Though you expect your Bosch dishwasher control panel to light up when you press the controls, sometimes it won’t. Both the buttons and the display become non-responsive, and you’ve to quickly determine the reason for the Bosch dishwasher no lights on control panel.
Your Bosch dishwasher control panel often won’t light up due to a failed power supply, active Child Lock, a non-latching door, a defective control panel, or a dead main control module.
So, you must go through these checks in the order I’ve listed them to troubleshoot your Bosch dishwasher, and more often than not, the dishwasher expert that your approach will do the same.
This guide will point you to the likely causes and recommend the best fixes. Additionally, we’ll look at other dishwasher issues related to our topic today.
Let’s dive in!
In a hurry? Below are the five issues and their quick troubleshooting.
Bosch Dishwasher No Lights On Control Panel Quick Troubleshooting Guide
| – | Likely Cause | Recommended Fix |
| 1. | Failed Power Supply | Reset the dishwasher and fix any power issues to ensure the dishwasher turns on |
| 2. | Active Child Lock | Deactivate Child Lock by holding down the lock switch for 3 – 5 seconds |
| 3. | Non-Latching Door | Replace the door latch if it’s damaged |
| 4. | Defective Control Panel | Try cleaning off the rusty control panel ribbons cable, and if that doesn’t work, replace the control panel |
| 5. | Dead Main Control Module | Replace the main control module as a last resort |
Why Is My Bosch Dishwasher Control Panel Not Lighting Up?
Consider the five issues below if your Whirlpool dishwashers control panel fails to light up when you touch the controls:
1. Your Dishwasher Lacks Power
You cannot expect your Bosch dishwasher to light up if it doesn’t have adequate power or perhaps there’s no power. Here are the issues which could deny the dishwasher power:
- Power blackout – Do you have power at home? Check the lights or electric main, as there could be a power blackout, and that’s why your dishwasher won’t turn on.
- Failing to turn on the wall/power switch – It sounds elementary, but you can plug in the dishwasher and fail to turn the wall or power switch. Once that’s the case, the dishwasher won’t turn on.
- Loose plugging – If the power cord is not firmly fixed into the wall socket, the dishwasher may fail to get enough power and therefore fail to turn on. Once that’s the case, the control panel won’t light up.
- Non-working outlet – The electric outlet or socket could be defective, and if it is, then the dishwasher may fail to get enough power and will therefore fail to turn on. The easiest way to check is to plug in another appliance or gadget (a working one) to see if it works.
- Damaged power cord – Sometimes, the power cord could be damaged or chewed by rodents and, therefore, unable to pass power to the dishwasher. If so, the control panel won’t light up.
Other Issues
- Tripped circuit breaker – If your house circuit breaker is off, often during a power surge, the dishwasher won’t turn on. The result is that the control panel won’t light up.
- Tripped GFCI – If your dishwasher is plugged into a GFCI outlet, its reset button might have tripped, and if so, the dishwasher won’t power on.
- Blown up or wrong fuse – Inside the plug is a fuse that protects the dishwasher from blowing up during a power surge. If so, the dishwasher won’t power on. Moreover, the fuse should be 13 amps, lest it won’t work.
Fix
Before anything, it’s essential that you reset your dishwasher when it doesn’t turn on. Here are three simple ways to reset a Bosch dishwasher:
- Hard Reset – Also known as manual reset, the hard reset involves unplugging your Bosch dishwasher for 5 minutes or more and then plugging it back in and restarting it.
- Breaker Reset – The breaker reset requires you to flip the circuit breaker off for about 5 minutes, then on.
- Soft Reset – The soft reset involves opening the dishwasher and pressing down start/reset for 3 – 5 seconds before closing the door.
What If the Dishwasher Doesn’t Turn on after Reset?
If your Bosch dishwasher doesn’t light up after reset, confirm there’s no blackout and that the power cord is resolutely plugged into the power socket and turned on.
Then check, possibly with a multimeter, if the socket fuse and power cord work. The lack of continuity by any of them shows a defect, and so you should replace it. And in the case of the fuse, ensure it’s 13 amps. And if the circuit breaker or GFCI is tripped up, reset it.
2. Active Child Lock
Child Lock renders the dishwasher unresponsive and sometimes shuts off the display. This feature prevents kids from using the dishwasher, which means the control panel won’t respond while it’s on. The only control that may respond is the power switch.
Fix
If Child Lock is active (which you can tell if a key or padlock icon illuminates on the control panel), deactivates it. You can do that by holding down the switch for 3 – 5 seconds.
3. Non-Latching Dishwasher Door
If the door doesn’t latch properly, the dishwasher may fail to turn on, and if it doesn’t, the control panel won’t light up. So, it’s imperative that you check if the door is firmly latched.
If it’s not, see if there’s an obstruction. If there’s none, which is likely to be the case in most cases, the door latch could be damaged and is therefore unable to engage the dishwasher door.
Fix
Inspect the dishwasher for obstructions and remove them. If there’s none, check the door latch and replace it if it’s broken.
4. Defective Control Panel
Sometimes the issue could be with the control panel. The panel might be non-operative, and you can tell if its ribbon cables (the one connecting the main control board) are loose or rusty.
Fix
Check if the cable connections are loose and tighten them. If they are rusty, try to clean off the corrosion, but if that doesn’t work, replace your Bosch dishwasher control panel.
5. Dead Main Control Module
Lastly, if the fault is not with the control panel, it could be with the main control module (or control board). This board controls dishwasher operations, including starting, so the control panel will be non-responsive if defective.
The control module could have short-circuited (which you can tell from burnt parts). Other signs of fault include frayed wires and loose connections.
Fix
Replace the main control module if you notice burnt parts, loose connections, or frayed wires. But since it’s easy to misdiagnose the control module, you may need an expert to check it first.
Other Bosch Dishwasher Control Panel Problems
Bosch Dishwasher Display Not Working When Door Is Closed
If your Bosch dishwasher doesn’t display anything after closing the door, it could be due to a power issue. Your dishwasher might not be getting any power. In that case, the problem could be a blackout, loose or damaged cable, defective outlet, or an exploded fuse.
If the dishwasher has power, then it could be that the door switch is faulty, and thus the dishwasher doesn’t see the door as wholly latched. And if that’s not the case, then the main control module could be dead and therefore needs replacing.
Bosch Dishwasher Control Panel Not Working
There are different reasons why the Bosch dishwasher control panel won’t work. The commonest checks include failed power and locked controls. Start by checking if the control panel has power.
Check for issues like a tripped breaker, loose plugging, tripped GFCI, blown-up fuse, and power outage if it doesn’t. If the dishwasher has power, check if the Child Lock is active and disable it to free the control panel. And if none of these issues exist, replace the control panel, as it could be defective.
Bosch Dishwasher No Power to Control Panel
Generally, here are the issues to consider when your Bosch dishwasher control panel has no power:
- Possible power blackout
- Failing to switch on the power/wall switch
- Tripped breaker
- Loose or damaged power plug
- Defective power outlet
- Blown-up thermal fuse
People Also Ask
1. Why Is My Bosch Dishwasher Display Not Working?
If your Bosch dishwasher display is not working, it could be due to the lack of power. If so, you’ll have to check for issues like a power loss, tripped breaker, loose or damaged power cord, defective socket, or a blown-up fuse.
But if the issue is not power related, it could be that Child Lock is on and thus locking the control panel. If so, deactivate it. But if it’s none of the two issues, it could be that the display board or main control is defective, and if so, replace it.
2. Why Is My Dishwasher Light Not Coming On?
The dishwasher light is not coming on because the dishwasher lacks power. It could be due to a blackout, a loose power cord, or failing to turn on the dishwasher.
It could also be due to a defective socket, tripped breaker/GFCI, or a blown fuse. However, if the dishwasher has power, then it could be that the control panel is defective.
3. How Do I Reset My Bosch Dishwasher Control Board?
You can reset a Bosch dishwasher control board by plugging it out or flipping the breaker off for at least 5 minutes. If the dishwasher won’t reset after that, hold down the start/reset switch for 3 – 5 seconds.
4. Why Is My Bosch Dishwasher Not Responding to The Buttons?
Your Bosch dishwasher is not responding to the buttons because it’s not getting any power or the Child Lock function is active. If that’s not the case, it could be that the main control module is defective and will therefore need a replacement.
Concluding Thoughts On Bosch Dishwasher No Lights On Control Panel
As shared, about five possible explanations exist for a Bosch dishwasher whose control panel won’t light up. First, check if the dishwasher has power; if it does, check if the Child Lock is on and disable it.
And if that’s not the case, consider the possibility of an unlatched door or a defective control panel or control board.
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