Bosch dishwasher frozen

Bosch dishwasher frozen No household appliance can function without problems, especially after many years of active use. So, if your Bosch dishwasher suddenly freezes, it's annoying, but not a major issue. Let's try restoring the appliance to working order ourselves. In this state, your "home helper" can continue the selected cycle, but it won't progress from one wash stage to the next, as it usually does. Let's take a closer look at this annoying situation, what causes it, and how to fix it.

Is something really broken?

If your equipment suddenly freezes during a work cycle, this is not a reason to call a service center specialist. Often, the cause of this behavior is a simple software glitch, which could have occurred due to a sudden power surge or a sudden power outage in the house or apartment. To fix this, simply reset the dishwasher. What should I do to reset the dishwasher?

Open the door of your Bosch dishwasher slightly to allow easy access to the buttons on the control panel.

Do not lean too close to the wash chamber when opening the door – hot steam can cause serious burns.

Press and hold the "Start" button until the "Active" indicator goes out. To stop an active wash, hold the "Start" button until the indicator goes out, indicating the dishwasher is currently active. Both actions should work whether the dishwasher is in the middle of a wash or if the dishwasher display shows a cycle that has never been selected before.
Wait about a minute for all the waste liquid to drain into the drain. If you don't wait for the drain to drain, water may spill onto the floor when you open the door. If your Bosch dishwasher was run at maximum power, wait a couple of minutes for the water to drain.
Press the "Start" button again if it's time to start a new wash. Once the cycle is complete and all waste liquid has drained, you can restart the dishwasher. After this system reset, simply press the "Start" button to initiate a new cycle.
Press and hold the "Start" button for about three seconds to reset the dishwasher. On the control panel, this button may also be called "Reset" or "Three-Second Reset." This should resolve the frozen state, as after these steps, the dishwasher will clear the settings and begin the cycle from the beginning.
Some dishwasher models require you to wait until the remaining time display shows "00:01" and then advance to "00:00." After this, you can turn the appliance off and on again to initiate a new wash.
Once the device has rebooted, press the power and start keys, which may be necessary instead of holding the keys down for a few seconds.

This way you can reboot your "home assistant" if it has frozen but continues to respond to user commands.

Typical problems that cause the dishwasher to freeze

Restarting your home appliance does not always fix the freezing issue. To understand what to do if restarting your Bosch system doesn't help, you need to know all the possible causes of the malfunction that could interfere with the normal operation of the device. The main list is not that short.

Pump damage. The pump may not be receiving signals from the dishwasher's control module, preventing the dishwasher from draining. In this case, the dishwasher will run, but will not drain.
Control module malfunction. The control board, the "brain" of the dishwasher that sends commands to all the key components of the dishwasher, could be faulty. The wiring to the component could also be damaged, preventing the commands from being transmitted.
The water level sensor is faulty. If damaged, the pressure switch may either not transmit information about the current water level in the wash chamber at all or transmit incorrect data. This will prevent the dishwasher's control module from sending a command to drain the water into the sewer.
Incorrect installation of a Bosch dishwasher. Improper installation, not maintaining a level, can also negatively impact the appliance's performance.
Incorrect drain hose connection. Another malfunction related to improper dishwasher installation. Due to the "siphon effect," water doesn't drain down the drain but instead flows back into the machine's wash chamber, preventing the pump from stopping to remove waste liquid.
Clogged drain. A clogged drain system could also be to blame, causing the pump to either fail or pump water very slowly, draining it into the sewer through a clogged drain plug.
Activation of the Aquastop safety system. If the machine detects a leak, it will either stop operation, displaying the E15 error code, or automatically activate the pump to begin draining the water.
Control panel problems. A faulty control panel, which may simply stop responding to user commands, could also be the cause. To fix this, you'll need to contact a professional, unless you have experience repairing electronic circuit boards.

There are many possible causes for this problem, and figuring them out on your own can be difficult. In the following sections, we'll cover the most common issues.

We are checking communications

First of all, you should not rush to reset the Bosch dishwasher, but check that it is installed correctly. This is due to the fact that household appliances are very sensitive to even the slightest distortion of the body. That's why the equipment must be installed strictly level, placing it on a flat, solid floor. To complete the installation, use the adjustable feet to ensure the machine is level.

Next, you should check the sewer connection. The drain hose must be located 50 centimeters above the floor to prevent liquid from backing up into the wash chamber. How to do this correctly?

Unscrew the drain hose from the dishwasher body.
Check the corrugation for blockages.
Reconnect the drain hose, securing it at the required height, plus a bend.

The drain hose should not be longer than two meters, otherwise the pump will face increased load.

If the drain hose is installed and connected correctly, the problem may be an internal blockage. Follow the instructions to fix it.

Unplug your Bosch dishwasher from the power supply.
Open the hatch door.
Remove all baskets from the wash chamber.
Locate the drain filter, which is located at the very bottom of the bin.
Remove it and clean it from food residue and other dirt, then rinse it under a powerful stream of hot water.
There is a shallow hole behind the filter from which you need to remove the accumulated water using a small sponge.
Additionally, it is worth removing the protective cover and washing the impeller, which often becomes clogged with foreign objects.
Install the drain filter into its seat.

If, even after these steps, your "home helper" still can't complete the cycle, the pump needs to be checked. What should you do?

Disconnect the machine from all communications.
Disconnect the inlet and drain hoses.
Place the equipment on its side.
Remove the retaining bolts from the bottom of the case and then remove the bottom.
Unhook the drain pipe from the pump, first releasing its clamps.
Remove the pump retaining bolts.
Remove the element from the Bosch dishwasher.

All that's left to do is inspect the pump for damage and contamination. Remove any debris that got into the unit during operation and reinstall it according to the instructions in reverse order. If the pump is faulty, it cannot be repaired; the only option is to buy a new one.

Dirt in the level sensor

Another common cause of freezing is considered to be a clogged pressure switch pipe. Due to contamination, the water level sensor may transmit incorrect data to the dishwasher control module, which will prevent the dishwasher from operating normally. The sensor itself looks like a small, rounded component containing a membrane and contacts, and a nipple extends from the relay into the tank. It is this nipple that detects pressure fluctuations in the Bosch dishwasher. dishwasher pressure switch

When the pressure switch tube is clogged, accurate water level readings in the wash chamber become impossible. Fortunately, the fitting is easy to clean yourself, without calling a professional. Simply blow it out or rinse it under a strong stream of tap water. The level sensor can be found in a plastic box located near the pump.

Electronic module malfunction

Finally, it's possible that all the problems are caused by a faulty dishwasher control module. If the system's "brain" is faulty, the dishwasher will freeze during the cycle, and the control panel buttons will stop working, ignoring all user input. In this case, it will be impossible to reset the machine without unplugging it.

When a person presses a key, they press a specific area of the control board. If the appliance doesn't respond to the user's actions, it could be because the circuit is damaged, the triacs on the board are oxidized, or the buttons are stuck. Any of these situations requires complex repairs.

The control board of your Bosch dishwasher is perhaps the most expensive component of the entire system, costing as much as a brand new one. To avoid further damage, experts recommend taking it to a service center rather than attempting to repair it yourself. Bosch dishwasher control board

If you have experience working with electronics and the machine's manufacturer's warranty has expired, you can try repairing the part yourself. The procedure is as follows:

unplug the machine;
open the washing chamber door;
unscrew the bolts at the end of the door;
remove the inner part of the door;
Disconnect the wiring from the control module and remove the fasteners that secure it;

Be sure to take a few photos of the correct wiring connections so you have a reference for reassembly.

remove the board and check it with a regular multimeter;
If there are damaged semiconductors on the module, they must be removed and new parts installed in their place.

To repair, you'll need a multimeter, a soldering iron, and new spare parts. If you're confident in your skills and knowledge, proceed with the restoration. Don't forget to test the equipment afterward by running a test wash.