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.

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:

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

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.


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.


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

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:

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.

Comments (5)
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!!
Posted by Kit | February 6, 2010 1:36 AM
Posted on February 6, 2010 01:36
This dishwasher maybe part of a Bosch recall. Check the bosch website to find out.
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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
Posted by Patricia | February 17, 2010 3:06 AM
Posted on February 17, 2010 03:06
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!
Posted by Paulb | February 21, 2010 3:48 PM
Posted on February 21, 2010 15:48
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.
Posted by sam | March 7, 2010 3:42 PM
Posted on March 7, 2010 15:42
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.)
Posted by Jonny D | March 19, 2010 12:23 AM
Posted on March 19, 2010 00:23