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Bosch SHU43 Dishwasher Repair - Dishwasher keeps running

My Bosch dishwasher was broken recently. It kept running for hours. Here is how I fixed it:

First, the symptoms: The dishwasher would run for a long time... hours. It didn't really get things clean. When the door opened the inside was not warm.

The first step was running the built-in diagnostics. To do this press the Power Scrub and Regular Wash buttons at the same time, then press the power button. One of the lights will show up.

If the WASH light shows, that indicates a heating fault
If the RINSE/DRY light shows, that indicates a filling fault
If the CLEAN light shows, that indicates a NTC (Temperature Sensor) fault.

Mine showed WASH so there was a heating fault. When this shows it can be a problem with the heating element or the electronics.

One of the common problems with this dishwasher is that the solder joint for the heating circuit can burn out. It is pretty simple to fix if you have a soldering iron and a torx screwdriver (#20 size). The circuit board should be checked before replacing the heating element because it is faster and easier to check and repair.

Step 1 is to unplug the dishwasher. Even though the wires to the power switch are insulated, it is always a good idea to make sure there is no power going to the dishwasher.

Step 2 is to remove the Fascia - the front part of the dishwasher with the buttons on it. To do this you use a torx #20 screwdriver. Open the door and remove the screws from along the top edge of the door. Remove the two screws from the side which hold the control panel in place. I also remove the two screws at the top of the front panel to make it easier to get the control panel in and out.

Removing-Control-Module-01.jpg

Once the screws are removed, the control panel can be pulled up and forward to free it from the door.

Once this is done, disconnect the wires holding it in place. First the connectors to the control module:

Bosch-SHU43-Control-Panel.jpg

Then the connectors to the Power Switch and the Ground Wire:

Disconnect-Power-Switch-And-Ground-Wire.jpg

When these are disconnected, you can remove the panel entirely and set it on a soft surface. It is possible to skip disconnecting the wires, but it requires juggling a half-open door and a wobbly control panel while you try to unclip the control module.

The next step is to unclip the control module. There are plastic clips at both sides that need to be opened and then the module rotates free with a hinge at the upper side:

Unclip by sliding a flat screwdriver or other tool under. Do not bend too far or you risk breaking off the clip.

Remove-Bosch-SHU43-Control-Module-Clip.jpg

Remove-Second-Clip.jpg

Swing the top up so you can get to the next set of clips which hold the circuit board in position. These are similar to the first set, but smaller. You can use your fingers to release them.

remove-Bosch-Dishwasher-SHU43-Circuit-board.jpg

remove-circuit-board-second-clip.jpg

Once those clips are open, you can pull the circuit board up to see the back side.

repair-heater-circuit-solder-joint-bosch-shu43-dishwasher.jpg

Once it is visible, look for a burned solder joint near the middle of the board as shown in the photos. It will look something like this:

bosch-heater-circuit-board-repair-shu43016.jpg

Clean the joint with an x-acto knife or whatever else you can use. Then get out the soldering iron and resolder the joint. Put it back together in the reverse order you took it apart. Don't forget to plug it back in!

Test by running a wash cycle. If the heater comes on and the wash cycle is back to normal times (about 90 minutes) then you have fixed it.

If you can't succeed in repairing it, the whole module is typically available for about $150

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  • Comments (69)

    Kit:

    I want to thank you for mentoring me through the process of fixing my Bosch dishwasher. I now have a working dishwasher again!
    You da man!!

    Patricia:

    This dishwasher maybe part of a Bosch recall. Check the bosch website to find out.
    -----------------
    Thank you! It turns out that some models built between 1999 and 2005 are under recall for a problem with the control board that can cause fire. More information is available at the Bosch site here: http://microsites.boschappliances.com/safetyrecall/dishwasher/ Thanks for pointing this out. -Jack

    Paulb:

    This was the easiest fix I have ever made, thanks to this fantastic detailed step-by-step instruction. I'm no repairman, and I admit I was nervous about the whole thing, but it was as simple as described. My circuit board on Bosch model SHE43C is slightly different, but the burned out solder joint was immediately identifiable.

    Many thanks to the author. It was a quick and easy fix as promised!

    sam:

    Hi great step by step saved me a lot of time & $$ .It did work for couple of washes and now it's back to the old routine no heating cycle and it never stop washing when it reaches the 1 minute mark.I reopened the pannel and nothing was burnned or bad .what do you think might be know? thx and my dishwasher is a bosch SHU5315UC/UC12.

    Jonny D:

    Any appliance with electronic touch controls benefits from being plugged into a surge protector, just like the kind you buy for a desktop computer. Obviously it keeps any power problems from frying the circuit board or sometimes the non-replaceable fuse. I learned this from an appliance repair guy after the local power company touched two wires together when they were working on the lines and fried my dishwasher's control panel. $300 for a new one! (Yes, they eventually reimbursed me.)

    Joao:

    Thanks for your detailed instructions. In my dishwasher, the pin was totally fried away and no recovery or soldering was possible. A brand new box with all circuit boards was fitted ( € 88 )and my Bosh is new ! Thanks to you, anyhow.

    Woody:

    Yep, this trick worked for me too. Thanks for the detailed instructions and photos!

    Seth Taylor:

    Thanks a bunch! It worked for me too! Your images and explanation helped me feel confident enough to do it myself with the help of my cousin for soldering.

    Bib:

    I came across your site after many searches and worrying about about buying a new control panel. The last one cost around $450 and was replaced on warranty back in 2000. The Bosch 6800 Dishwasher is a nice unit but I couldn't justify spending around $600.00 plus for someone else to do the work or parts. I would have just purchased a new dishwasher.
    Your step by step is actually what I needed to really understand the problem. The only money I spent was on a new soldering iron and some 40/60 rosin core solder for a grand total of around $60.00. Thank you and if ever I have another problem, yours will be the first site I visit. It was also my first solder job on a circuit board and it held up!
    Bib

    Steve:

    My dishwasher model is SHU43C06UC/46. The control assembly and PC card differ from your photos. However the issue was the same. Once apart, I could see the burnt solder joint. Fixed it in just a few minutes. Thanks much for posting. The photos helped a lot.

    Gary Brown:

    Hi I have a Bosch SGS4012GB/07. It suddenly stopped going through its cycle, the machine will only progress through its cycle if I turn the control dial manually. The water only heats right at the end of the cycle – I have gradually been turning it by hand. It has got to just between part 4 and the dotted line on the dial and is heating up nicely, however it still won’t progress by itself. Is it my control module do you think?? Cheers Gary

    Bob:

    Thank you very much! This was my exact problem (that I had for years). I'm glad that someone went to so much trouble to post pictures with a good description of the problem and solution, and that I didn't have to spend any money to fix it.

    Anonymous:

    Fantastic instructions. Ater a no-show repair man, I found your step-by-step guide and tried the fix myself, successfully! Served two purposes...now enjoying clean dishes again plus I'm back in good graces with the wife. MC

    Eric:

    We are not repair guys but we thought what the heck, nothing to lose, so we started taking it apart. Sure enough had a burned solder just like your picture and we fixed it. Works like a champ now. Me and my 15 year old son did this together and we are so proud of our no-cost repair. Thank u so much for posting this with detailed pictures.
    E.

    Marty:

    Thanks for all the detail. Saved me from having to buy a new dishwasher. MS

    John:

    Thanks for the excellant diagrams and analysis. I had hoped that I'd find the same problem. However, the board was intact- no soldering needed. My Bosch continues to run on, there is heat from within. And when I do the diagnostic testing, the only thing that shows is the "rinse" button goes on and when I release the power button, the washer begins the power/Scrub cycle.
    If "filler" is the problem- how might I fix that?
    Thanks for any advice.

    JG

    M Pentland:

    Awesome! I followed your easy instructions. The hardest part was figuring out which circuit breaker to turn off (LOL) I thank you very much for your post. It saved me a lot of hassle. I was actually ready to replace the whole module. It had not dawned on me that a drop of molten solder would repair the appliance. Much appreciation!!

    Sherman:

    I had the same problem with the dishwasher running and never stopping.... I have model SHX46AO7UC/21 Bosch
    The controls are different but close enough to follow
    the posted instrucions. Just like described... I had
    it up and running in about 90 minutes.....
    Saved a bunch of money..
    THANK YOU.....

    Pascal Desrosiers:

    Thank you so much! I have a Bosch SHU33A05UC this also did the trick! Worst thing is that it was not under all the recalls they made.

    Hope it will last...

    Randy:

    Great and timely advice. My Bosch SHU43 was having the exact same issue, hanging at 1 minute remaining and not completing rinse or heat cycle.

    Performed this procedure and sure enough, a clearly fried soldering point. My control module box was a bit different and had to patiently open it up without breaking plastic tabs to observe the circuit board.

    A couple quick tips:
    -Take pictures of the plugs leading to the control module before disassembly. It helped reassemble correctly.
    -The entire front panel assembly was a bit fussy going back in. There are metal tabs in the interior door panel that align to slots in the front panel frame. It helped to loosen the Torx screws along the length of the stainless steel interior panel to allow for additional wiggle room when aligning the front panel with the tabs.

    Overall, a super solid tutorial and saved me potentially $200-$300 for a technician to replace the control module. Thanks so much for taking the time to post the instruction!!!!

    Smith:

    Thanks so much! This fix worked great (so far!) on our Bosch SHU43C05UC/46. We had a certified Bosch repairman tell us to buy a new dishwasher, but I stubbornly refused to believe that a dishwasher was a disposable good. I am so glad that I kept looking for a solution. This was my first soldering job, but it seems to be holding up. My teenage sons especially thank you because dish duty just got much easier around here.

    I appreciate you documenting how to fix this problem. I took mine apart and found the solder burnt out as well. I resoldered it and put it back together. On my model I found it pretty difficult to open the control module casing. In fact, I broke a few clips and wasn't able to completely close it upon reassembly. I have it going through a cycle now and hopefully (fingers crossed) the heating element will work.

    Wayne Larimore
    http://Waynester.Net

    Quinn:

    Bosch SHE44C05UC: Thank you for documenting this repair in such detail. We have the SHE44C model (purchased in Oct 2006) so the workings were a little different but still close enough to get the job done. Your posting gave us the confidence to give the repair a try. Thanks to the other comment posters as taking a picture of the wire connectors proved helpful when putting everything back together and we were extra careful with all the clips. All is working great! Thanks again!

    Anonymous:

    Thank you so much for this posting. My bosch dishwasher was driving me crazy because I knew it was taking too long to run through the cycles and it kept getting a build up of pink sludge. The repair man wanted $300 to fix it. Your step by step guide saved my money and my sanity.

    paul:

    thanks for a great article. just tried this on a bosch in one of our properties. running wash cycle now and will report back if it works. thanks again

    Jeff Prisner:

    Last night I was grousing about having to get a new dishwasher. Then when I found your posting I was able to fix the problem before the sun was high. Add yet another burned solder joint to the list you are keeping.

    For me the fastest way to confirm that I fixed it was to connect the D/W to a cold supply and let it fill. Within minutes I could open the door and feel with my hand that the heater was working again.

    Paul Ferry:

    I have a Bosch SHX45c02uc model that had the same problem as discribed above. This model has the hide away buttons on top of the door. The disassembling was a little different from your photos but close enough for me to figure it out. The burnt solder joint looked identical to your photo. As suggested above I took digital photos of the wiring prior to disassembling. I completed the repair in less than an hour. Thanks to all for posting this stuff on line. Between repair forums and YouTube videos I have been able to fix my furnace, snowmobiles, refrigerator and now my dishwasher. The Internet holds a vast amount of informative information. Take care...

    Frank C.:

    The repaipr worked ! Thanks!

    Mr. Joe:

    Our Bosch SHE46C(for which I could find no repair manual on the web)purchased a few years ago at Lowes incurred the same control board solder joint problem you so completely described. My only problem in effecting the repair was to not follow your instructions and remove only the upper door screws which allow the control module to detach from the rest of the door assembly.

    I add my thanks for your post with pictures.

    Ed:

    Thanks for the post! This worked for me on my Bosch SHE42L also and hopefully it stands up. I had a similar problem with the defrost on my fridge and soldered it a few times. Not sure why they run such large currents through a solder joint. Bosch manual says about 9 amps!
    Lots of thanks :) my dishwasher's extended warranty was up by ONE DAY when it broke!

    dave h:

    Also worked on my SHV46C. Thanks!

    Have you had to re-repair often?

    gemyjan:

    My bosch is only 5 years old and also from lowes SHE46C and has the same problem!! We idenified the burnt connection and Although our soldering job did not work, Our new control panel that we ordered fixed the problem!!! Also the person above me was right open the fount part of the door, DO NOT UNSCREW THE ONES THAT GO TO THE HINGES!!
    A MISTAKE THAT IS VERY HARD TO PUT BACK TOGEATHER!! Thanks

    Rock:

    Thanks,for your excellent post with the pictures. I have a SHX36L that had a burned post on the circuit board as you showed. My son in-law and I repaired it with the No. 20 screwdriver and a soldering iron in about 30 minutes. It now works again. My wife and I are retired and on a fixed income after re-locating due to Hurricane Katrina. Your post was a savings and a blessing. Thanks again. Rock

    Candy Promes:

    Thanks for the solution to our Bosch shu68 problem. The take apart and put back together instructions were similar enough to work for our model, and we found and soldered the problem. Thanks for saving us big bucks!

    Sandy:

    You're a genious! I got so excited when I saw the burned solder post! My husband and I worked as a team and the first load completed perfectly. So many thanks for great info.

    B Fowers:

    Thank you for this post. We had the same issue with our Bosch SHU33 model. Taking it apart was slightly different but we were able to fix the problem without calling in a repairman. We are so happy about having a properly working dishwasher now.

    John:

    I too have just carried out the repair on an SHE46C following your excellent instructions.Was so happy when I saw the burned solder joint!!
    Perfect - just avoided at least a $300 service bill!
    Thanks a million!!

    Mike:

    Followed the instructions today and they worked like a champ. Our dishwasher kept sticking at the one minute mark and would run for hours. It also wouldn't dry the dishes like it used to and it left a white film on the dishes. After applying this fix, the timer worked as designed, the dishes were dry and no white film! Like others, my dishwasher was slightly different, but the steps pointed me in the right direction. I've never soldered anything before in my life so I went to Youtube to learn how. I purchased a $21 soldering gun and went to work. My joint wasn't as nice as the instructor's on Youtube, but it worked nonetheless.

    Thanks for posting these instructions! You saved me hundreds of dollars!

    Jim Cocks:

    Had the same symptoms on our Bosch SHE56C. It was purchased thru Sears and had 3 months left on the 5 year warrenty on the control board, so I paid the Sears call out fee, and directed the repairman thru your procedure...sure enough they are ordering a new control on warrenty....1 month delivery...I'm going to try to solder the burned joint in the mean time, but it is badly burned and I don't know if I can get a good electrical connection. Great write up, Thanks

    Will:

    Its amazing how many people have had this same issue, including me Thanks so much for taking the time to document this to such detail. Maybe Bosch should think about a recall.

    cj:

    you're saving me a fortune! You're awesome! I'm a woman doing this and soldering for the first time, what a feeling of accomplishment! Thanks!

    Paul:

    Also worked on my SHX33A or SHX33A05UC/46 to be more exact.

    My symptoms were the same- 3 hours, 50 minutes run time for Normal Wash. Open the dishwasher, still dirty dishes, some suds at the bottom from the rinse agent, all because it wasn't heating the water hot enough... Sanitized light wouldn't come on at the end. Household temp is 120, but this machine heats it up to ~135 in wash and ~150 in the rinse cycles.

    Entering the Diagnostics was slightly different for this model, but it doesn't matter, I had to also solder a heating relay contact on the circuit board.

    After putting the board back on, I left the front panel off, ran a diagnostic test run, and rested a thermometer my wife uses when steaming milk on the inside panel just above the soap dispenser. Sure enough, the temp slowly rose from about 100 up to 135 at which point, roughly 20 mins later, the diagnostic run was satisfied and the drain cycle kicked in. Re-attached the front panel and then ran a Normal wash cycle which now finished in about 90 minutes, and the Sanitized light is now also back on.

    This post saved me hundreds! Thanks!

    Fred Terry:

    Thanks for posting this. My SHU 9955UC/14 purchased in 2003 developed the same problem after about 10 years of use. It is apparently not part of the recall.

    The location of the pin on the circuit board is different than in the older models, but the burned solder joint was evident once I disassembled. Your posting allowed me to diagnose and fully repair my dishwasher in less than 2 hours for free! I would have lost 2 hours of work and >$100 for a repair call.

    Thanks!

    K. V. Bennett:

    You done good!! My washer is somewhat different than what you pictures; however, I was able to disassemble it and sure enough, there was a burnt solder joint. Took me about 3 hours. Washer now works perfectly. Thanks for saving me the price of a new washer.

    Bruce:

    Thank you for this! I have a different model, SHX43C05UC/46, but same problem. Easily used your fix with your excellent photos and some translation to my machine. Soldering was tricky for me but I'm a novice. In any case, so far so good!! Amazed Bosch hasn't recalled for this, common across so many machines. Great post and pics! Thanks again.

    Jonathan:

    Thank you so much! My dishwasher would run and not stop.

    It was the exact problem you showed, I soldered it up, works like new,

    Ironically it was still under the electronics warranty but no labor and Bosch wanted $99 for 18 minutes (!) and then extra every 6 minutes. I figured it was not worth paying $150 or so to get a free board that costs abput that much. I took a chance figuring It would either fix the problem or buy a new one.

    Thanks again!

    ken pie:

    Thank you my bosch Washer SHX46AO5UC-30 Had the same problem ,I repared it the same way it works great

    Sam:

    Yes this certainly did it . It was a great help to look at the photos . Took about an hour to fix , runs great.
    Thank you , Thank you .
    Had a $600 Whirlpool that ran for 16 years , never a problem , Got this Bosch with the house I just bought . Seems a lot of people have problems with these over rated over priced machines . My next appliance will be a Whirlpool.

    Rob L.:

    Awesome, that fixed my SHU43C06UC/38! Relatively easy to do if you know how to get solder to flow (must lightly scrape clean the relay pin and board hole, then use solder flux), but why did this happen and how long till it happens again? I'm disappointed that Bosch hasn't permanently fixed this problem by beefing up the relay or PC board. Another nice thing is that the module can be purchased for under $100.

    Michael Hill:

    Thank you - spent $22 on soldering iron and solder vs. $160 on replacement part + labor - had a different model washer - found the issue just as you said - the only difference is that I couldn't find any way to release the cover on the module to get at the circuit board - pried it open to the breaking point and worked through the opening created - thanks again.

    hssh:

    had to see for myself and, sure enough, well worth taking the dishwasher apart to find same issue with my SHE model Bosch. will repair it tomorrow. this fixes months of frustration and trying to troubleshoot the white film and residues on our dishes.

    Francesca:

    Worked for us too! THANK YOU.

    Would note that opening up the control panel box was a little tricky and thanks to the poster above who suggested loosening the torx screws along the interior panel in order to get the front panel part back in.

    Chris:

    I have a 10 YO UK Bosch dishwasher and although there is a completely different route to getting to the control unit I have just solved the problem of the 5 hour useless cleaning cycle. Cost me £8 for a new soldering iron and £2 for some solder and probably saved me £300 - £400 pounds. Many thanks, although my wife is cursing you as she thought this meant she would get a new one ;)

    Pete Lescrenier:

    This solution saved me big bucks and made me a hero with my wife. Just a few simple screws and a little solder did the trick for my SHX33A06UC/46. The original solder joint did not hold up. Thanks for posting!!!

    JohnnyP:

    Great detailed instructions! My dishwasher was fixed in just minutes. Unfotunately, I replaced the heater assembly before I ran across your post. Too bad I tore the whole thing apart and replaced a part that did not need replacing before finding out about this easy fix. Thanks again!

    Rich Brazicki:

    Followed your instructions and it worked. Running like new, thanks.

    David:

    I am very impressed with the post, grateful to the poster, and disappointed with Bosch.
    I was resigned to replace my 6 year old dishwasher and then I found this site. Although my components were a little different the symptoms were the same. i had a little trouble putting the face back in the door but the repair worked like a charm. I just wish the sour puss at the Bosch
    "help line" could have told me about this instead of telling me about some repairman 105 miles from my house.

    David:

    I am very impressed with the post, grateful to the poster, and disappointed with Bosch.
    I was resigned to replace my 6 year old dishwasher and then I found this site. Although my components were a little different the symptoms were the same. i had a little trouble putting the face back in the door but the repair worked like a charm. I just wish the sour puss at the Bosch
    "help line" could have told me about this instead of telling me about some repairman 105 miles from my house.

    Kent Koenig:

    The relay is rated at 10 Amps, but 11 Amps are pulled. Resoldering is not a good idea, the relay will just overheat and burn through the solder joint again. The longer term solution is to replace Bosch's poorly selected relay with a 12 Amp relay. I replaced mine with this relay: T7CV5D-12.
    The pictures and instructions above are quite excellent, just add a comment about replacing the relay with a better one.

    Kent Koenig:

    Oops, I listed the wrong relay part#. I actually used R46-5D12-6, which is a 12-Amp, 6-Volt, 100-Ohm relay. The one I listed in the previous post is 12-Volt, and would probably not have worked for me. Make sure to examine the original relay on your board. Replace it with a similar relay, just with a higher Amp rating. Sorry for the mix-up.

    Ivan:

    I have just replaced relay as well - used R46-5D12-6. Relay in board had the burned leg quite short.

    Phillip Townsend:

    Thanks for this great information. Opening up the control box for access to the circuit board was difficult, but the burned-out solder joint was easy to spot. $25 for a soldering iron and solder, then a minute of soldering, and the problem was fixed. Thanks for saving me the cost of a new control unit.

    Tracey:

    We replaced the control board. Now it gets warm, (not hot) but the long cycle keeps running. What else could it be?

    BOB Henchy:

    I just resoldered the relay and my dishwasher is back working. thanks to this web site I didnt have to spend 800 bucks

    Mike of Lexington, MA:

    Resoldering the heater wire on the circuit board solved my problem and saved me a lot of time, trouble and money.

    Many thanks.

    (But how can I find out who I'm writing to?)

    If you leave your email address, I'll write back. Thanks for the comment!

    Steve S:

    My SHX33A05UC had this same problem. Your solution was spot on. Thank you very much for sharing the info. If any one else has a SHX33A05UC the disassemble is different but the problem is the same. In the interest of time I soldered the burned out terminal and wrote down the information from the relay. If the problem recurs I will order a larger relay before I take it apart. Where can I find the trouble shooting manual and schematics for this machine? Thanks again.

    zella3:

    Just finished repairing my Bosch dishwasher following your instructions. It's great to see steam coming out of it again when I open the door. I have a SHX46A unit that is pretty much similar to that described. The failed connection on the circuit board was apparent. Scraped a littled and a drop of solder and back in business. Thanks.....

    Mike:

    In my case the culprit was an ant that was still present on the board that shorted out the heating circuit. Did a cleaning and spot solder and back in business. I had a few more steps to get to my circuit board, but well worth the effort. Thanks for the information.

    Mike in SC:

    My Bosch dishwasher model is SHU33A06UC/47, so it looks a little different inside but was experiencing the same issues as many others have with this defect: 3-hour cycle, no sterilized light, lots of suds. I decided to open it up and give it a go anyway. Even though the board was a bit different, thanks to the pics I was able to spot the problem with the bad solder joint. A drop of new solder, put it back together, and it WORKED! Thanks so much for putting this info out here on the web. A half hour and a drop of solder has saved hundreds of dollars that I would have had so spend on a repairman visit and likely a new control module.

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