker to your dishwasher at the breaker box. There are six dishwasher screws that connect the front panel. Gently pull this panel away from the machine. It’s going to be stuck to the door, so make sure you pull it steadily.
You will now need to locate the screws that are holding your dishwasher to the underside of the countertop so you can pull it out a little. Once you do this, locate the latch assembly. This is screwed to the inside of the door panel.
To remove the latch, remove the two screws that hold the sensor to the top of the dishwasher. Remove the connectors in the wire harness and then remove the lock by taking out the screws at the bottom of the dishwasher. Once you remove all of these parts, you can install a new one.
If the door latch and control panel aren’t the issue, you may have a defective drain pump.
Defective Drain Pump
Some Bosch dishwashers have an issue with defective drain pumps. If the pump fails, the water won’t drain out of the dishwasher and the red light will begin to blink signaling an error. You’ll know if the water isn’t draining simply by the fact that the dishwasher cycle won’t complete and there will be water sitting on the bottom of the dishwasher.
Heating Element Is Defective?
One of the main reasons why a dishwasher works so well is because it uses heated water. If your dishwasher water isn’t being heated, it’s not going to clean your dishes as well or dry them.
Open up your dishwasher and inspect the heating element for signs of damage such as cracks, chips, and scorching. If there are no visible signs of damage, kill the power to the dishwasher. Locate the screws on the sides of the bottom plate on the front of the dishwasher. Pull off the plate and locate the two points where wires connect to the heating elements.
Slide the wires off and use a multimeter to check for ohms. If the meter registers zero or the numbers fluctuate constantly, then you know the element is bad and the water won’t heat properly.
If the element is okay, check for issues with the touchpad.
Faulty Touchpad
The red light may be illuminated if there’s an issue with the touchpad. Try pressing some buttons. If some respond correctly but others don’t, there’s a good chance that the touchpad is bad. If this is the case, you may have to get in contact with Bosch customer support. They may require you to purchase the control panel and touchpad as opposed to just the touchpad.
Contact Support
There are a couple of ways you can contact Bosch customer support. My personal favorite is texting. You can text “SUPPORT” to 21432 for speedy access to online resources such as FAQs, warranties, parts & accessories, and more.
You can also call them at 1-800-944-2904. Wait times will be longer than usual due to unprecedented call volume.
Lastly, you can choose the email option. At the bottom of the support page, there are a couple of different departments you can email depending on your issue.
How To Use A Multimeter On A Dishwasher
A multimeter is a tool that’s used to test for electricity-related properties such as AC voltage, DC voltage, resistance, and current. Always set your multimeter to the proper unit to avoid danger and blown fuses.
There are different units of measure to choose from such as:
- Vm: DC voltage
- V~: AC voltage
- VΩmA: AC voltage
- mA~: AC current
- Ω: Resistance
- V–: DC voltage
- VΩ: DC or AC voltage
You can test certain parts of your dishwasher by using the probes on the multimeter. The most common part of the dishwasher to check is the plug. If your multimeter has an automatic function, change it to the correct AC mode for a more accurate reading.
Turn off all power to the plug including circuits and the plug itself. Set the mode to AC voltage and set it higher than the voltage number printed on the cord. If the appliance is 120 volts, set it higher. Connect the black probe to the common jack on the multimeter and plug the red one into the jack labeled as AC voltage or ohms./omega.
Place the black probe into the neutral slot and the red probe into the hot slot on the plug. If the reading is lower than 120v, then you probably have a faulty plug.
You can also use a multimeter to test continuity, which is what you would do for certain wires and connections. It tests the resistance between two points. You would set the multimeter to “Continuity” mode and put the black probe on a ground wire and the red one on the opposite wire.
Proper Dishwasher Maintenance
Your dishwasher needs to be maintained just like your car or lawnmower would. If it breaks, you’ll be stuck doing your dishes by hand. You can keep up with your dishwasher maintenance by doing just a few things once a month.
First, clean your filter. Remove it and run it under some water to remove trapped food. I recommend doing this after every cycle.
Next, clean the door and seals. It will keep grime from building up. You can also clean the spray arm. Wipe it down with a damp towel and remove the arm completely to clear any blockages.
Lastly, keep your dishwasher running. Run it at least once weekly to keep the motor seals working correctly. Even the smallest loads can help keep your machine running in tip-top shape.
Common Error Codes
Bosch dishwasher error codes pop up to help you diagnose your dishwasher and repair it. Here are some of the most common ones you’ll face from time to time.
E04
This code means there’s a heating system or water level sensor issue. Tip the dishwasher slightly to move the water into the drain pan to help resolve the error.
E06
This code is indicative of a door mechanism failure. This is the most common code and it means the dishwasher most likely needs to be disassembled.
E07
This means there’s a drying issue at hand. You’ll want to check the drying fan for damage and continuity with a multimeter.
E23, E24, and E25
These codes mean there’s a drainage issue caused by a defective drain pump or a clogged drain hose. You can check that the drain hose and pump aren’t clogged or damaged.
You can clear these codes by pressing and holding the start button for 3 to 5 seconds. Some older Bosch models have a “cancel” or “drain” button that you can use. If the error persists, you’ll need to perform the troubleshooting methods above.
If you have constant issues with your dishwasher, you may need to replace it.
Average Cost To Replace A Dishwasher
The average cost to replace a dishwasher is $970. The cost of replacing a dishwasher can be anywhere between $250-$2,000 or higher. The total cost will depend on the type of dishwasher you choose and whether or not you have it professionally installed.
Budget dishwashers range from $200-$500. Some popular budget dishwashers include Amana, smaller Samsung, Kenmore, and Frigidaires. Mid-range dishwashers range from $500-$1,000. Larger Bosch, Samsung, and KitchenAids fall into this category. Lastly, luxury dishwashers such as Asko, Miele, Cafe, and larger KitchenAids cost $1,000 or more.
If you choose to have it professionally installed, you can expect to pay $100-$450 with an average of $190. This price is for pre-existing infrastructure. If it’s an entirely new installation, the price for a professional can start at $500.
Conclusion
As previously mentioned, the blinking red light on your Bosch dishwasher is most likely related to a door that won’t close properly. You’ll see this blinking red light when there’s any sort of error with the dishwasher. You can clear the error by resetting the control panel using the method mentioned above.
It’s not uncommon for a Bosch dishwasher to throw an error code. Remember, there are several different errors that can cause the red light to blink. Use the troubleshooting methods above to figure out what the code means. If all else fails, you may need to contact customer support or replace the unit completely.
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