Bosch dishwasher E18 error
Usable, but not working properly
The machine asked for water and not enough arrived in the time it allows, so it stopped the cycle rather than washing without a proper fill. Bosch specifies a supply capable of roughly ten litres a minute. The isolating tap feeding the dishwasher is closed or only part open is the most common cause.
- Difficulty
- DIY
- Time needed
- About 25 min
- Checks
- 5 steps
The same fault is shown as E3200, E:32-00 on some Bosch series, depending on the display and the model year.
Before you start
- Close the isolating tap before unscrewing the fill hose, and have a bowl ready. The hose holds water at mains pressure.
What it means
The machine asked for water and not enough arrived in the time it allows, so it stopped the cycle rather than washing without a proper fill. Bosch specifies a supply capable of roughly ten litres a minute.
Most likely causes
Ordered from most to least common, with what each one looks like:
| Cause | How likely | What you would see |
|---|---|---|
| The isolating tap feeding the dishwasher is closed or only part open | high | The tap under the sink has been touched recently, often after work on the plumbing |
| The fill hose is kinked or trapped where the machine was pushed back against it | high | The hose has a sharp bend or a flattened section behind the cabinet |
| The inlet filter in the hose connector at the tap end is silted up with grit and limescale | medium | Unscrewing the hose at the tap reveals a fine gauze disc coated in sediment |
| Mains pressure in the property is genuinely low at the time the machine runs | low | The cold tap over the sink also runs weakly, particularly in the evening |
Fix steps
Tools needed
- Bowl
- Cloth
- Adjustable spanner
-
Find the dishwasher's own isolating tap, usually under the sink, and confirm it is turned fully open rather than part way.
Expected result The lever sits in line with the pipe, or the wheel head is wound fully anticlockwise. If it does not, go to step 2.
-
Run the cold tap over the sink at full flow for thirty seconds to judge whether the supply to that part of the kitchen is healthy.
Expected result A strong steady stream, which rules out a property-wide pressure problem. If it does not, go to step 5.
-
Pull the machine forward and follow the fill hose end to end, freeing any kink and lifting anything resting on it.
Expected result The hose runs in smooth curves with no flattened or twisted sections. If it does not, go to step 4.
-
Close the tap, unscrew the fill hose at the tap end into a bowl, and check the small gauze filter in the connector, rinsing it clear of grit and scale.
Expected result The gauze is clean and you can see light through it before the hose is screwed back on hand tight.
-
Reopen the tap, check the connection is dry, then start the shortest programme and listen for the fill valve opening in the first minute.
Expected result You hear water entering, the cycle proceeds past the fill stage, and the code does not return.
Parts needed
| Part | Part number | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Fill hose with inlet filter | Varies by model | Varies by supplier |
When to call a technician
Call a qualified technician if you work through every step above and the code comes back, if you find water where it should not be, or if any part of the job needs the machine powered up with panels removed. A repeat fault after a correct repair usually points at the control board rather than the part you replaced.
Common questions
What does E18 mean on a Bosch dishwasher?
The machine asked for water and not enough arrived in the time it allows, so it stopped the cycle rather than washing without a proper fill. Bosch specifies a supply capable of roughly ten litres a minute. The isolating tap feeding the dishwasher is closed or only part open is the most common reason for it.
Can I keep using the dishwasher?
You can usually still run the machine, but it will not be working correctly and the fault will keep coming back until it is fixed.
Is this something I can fix myself?
Yes, for most people. The checks below need bowl, cloth and adjustable spanner and take about 25 minutes.
Models this applies to
- SMS All codes for this model
- SMV All codes for this model
- SMI All codes for this model
- SHP All codes for this model
- SHE All codes for this model
Related codes on the same machines
- E12 Limescale and grease have built up on the heating surfaces to the point where the machine reports that it needs descaling before it can heat water reliably.
- E15 Water has collected in the tray underneath the dishwasher and a float in that tray has tripped the leak protection system, which shuts the machine down and runs the drain pump to keep the leak from spreading.
- E21 The circulation pump that drives water up to the spray arms is reported as blocked, so the machine stops rather than running the motor against an obstruction.
- E22 The filters in the base of the tub are blocked enough to starve the circulation pump, or the filter assembly is not locked into place, so the machine cannot move water round the wash arms properly.
- E23 The machine has detected a fault in the waste water pump circuit.
- E24 The dishwasher tried to pump the water out and the level in the tub did not drop, so it stopped mid-cycle with dirty water still standing in the bottom.