Bosch Dishwasher: loud vibrating noise, not functioning on special programs

Professional Repair Guide

What is this symptom?

Experiencing loud vibrating or grinding noises from your Bosch dishwasher? If it's failing to operate special wash programs or abruptly aborting cycles, you're not alone. This issue often stems from debris blocking the spray arms, worn components, or electronic faults. Understanding the causes can lead to effective DIY solutions or professional repairs.

Urgency: Medium

Important Tips for Bosch Models

  • Bosch official guidance notes spray arm obstruction and blockages as primary noise causes
  • Bosch support hub offers error code decoding and control troubleshooting

Possible Causes

Foreign objects or debris obstructing spray arms or pump

How to Identify: Noise during wash, visible debris under spray arms or in filter; special cycles not progressing if water flow is impacted

Part: Spray arms, filter, pump area

Worn or damaged pump/impeller or motor bearings

How to Identify: Loud grinding or vibrating noise from bottom of unit during wash cycles, cycles may stop or fail; noise persists with no obvious obstructions

Part: Circulation pump, pump motor, wash impeller

Improper loading causing vibration and spray arm obstruction

How to Identify: Items hitting spray arms causing loud noise; cycles may be less effective or abort if arms jam

Part: Dish racks, spray arms

Control board or cycle selection electronics fault

How to Identify: Special programs fail to start or complete; control panel unresponsive even with power, no error codes shown

Part: Control board / electronic selector

Faulty door latch or switch preventing proper start of cycles

How to Identify: Dishwasher fails to start cycles at all or intermittently if door not detected as closed

Part: Door latch assembly and microswitch

DIY Solutions

Inspect and clear debris from spray arms and filter

Moderate 20-40 minutes
Tools Needed: screwdriver, soft brush, warm water
  1. Turn off power and open dishwasher.
  2. Remove lower rack, spray arms, and filter.
  3. Rinse spray arms and filter under warm water and remove debris with brush.
  4. Ensure spray arms rotate freely and reinstall components.
  5. Run a short test cycle to check noise reduction and cycle start.
⚠️ Safety First: Disconnect power before working inside dishwasher

Rearrange dishes to avoid spray arm obstruction

Easy 5-10 minutes
  1. Open dishwasher and unload racks.
  2. Ensure dishes are spaced and not interfering with spray arms’ rotation.
  3. Avoid placing lightweight items where they can move and vibrate.
  4. Close dishwasher and run a cycle to test noise improvement.

Reset dishwasher electronic control

Easy 5 minutes
  1. Turn off dishwasher at circuit breaker for 1–5 minutes.
  2. Restore power and attempt to start a special program.
  3. Observe if control resets and programs start normally.
⚠️ Safety First: Ensure dishwasher is off before power reset

Professional Repairs

Replace worn pump motor or impeller

Estimated Cost: $150 - $400

Service or replace control board/electronic selector

Estimated Cost: $200 - $600

Replace door latch assembly

Estimated Cost: $50 - $150

When to Call a Professional

Noise persists after cleaning and proper loading
Dishwasher fails to initiate any special program or control panel unresponsive
Visible damage to pump or impeller
Cycle selection error codes appear

Preventive Maintenance

  • Clean filter and spray arms: Blockages causing noise and performance issues
    Frequency: monthly
  • Ensure proper loading: Spray arm obstruction and excessive noise
    Frequency: every use

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Bosch Dishwasher loud vibrating noise, not functioning on special programs?
Top causes include foreign objects obstructing spray arms, worn pump components, or faults in the control board.
How do I fix Bosch Dishwasher loud vibrating noise, not functioning on special programs myself?
Inspect and clear debris from spray arms, rearrange dishes to avoid obstruction, or reset the control by cutting power.
How much does it cost to fix loud vibrating noise, not functioning on special programs?
Professional repairs range from $50 for a door latch to $600 for control board replacement.
When should I call a technician for loud vibrating noise, not functioning on special programs?
Contact a technician if DIY solutions fail or if the issue persists, indicating a more serious underlying problem.

References & Sources

Community Analytical Insights

Analysis based on real user discussions from appliance repair communities

Can I Fix This Myself?

75%
DIY Success Rate Difficulty: Either

Common Issues Reported by Users

  • Faulty or damaged pump assembly causing vibration and noise
  • Worn or loose mounting brackets leading to excessive vibration
  • Clogged spray arms preventing proper water flow, affecting special programs

User Suggested Solutions

  1. Inspect and tighten or replace the pump assembly. Ensure all connections are secure and check for any visible damage.

  2. Check and secure the mounting brackets. If they are worn, replace them to reduce vibration.

  3. Remove and clean the spray arms to ensure they are not clogged. Run a cleaning cycle afterward to check functionality.

Analysis based on 1 community discussions
View Sources

Data compiled from real discussions on r/appliancerepair and r/Appliances:

  1. Help Needed with Noisy Bosch Dishwasher Part (SGX68U55UC/D5)

Community Discussions

loud vibrating noise during cycles, only works on Auto program

Replace the aqua stop part

DIY View on Reddit →

Source: Reddit r/appliancerepair

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