Bosch dishwasher’s performance and reliability are unquestionably good. But even so, these dishwashers fail, and at one point, you may have to deal with your Bosch dishwasher buttons not responding, and you’ve to fix that.
Often, Bosch dishwasher buttons become nonresponsive due to a programming hitch, fault code, failed power, active Child Lock, unfastened door, stuck buttons, damaged touchpad, defective control panel, or shorted main control board.
It only takes one of those nine issues to stop your Bosch dishwasher from responding, and you don’t need an expert to help you fix most of them. This guide should help you identify and address the culprit like a pro.
In addition, we’ll look at other Bosch dishwasher issues you may fix yourself. So, let’s dive in!
In a rush? Below is a quick troubleshooting guide to fixing nonresponsive Bosch dishwasher buttons!
My Bosch Dishwasher Buttons Not Responding – Quick Troubleshooting Guide
| – | Likely Cause | Quick Fix |
| 1. | Programming Hitch | Reset the dishwasher |
| 2. | Fault Code | Reset the error code. |
| 3. | Failed Power | Ensure the dishwasher receives adequate power. |
| 4. | Active Child Lock | Turn off the Child Lock |
| 5. | Unfastened Door | Firmly latch the dishwasher door. |
| 6. | Stuck Buttons | Clean off any dust and debris underneath and around the start button. |
| 7. | Damaged Touchpad | Replace a damaged touchpad. |
| 8. | Defective Control Panel | Replace the control panel if the display works, but some buttons (not all) are nonresponsive. |
| 9. | Shorted Main Control Board | Replace the main control board if neither the display nor the buttons work. |
Why Are My Bosch Dishwasher Buttons Not Responding?
Generally, there are at least nine considerations when a Bosch dishwasher’s buttons are nonresponsive, and they are as follows:
1. Programming Hitch
At times, dishwashers go through a phase in which their settings freeze, rendering the control panel nonresponsive. Once that’s the case, the buttons won’t work until you power reset the dishwasher.
Fix
Before anything, power-reset your dishwasher, and here are two ways to do it:
a. Hard Reset
A hard reset involves disconnecting the dishwasher from the power for at least 5 minutes. You can do that by flipping off the circuit breaker or plugging it out, restoring its power, and turning it on.
b. Soft Reset
Unlike a hard reset, a soft reset doesn’t involve plugging out the dishwasher. Instead, it involves pressing a combination of several controls as follows:
- Quickly turn the dishwasher off and then on
- Press ‘Start’ until 0:01 flashes – which should take about 5 seconds
- Close the dishwasher door and run it for 1 minute
- Open the door and then turn the dishwasher off and then on
- Select a new cycle and run it
2. Fault Code
Does the dishwasher blink or flash on the display? If so, that’s a fault code, and your dishwasher is trying to communicate a fault stopping the buttons from responding.
Fix
Try to reset the dishwasher (as shared earlier) to see if the fault code will clear. If it doesn’t, reset the dishwasher as shared earlier.
3. Failed Power Supply
Your dishwasher might appear like it has power, but the power might not be enough. Once that’s the case, the buttons might become nonresponsive.
Here are issues to check when you suspect a power issue:
- Loose power cord
- Defective socket
- Tripped circuit breaker
- Tripped GFCI (ground-fault circuit interrupter)
Fix
Ensure you firmly plug in the dishwasher if the power cord looks loose. Plug in another appliance or electronic into the outlet to see if it’s working, and if it’s not, replace the socket. If either the circuit breaker or GFCI is tripped up, reset it.
4. Enabled Child Lock
A Child Lock’s function is to stop kids from changing the dishwasher settings or running it. It locks the entire control panel – save for the power switch. As a result, the buttons become nonresponsive. If the display shows the code CL, you can tell if Child Lock is enabled.
Fix
Turn off Child Lock if it’s on. You can do that by holding it down until the code CL clears from the display. If you cannot do that, resort to hard resetting the dishwasher.
5. Unlatched Door
While an open door may not stop the power (on/off) switch from responding, it prevents the start switch. In that case, the start switch won’t respond, and that means your Bosch dishwasher won’t start.
This issue could result from failing to firmly latch the dishwasher door, perhaps due to an obstruction. But still, it could be that the door latch is defective and, therefore, won’t fully engage.
Fix
Check if there’s dirt or any obstruction on the dishwasher door, and remove it before firmly latching it. If that doesn’t work, use a multimeter to check if the micro switch in the door latch has continuity. If it doesn’t, replace the entire door latch.
6. Bosch Dishwasher Buttons Stuck
If the start button is stuck, you cannot expect your dishwasher to start running. That happens when too much dust and dirt is beneath and around the start button. So, check if that’s so.
Fix
Clean around the start button and beneath it to remove any obstruction, and then reset the dishwasher.
7. Damaged Touchpad
How about you inspect the touchpad for damaged buttons? You cannot expect the buttons to work if they are broken. In such a case, some of the buttons (the ones that are okay) will trigger a response from the display, but the faulty ones won’t.
Fix
If there are any damages on the touchpad, replace the entire touch panel. Sometimes, you must replace both the touchpad and the control panel.
8. Defective Control Panel
If some buttons trigger a response from the display and the issue is not the touchpad, it’s most likely the control panel. It could be that the control panel isn’t working, so some of the buttons are nonresponsive.
Fix
Consider changing the control panel if the display is responsive to some buttons and unresponsive to others. That’s after replacing the touchpad, and it doesn’t solve the issue.
9. Shorted Main Control Board
Lastly, the main control board, whose job is to control virtually all dishwasher functions, could be to blame for the nonresponsive controls. While it’s never easy to diagnose a defective control board, you can tell one if the display doesn’t work and none of the buttons are responsive.
Fix
A shorted control board needs a replacement. However, ensure it’s not a power fault first, as the whole control board replacement can be expensive.
Bosch Dishwasher Start Button Not Working
There are several issues to check when your Bosch dishwasher’s start button won’t work. It could be that the dishwasher doesn’t have power, the start button is damaged or stuck, the Child Lock function is active, or there’s a programming hitch. If that’s not it, the dishwasher could be lacking water, or the control panel or main control board could be defective.
So, ensure the dishwasher has power, the start button is working, the Child Lock is off, and reset the dishwasher if it’s a programming hitch. Also, ensure the dishwasher gets water, and if the control panel or main control is defective, a replacement should be on the card.
Bosch Dishwasher On/Off Button Not Working
Is the Bosch dishwasher power button not working? If so, it’s likely to result from a power fault. If so, check for the following:
- Loose power cord
- Tripped circuit breaker
- Tripped GFCI
- Defective power circuit
- Blown-up fuse
So, you must check all those issues and fix them accordingly to ensure the dishwasher turns on. Note that if the reason the on/off power switch doesn’t work isn’t a power fault, it could be an active Child Lock or unlatched door or that the power switch itself is defective.
If it’s Child Lock, you’ve to turn it off, and if the door is somehow unlatched, latch it firmly, but if the issue is the power switch itself, ask for expert help.
Bosch Dishwasher Active Button Flashing
If the Bosch dishwasher flashes the active button, something must be wrong. Often, that points to an unlatched door, which you must check and firmly latch. But if the door is okay, it will likely be a clogged water filter system, which you must check and clean.
Bosch Dishwasher Reset Button Doesn’t Work
Several issues could explain a nonworking Bosch dishwasher reset button. But often, that happens due to a wrong cycle setting such as Child Lock (which locks the entire control panel) or Sleep Mode (which puts the dishwasher on standby). However, if it’s not a setting issue, it will likely be a defective touchpad, control panel, or both.
People Also Ask
1. Why Is My Bosch Dishwasher Not Working?
There are different reasons your Bosch dishwasher won’t work. More often than not, that points to a power issue. You can’t expect the dishwasher to function without power. However, if the dishwasher won’t start but has power, it could be an issue like an active Child Lock, an unfastened door, a programming hitch, or a defective door latch.
2. Do Bosch Dishwashers Have a Reset Button?
Bosch dishwashers mostly come with the start button, which also doubles up as the reset button. Thus, you can use the ‘start’ button to soft reset the dishwasher, especially its control panel.
That requires you to:
Turn the dishwasher on and off, hold down the ‘Start’ switch until the display indicates 0:01, and close the door. Run the dishwasher for 60 seconds, open the door, and turn the dishwasher off and then on before selecting and running a new cycle.
3. Why Are the Buttons On My Dishwasher Not Working?
Your dishwasher buttons might not work because of a programming hitch, which is fixable by resetting the dishwasher. It could also be due to a power issue, a fault code, an active Control/Child Lock, or an unfastened door.
But if it’s neither of those, it’s likely to be a stuck button or a defective touchpad, control panel, or main control unit.
Concluding Thought On Your Bosch Dishwasher Buttons Not Responding:
As we’ve shared, there are several reasons your Bosch dishwasher buttons are nonresponsive. It could be due to a programming fault, the lack of power, an error code, an engaged Child Lock, an incorrectly latched door, a stuck button, or an issue with the touchpad, control panel, or control board.
You can thus go through the nine checks to identify why your Bosch dishwasher buttons aren’t working and fix them accordingly. Do that before giving Bosch or your local dishwasher expert a call to save both time and money.
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