Bosch Dishwasher: not powering on

Professional Repair Guide

What is this symptom?

If your Bosch dishwasher is not powering on, it may show no lights or response when you press the Start button. This common issue can stem from a lack of power, a faulty door latch, or a locked control panel. Understanding the potential causes can help you troubleshoot effectively and restore functionality to your appliance.

Urgency: Medium

Important Tips for Bosch Models

  • Bosch dishwashers will not start or power on unless the door is fully closed and latched due to safety interlock.
  • Many Bosch models include a child lock feature that can prevent starting if active.

Possible Causes

No power reaching the dishwasher

How to Identify: Dishwasher has no lights or display; other appliances in same circuit also not powered; tripped circuit breaker or blown fuse.

Part: Household power supply, socket connection

Door latch or door switch failure

How to Identify: Dishwasher won’t start with door seemingly closed; no ‘click’ when closing; safety lock prevents power up; might show power but not start cycle.

Part: Door latch assembly and door switch

Control panel or user interface locked (child lock)

How to Identify: Dishwasher has lights on but does not respond to button presses; padlock or key icon visible.

Part: Control panel child lock feature

Faulty electronic control board or timer

How to Identify: Dishwasher shows no lights or unresponsive display despite power present; power cycling doesn’t help.

Part: Main control board/timer

Blown thermal fuse

How to Identify: No power to control board; electrical tests show open fuse on multimeter.

Part: Thermal fuse

DIY Solutions

Check household power supply and reset breaker

Easy 10 minutes
Tools Needed: none
  1. Locate and check the circuit breaker or fuse for the dishwasher circuit and reset if tripped.
  2. Verify the dishwasher is properly plugged into the socket and test the outlet with another device.
⚠️ Safety First: Ensure hands are dry when handling electrical panels.

Verify door latch and door closure

Easy 5-10 minutes
Tools Needed: none
  1. Open dishwasher door and inspect latch area for debris or obstructions.
  2. Close door firmly until a distinct click is heard; ensure latch engages fully.

Disable child lock on control panel

Easy 2 minutes
Tools Needed: none
  1. Locate child lock button or padlock/key icon on the control panel.
  2. Press and hold the child lock button for 3–5 seconds until icon disappears.

Power cycle the dishwasher

Easy 5 minutes
Tools Needed: none
  1. Turn off the circuit breaker or unplug the dishwasher.
  2. Wait for 1–5 minutes.
  3. Restore power and try to start the dishwasher.

Professional Repairs

Replace door latch or door switch assembly

Estimated Cost: $50 - $150

Replace main control board or timer

Estimated Cost: $150 - $400

Replace thermal fuse

Estimated Cost: $20 - $50

When to Call a Professional

Dishwasher display remains unresponsive after power and latch checks
Circuit breaker trips immediately upon resetting
Internal component failure suspected after basic checks

Preventive Maintenance

  • Regularly clean door latch area: Door latch failing to engage due to debris
    Frequency: monthly
  • Test control panel buttons periodically: Build-up of grease/dirt causing unresponsiveness
    Frequency: monthly

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my Bosch Dishwasher not powering on?
Common causes include no power supply, a faulty door latch, or a locked control panel.
How do I fix Bosch Dishwasher not powering on myself?
Check power supply, inspect the door latch, disable child lock, or power cycle the dishwasher.
How much does it cost to fix not powering on?
Repair costs range from $20 for a thermal fuse to $400 for a main control board replacement.
When should I call a technician for not powering on?
Call a technician if DIY solutions fail or if the issue involves complex repairs like control board replacement.

References & Sources

Community Analytical Insights

Analysis based on real user discussions from appliance repair communities

Can I Fix This Myself?

20%
DIY Success Rate Difficulty: Professional

Common Issues Reported by Users

  • Control board failure (2 mentions)
  • Wiring issues (e.g., disconnected wires) (2 mentions)

User Suggested Solutions

  1. Replace control board or wiring harness

    Success rate: 9.0%
  2. Consult a professional for diagnosis and repair

    Success rate: 0.0%

Community Discussions

complete power failure

Gave up and got a KitchenAid dishwasher.

Source: Reddit r/appliancerepair

User Comments (0)

Share your experience or solution below.

Be the first to comment!