A dishwasher is a real life-saver—not to mention that it can save you a ton of money on water if you use it properly. However, there will come a time when your dishwasher experiences maintenance issues, no matter how careful you are. If your Bosch dishwasher is stuck on auto, what should you do?
In the event that a Bosch dishwasher is stuck on auto-cycle or any wash cycle, the only solution is to perform a hard reset. You will have to open the dishwasher door, press and hold the start-reset button for 5 seconds until the LED indicators shut off, then shut the door. The reset process should take between 5 and 10 minutes.
However, this solution can only be used for specific Bosch dishwasher models. In this guide, I’ll explain the various causes for a Bosch dishwasher being stuck on auto, how to resolve the issue on different Bosh models, and what you should do if the problem persists.
Bosch Dishwasher Cycles
Before going over why a dishwasher will get stuck on auto cycle, let’s first take a look at the different wash cycles of most Bosch dishwashers.
Express
This cycle takes just under 30 minutes to finish washing your dishes. The dishwasher will draw 2.8 gallons of water from your water tank, heat it up rapidly to 113°F, and sanitize your dishes. If you’re in a rush, this is the wash cycle to use.
Eco
The Eco wash cycle works a bit differently from Express. It takes about 85 minutes to complete, and in that time, it uses between 2.5 and 3.8 gallons of water heated up to 122°F. Compared to express, Eco uses more power and water, but it uses much less compared to many of the following cycles.
Normal
The Normal cycle is the standard wash cycle that will handle most jobs beautifully. It takes around 135 minutes to complete while using up to 5.5 gallons of water heated to 122°F. If you want to have nice, clean dishes when you wake up, just turn on the Normal wash cycle on your Bosch dishwasher.
Heavy
However, you should activate the Heavy wash cycle if you just finished hosting a large dinner party and have numerous place settings and cookware to clean. Similarly, it takes 135 minutes to finish, but it uses as much as 6.4 gallons heated to 150°F to wash, soap, rinse, and sanitize your dishes.
Sanitize
If your dishes are still slightly dirty after an Express, Eco, or Normal wash, you don’t have to rerun those cycles from the beginning. Simply turn on the Sanitize cycle, which uses around 5 gallons of water at 151°F. The super-heated water will also help your dishes dry more quickly.
Auto
In the event that you have no idea what you’re doing, just turn on Auto cycle and let your Bosch dishwasher decide which cycle is best. The dishwasher will use multiple sensors to detect the weight and number of your dishes, as well as how dirty they are, to determine how much water to use and at what temperature.
Bosch Dishwasher Stuck on Auto—Cause, and Solutions
As great as the Auto wash cycle is, there might be a time when it fails to do anything. You could activate the Auto cycle at night and find in the morning that it hasn’t done a thing.
Oftentimes, there can be problems with the dishwasher’s electronic control board. This component is responsible for choosing which wash cycles to run and for how long. After running hundreds of wash cycles, the control board may experience minor technical problems that can be resolved by hard resetting the machine.
The method of hard setting a Bosch dishwasher depends on the series model. I’ll explain some of the more common methods of hard resetting a Bosch dishwasher, but you should consult the instruction manual for the precise method.
Resetting a Bosch Ascenta Dishwasher
- Open the dishwasher door. This puts the dishwasher on standby mode.
- Press and hold the start-reset button for 5 to 10 seconds.
- Wait for the LED indicators to shut off.
- Shut the dishwasher door.
- Wait for 5 to 10 minutes for the reset process to complete.
Resetting a Bosch Dishwasher with a Clock Display
- Open the dishwasher door.
- Press and hold the start-reset button for 5 to 10 seconds until the clock reads 0:00.
- Shut the dishwasher door and wait for the clock to reach 0:01.
- Press the on-off button.
- Wait for 5 to 10 minutes for the reset process to complete.
Other Bosch Dishwasher Models
- Open the dishwasher door.
- Press and hold the on/off button for 10 to 20 seconds until the dishwasher turns off.
- Shut the dishwasher door.
- Wait for 5 to 10 minutes for the reset process to complete.
What to Do If the Problem Persists
While a hard reset can control board problems almost 100% of the time, there’s still a likelihood that the problem may persist. If that happens, consider the following solutions.
Check the Error Code
The error code will give you a good idea of what’s going on with your Bosch dishwasher. Compare the flashing error code with the instruction manual to see what you need to do to resolve the problem.
Cancel and Restart the Wash Cycle from the Beginning
Press and hold the start button on your dishwasher and hold it for 3 to 5 seconds. When the machine stops, press the on/off button to cancel all instructions. Turn the machine off and on again before attempting to run another wash cycle.
Check the Dishwasher Door
The dishwasher door is responsible for many functions, including when the dishwasher should start and stop washing. If there are any problems with the dishwasher’s door—e.g., problems with the microswitch or if there’s a buildup of debris—then your dishwasher might seize all operations and activate standby mode.
Run Diagnostic Mode
Placing your Bosch dishwasher on the diagnostic mode will force it to look for and identify errors. Press and hold the start button and wait for the machine to respond. If this doesn’t work, you might have to input a button sequence. You can find the sequence in the dishwasher’s manual.
Call a Certified Bosch Dishwasher Technician
If all else fails, the final thing you can do is reach out to a certified Bosch dishwasher technician. They will inspect your machine from top to bottom and identify the problem. If the dishwasher is still under warranty, you might only have to pay for labor.
The thing is that the Auto cycle on a Bosch dishwasher relies on several sensors. Over time, these sensors may begin to malfunction, and you might not be able to fix it using your own two hands. It’s best to have a trained professional take care of the issue than to take the dishwasher apart on your own.
Are Bosch Dishwashers Reliable?
While this guide focuses on a major problem with Bosch dishwashers, they are fantastic machines in general. On average, a Bosch dishwasher can last for 7 years with minimal maintenance, and replacement parts are almost always readily available and fairly inexpensive. If you take the proper care of your Bosch dishwasher, it can last upwards of 10 years, according to some loyal customers.
When a Bosch dishwasher fails, you can always contact a Bosch-certified service center to help you resolve the problem. Just visit the Bosch website to see how you can reach out to the company. On average, Bosch responds to queries in 24 hours and sends out technicians in 3 weeks, depending on your location.
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