Bosch Dishwasher Blinking Red Light? (here’s why & what to do)
Bosch dishwashers have a good name within the industry because of their reliability and value for money. However even the best appliances get problems at some point.
If you own a Bosch dishwasher and it is displaying a flashing red light it can be worrying. There’s no need to worry though, because in this article we take a close look at the reasons why your Bosch dishwasher is displaying a flashing red light and offer solutions to solve this issue.
What Does A Flashing Red Light Indicate On A Bosch Dishwasher?
Dishwashers use red and green lights to indicate various functions and processes. They are used to indicate the start and finish of the cycle, low rinse aid, low dishwasher salt as well as the extra dry feature.
Some silent running dishwashers display a red light onto the floor to indicate the appliance is running. However, all of those lights are solid and not flashing.
A flashing red light is an indicator that there’s something wrong. The most common reason for a red flashing light on a Bosch dishwasher is that the door is not closed properly.
This can be due to the door not being fully latched or it could be caused by other reasons. Let’s look into the meaning of the red flashing light in more detail.
The red flashing light is used by Bosch dishwashers to indicate one of the following;
| Probable Cause | Solution |
|---|---|
| Door Not Closed Properly | Check the door for obstructions and clear |
| Faulty Drain Pump | Contact a technician |
| Defective Heating Element | Contact a technician |
| Faulty Touchpad | Contact a technician |
The Door Isn’t Closed Correctly
If the door isn’t closed properly on the dishwasher, the appliance will not start. This is because when the door is closed, it forms a watertight seal to prevent flooding your home.
If the sensor detects that the door isn’t fully closed, the appliance won’t start and the red warning light will start flashing.
You will need to check that there are no dishes or utensils blocking the doorway and preventing the door from closing fully. If there are no obstacles in the way, you will need to get the door lock and latch as well as the sensor checked out.
This is a job best left to a technician.
Faulty Drain Pump
The drain pump forces all of the wastewater from the dishwasher, if it becomes defective or develops a fault, the dishwasher is liable to fill with too much water.
The control board detects an issue with the drain pump and displays the flashing red light to indicate that something is wrong.
This is another task best left to a technician to investigate and repair/replace.
Defective Heating Element
The dishwasher relies on the heating element to heat the water needed to wash the dishes. If the heating element develops a fault, it’s possible for the flashing red light to be displayed.
You will need to get the heating element and its relays checked out and replaced if necessary. This is another part best left to a technician to check and replace.
Faulty Touchpad
Another reason why your Bosch dishwasher could be displaying a flashing red light is if the touchpad develops a fault. If you try to press any of the buttons on the touchpad and they fail to respond or activate an incorrect function, the touchpad is most likely defective.
This could lead to the red flashing light being displayed.
The touchpad is closely connected to the control board and they are often sold as a pair for replacement. Both the touchpad and the control board are expensive and delicate parts.
Unless you know what you are doing, we recommend getting a technician to investigate this fault for you.
How To Reset A Bosch Dishwasher
In some cases, the cause could be an electrical glitch or software error. These can often be cleared simply by pressing and holding the start button for 5 seconds. Other models require the drain and cancel buttons to be pressed and held simultaneously or individually for 5 seconds.
You should consult your user manual for specific instructions on how to reset your particular dishwasher.
If all else fails, you should disconnect the power supply for 10 to 15 minutes to perform a reset. Once the power has been restored the dishwasher should be reset and the flashing red light or error code will have disappeared.
SEE ALSO: How To Reset A Bosch Dishwasher (the easy way)
Frequently Asked Questions
If there is a red light flashing on your Bosch dishwasher it could indicate a number of things including the start or finish of the cycle, the rinse aid dispenser needs topping up, the dishwasher salt reservoir needs topping up, the dishwasher door isn’t closed correctly, the touchpad is faulty, there is an electrical glitch, the heating element is faulty or the drain pump is defective.
Most Bosch dishwashers can be reset simply by pressing and holding the start button for 5 seconds. On others different buttons are used. If all else fails, you can disconnect the power supply for 10 to 15 minutes.
Bosch dishwashers don’t have a dedicated reset button. Many can be reset by pressing and holding the start button for 5 seconds. If this fails, try disconnecting the power supply for 10 – 15 minutes.
