Bosch dishwasher pump repair

If the arms of your Bosch dishwasher stop rotating, the circulator pump is likely faulty. Many users face this problem. Can you fix the machine yourself or will you have to take it to a service center? Let's explore the details.

We remove the pump from the dishwasher

You can repair your dishwasher pump yourself; the key is to follow the instructions carefully. To repair the part, you will have to partially disassemble the dishwasher body. Before starting work, be sure to disconnect the dishwasher from the power supply.

All Bosch dishwashers are disassembled in a similar manner. You'll need the following:

• TORX T20 screwdriver;
• TORX T15 star screwdriver;
• 17 mm wrench;
• Phillips screwdriver;
• pliers.

Once you've gathered all the necessary tools, you can begin dismantling. The procedure is as follows:

• Unplug the Bosch dishwasher from the power outlet;
• disconnect the dishwasher from the water supply and sewerage system;
• open the dishwasher door, remove all baskets from the machine;
• remove the screws that secure the dishwasher to the kitchen unit (they are located on the side walls of the bin);
• close the dishwasher door;
• remove the lower false panel of the kitchen unit;
• Use a 17 mm wrench to unscrew the dishwasher's feet so that the entire machine lowers down;
• remove the dishwasher from the cabinet;
• open the dishwasher and unscrew the filter located at the bottom of the washing chamber;
• remove the filter element and use a dry cloth to wipe away any water in the resulting hole;
• remove the decorative cover of the door opening mechanism;
• Unscrew the screws holding the side false panel of the dishwasher and set it aside;
• pull the dishwasher door tensioner cables towards you and remove them from the mechanism;
• turn the machine over to the other side, also remove the false panel and tensioners;
• turn the dishwasher upside down;
• Unscrew the two screws holding the lower false panel of the dishwasher, located at the front of the body, and set the part aside;
• Use pliers to pry up the clamp on the filler pipe and disconnect the hose;
• unhook the drain and inlet hose mounting panel from the housing;
• disconnect the Aquastop connector;
• Having dealt with the latches, lift the lower part of the dishwasher body;
• At the bottom of the dishwasher, unfasten the float switch;
• remove the lower part of the dishwasher body;
• loosen the water and sewer hoses;
• Disconnect the electrical connectors from the circulation pump;
• Disconnect all water pipes from the pump;
• remove the circulation pump.

As you can see, to access and remove the Bosch dishwasher's circulation pump, you'll have to almost completely disassemble the housing. While you're at it, you can take photos as a guide to avoid mistakes during reassembly. Next, you can begin diagnosing the pump.

We are repairing the pump

The next steps are aimed at diagnosing and repairing the Bosch dishwasher's circulating heat pump. This part will need to be disassembled. First, remove the top part of the element—the heating element.

The circulation pump of modern Bosch dishwashers consists of three main elements: a heater, a motor, and an impeller.

The design also includes an anchor, graphite bushings, and winding. What will need to be repaired? Most often, the cause of a recirculation pump failure is worn bushings or plain bearings. Sometimes, but less frequently, the impeller breaks. These parts are replaceable; you can buy them on classifieds sites or from repairmen.

The breakdown may also be caused by:

• water getting on the pump winding;
• heating element combustion (typical only for new generation recirculation pumps with a built-in heater).

Now we need to begin disassembling the other half of the heat pump, including the motor. First, remove the lower part of its housing. Then, remove the impeller. Here's the procedure:

• Using a screwdriver, remove the cover that covers the anchor;
• drain the water that ends up in the glass under the lid;
• pull out the anchor;
• remove the plain bearings from the structure, one is located at the bottom, the second is on the previously removed cover;
• put new bushings in place (they are made by specialists on special 3D printers);
• assemble the pump in reverse order: install the anchor in the glass, pour some water into the recess, put the cover and impeller back in place;
• Connect the top and bottom of the recirculation pump, carefully handling the latches.

Sometimes the impeller itself can be the problem. The plastic part breaks, and you can try soldering it, but the best option is to buy and install a new one. You can order a component for a specific Bosch dishwasher pump online.

If the pump malfunction is caused by power surges or a short circuit in the winding, the part cannot be repaired. The pump will need to be replaced. A replacement part is selected for the specific Bosch dishwasher model.

The cost of a new recirculation pump assembly depends on the dishwasher model. The average price is $40–$50. A pair of graphite bushings will cost $3–$5, and an impeller will cost $3–$4. Therefore, it's better to try to repair the pump rather than replace the entire part.

Next, replace the pump, and reassemble the dishwasher in reverse order. After installing the dishwasher into the kitchen cabinetry, run a test cycle. If the rocker arms begin to rotate, the circulation pump repair has been completed correctly.

   

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