Bosch Dishwasher Starts Then Stops? (here’s why & how to fix)

Owning a dishwasher is one labour saving device we will never regret buying. The dishwasher saves time, water and cleans the dishes thoroughly without any human intervention. However, when the dishwasher stops mid cycle, it can be worrying.

If this happens to your Bosch dishwasher, you’re likely to feel anxious, because let’s face it, dishwashers are not the easiest appliances to work on. Especially if you don’t know what you’re doing. Fortunately, there are a few ways to identify what’s wrong with the appliance and there’s often an easy fix solution too.

If your Bosch dishwasher starts and then stops mid programme, keep reading. Because in this article we look at the reasons why a Bosch dishwasher is likely to stop working and the relevant ways to resolve the problem.

Please Note: You should only tamper with your Bosch dishwasher if you are competent and confident in your abilities to fix it. Remember you could void any warranty if you dismantle any parts. Plus you could cause serious harm to yourself, the appliance and your home.

Bosch Dishwasher Stops Mid Cycle Troubleshooting Guide

Issue	Probable Cause	How To Fix
Dishwasher starts and stops after a few minutes	Door not fully closed	Close the door, ensure the dishwasher is level, replace the door latch, remove any obstruction from the door area.
Dishwasher stops mid wash cycle	Low water pressure	Contact the local water authority
Dishwasher stops during the drain cycle	Blocked filter, blockage in drain hose	Remove the filter and clean and remove any debris from inside the filter housing, clean drain hose using a plumber’s snake.
Dishwasher stops mid cycle	Circuit breaker tripped or fuse blown	Reset circuit breaker or replace fuse.
Dishwasher becomes hot and stops working	Thermal fuse blown	Replace the thermal fuse.
Dishwasher stops working mid cycle	Fault with the control panel	Reset the dishwasher.
Dishwasher stops working mid cycle	Faulty control board, faulty fan assembly, faulty pump or motor	Call in an expert.

Reasons Why A Bosch Dishwasher Stops Working Mid Cycle

There are several reasons why your Bosch dishwasher could have stopped mid cycle which include;

Door Not Fully Closed

If the cycle starts and then suddenly stops before finishing it can be really frustrating, you now have a machine full of partially clean dishes and possibly a whole load of hot water.

There can be a number of reasons why the door isn’t fully closed and some are easy to fix. 

Dishwasher Not Level

The first thing to check is that the dishwasher is level. If it’s not level this could prevent the door from closing fully which could be stopping the programme from running. You can level the dishwasher by adjusting the feet on the bottom of the appliance.

Blockage

If the feet are level and the door is still not shutting fully, there could be an obstruction that’s blocking the door. Check that there are no plates, dishes, pan handles or any other obstacles preventing the door from fully closing.

Loose Door Latch

The door latch is essential in keeping the door of the dishwasher closed. If it is damaged, or broken it will need to be replaced. Have a look at the latch, sometimes you can see that a prong has become damaged.

If this is the case, it can often be bent back into its correct shape, or it might need to be replaced. Door latches can be ordered online and fitted at home even without too much technical knowledge.

If the latch is faulty, the dishwasher door might be closed, but the machine detects that it’s not fully closed and shuts the programme off to prevent any damage or flooding etc.

Low Water Pressure

If the dishwasher doesn’t receive enough water it won’t be able to wash your dishes properly. This is often caused by low water pressure and will cause the dishwasher to stop mid cycle.

If this is the case, the dishwasher might sound louder than normal as the motor is working harder. To check if your water pressure is low, turn on a tap in the kitchen and see how fast it is running.

If the water pressure is low in your home you might need to contact the local water authority. In the UK water authorities have to supply water at a minimum of 1 bar of pressure by law. 1 bar of pressure is the amount of pressure needed to force water up by 10 metres. 

However, this pressure of water only has to be supplied to the boundary of your home. If the pressure problem is in your home, then you’re liable for any necessary repairs.

Dishwasher Fill Timeout

This could be caused by low water pressure or the water inlet valve is blocked or the inlet hose is kinked. What happens is the dishwasher senses that there’s not enough water entering the appliance and so it shuts down.

Stops Mid Drain Cycle

If your Bosch dishwasher starts to drain and stops mid cycle it could be because there is a blockage. The drainage system is protected by a filter which could have become blocked.

Remove the filter and inspect to make sure there is nothing blocking the waste water from leaving the dishwasher. Remove any large pieces of food or broken glass etc before running a rinse cycle to check that it’s working OK.

If it’s still not working correctly it could be the drain hose that has a blockage. To check this, disconnect the drain hose from the waste pipe under your kitchen sink and place the hose in a bucket.

Then run a rinse cycle and check that the water runs freely out of the drain hose and into the bucket. If not it’s very likely that there’s a blockage in the pipe which will need to be cleared using a plumber’s snake.

Blown Fuse Or Tripped Breaker

If your dishwasher stops mid programme it could be due to a blown fuse or a tripped circuit breaker. This is often due to a power surge which can happen for a number of reasons including an electrical storm or a power cut. 

If this is the cause of your Bosch dishwasher stopping mid cycle, all you need to do is reset the fuse or circuit breaker and restart the appliance.

Faulty Or Blown Thermal Fuse

Dishwashers have thermal fuses as safety measures to prevent the appliance from overheating. Blown thermal fuses are one of the most common causes of Bosch dishwashers stopping mid cycle.

If the dishwasher gets too hot the thermal fuse will blow which prevents the dishwasher from working and protecting the internal components from becoming damaged.

If you suspect that the thermal fuse has blown you should check the dishwasher for any signs of overheating. If the appliance is too hot to touch for example, it could be a sign that the thermal fuse has blown.

Before your Bosch dishwasher will work again, you will need to replace the thermal fuse. Most electrical retailers stock thermal fuses and they’re easy to replace.

Problems With The Control Panel

The control panel is designed to run the dishwasher in much the same way as the central nervous system works in the human body. The control panel on your Bosch dishwasher detects commands and directs power to the many moving parts of the device.

Control panels are designed to last as long as the other components of your dishwasher, but faults can occur. There could be a loose connection, an incorrect function or any other minor problem which could cause the appliance to stop mid cycle.

In some cases all you need to do is reset the dishwasher to solve this issue. 

To reset your Bosch dishwasher all you need to do is press and hold the reset button (or in the absence of a reset button, the start button and power button) for 3 seconds.

In some cases you can reset a Bosch dishwasher by removing the plug from the wall socket and replacing it after around 5 to 10 minutes.

Faulty Control Board

The electronic control board is designed to last for the lifetime of your Bosch dishwasher. However damage can occur through water leakage or the control board can even burn out. This is especially common in older appliances that don’t have built in protection.

A typical sign of a damaged control board is that the dishwasher will run for a few minutes before stopping abruptly and unexpectedly.

If you are competent you can check the electronic control board using a multimeter. If you’re not sure, it might be a job best left to an expert.

Faulty Fan Assembly

In some cases the dishwasher might finish the wash cycle but end before the drying cycle starts. You can usually tell if this is the case because the dishes will still be wet or have water stains.

The drying cycle works by using a fan which blows hot air over the dishes. If the fan stops working for whatever reason, the dishwasher will finish much sooner than it should.

There’s also the high limit thermostat that cuts in and shuts the heating element down on the dishwasher if it gets too hot. Its purpose is to ensure that the temperature of the water is just right to mix with the detergent.

If this thermostat fails, it can shut off the heating element too soon. Which can either cause dishes to be washed in cold water or not dry at all.

To test the high limit thermostat, you’ll need to use a multimeter. But this should only be done if you’re competent and your appliance is not still under warranty.

Faults With The Pump Or Motor

If your Bosch dishwasher stops mid programme, it could be a problem with the pump or the motor. The pump is used to circulate water around the dishwasher while the motor is used to operate the pump.

If either one of these parts develops a fault, the dishwasher will stop working.

You should check that there’s not a blockage in the pump and if there is, remove it and see if that solves the problem. If there is no blockage, it’s possible you’ll need to replace either the motor or the pump.

Anti-Flood Monitor Tripped

Somewhere in the base of the dishwasher is a float mechanism that can become tripped. This usually indicates that there is a leak somewhere within the dishwasher that has allowed water to reach the base of the appliance.

You will need to investigate where the leak is and stop it before the dishwasher will work again.

Faulty Power Supply

In some cases the problem could be as simple as the plug socket the dishwasher is connected to is faulty. This could lead to an intermittent power supply which could make the appliance stop mid cycle.

To check the power supply, plug something else like a table lamp into the socket and check that it doesn’t flicker. If it does, you’ll need to call in an electrician to repair or replace the socket.

SEE ALSO: How Much Salt Do I Put In A Dishwasher? (the real answer)

Frequently Asked Questions