Repairing E.04 Error on Bosch Washer by brgt40
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It was a peaceful Sunday afternoon. A load of wash was in the washing machine. An unfamiliar series of beeps from the washing machine interrupted my football couch potato session. It was flashing an E.04 error. I restarted the cycle but the error reappeared.

Time to read the manual. The manual said that either too much suds or the drain pump was having a problem. I went to the Internet to try to find more information. Jackpot! I found a post of the description and the fix for the error code.

It was obvious that excessive suds was not my problem.

You will need a towel, a flashlight and a 4d nail / brad (or some other metallic pointed thing). You may or may not need some silicone grease to lube the sump cap. (I did not need any.)

If you have water in the drum of the machine, you will need a wet/dry vacuum cleaner with crevice end and more towels and maybe ear plugs if your vacuum is as loud as mine.

Note: Wet/dry vacuum cleaners use 2 inch and/or 1 and 1/2 inch hoses. The smaller hoses and accessories are easier to maneuver inside the washer.
 
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Step 1: Gaining Access

To be extra safe, turn off the washing machine and unplug it.

The access for the drain pump is behind the circular access panel on the bottom right front of the machine. This panel twists off. There are three ears on the panel that fit into three cutouts on the machine front. After the ears are in the cutout, the panel is twisted counterclockwise to lock ears behind metal.

If the panel were a clock face, there is a small hole in it at about the 5. Insert a nail in the hole to gain some leverage. Gently press on the panel with your other hand while you rotate the panel clockwise to move the hole to the 6 o'clock position.

Update - 10/2011: Be careful when you get the cover off. The edges of the hole may be unfinished and sharp. You can tape over the edge while you are working or wear gloves. The more adventurous can grind or file the rough edges.
mickrookwood says: Apr 13, 2013. 2:39 PM
I am also getting an E04 error code but the pump is not stuck or dirty. My adventure started with an E27 door lock code which went away after messing around with the manual door unlock. Then, while I had the front off I decided to open the drain pump cover, got some water on the drain pan and then got an E17 error. I dried the pan and then got the E04 error code. The pump is running just fine (a stuck pump seems to be the common problem) and I can't find an answer to my problem.

Anyone have a solution?
brgt40 (author) says: Apr 28, 2013. 7:48 PM
My first guess is that some thing is blocking the inlet side to the pump. I reach that conclusion because previous posts have indicated that some rather large items make it pass any "filter" to get to the pump.

Since you are getting water in the pump housing, maybe the inlet is clear. Therefore, the next thing I would do is check for a blockage on the outlet side. However, I can not imagine something of significance getting past the impeller.

Are you seeing the impeller spinning (and with all its blades intact) or are you just hearing the motor spin? Could the impeller be loose on the shaft?
roche52 says: Mar 23, 2013. 8:34 AM
I have a friend that wants to give me their Wash machine has the E.04 code they tell me stuck in cycle. water in tub. door will not open now. Is this due to water being in the tub or is there another issue with machine. anyone run into this one? trying to decide if I want to try to fix
brgt40 (author) says: Mar 25, 2013. 8:52 AM
The door will not open while the E.04 error is present because there is water in the tub. Must be a good friend to give you the machine - that kind of friend is hard to come by. Do him a favor, fix it for him and let him heap praise on you.

How long has the machine been stuck? It will be pretty foul in there if it has been days! Front loaders have a problem with mold/mildew anyway. So the machine will need a really good bath after you fix it. There are commercial products in the laundry aisle. Big box stores have stuff also. Bosch recommends a cup of bleach in the hot water wash cycle (no clothes - just bleach). I use something different that was very effective for me.

Remember to have a wet vac available for the water. There is much more water in the tub than a few towels can hold.
GregNMotownTN says: Jan 9, 2013. 4:37 PM
Reply: When I opened the sump, it actually looked pretty clean and I didn’t see anything. So I took my water hose nozzle and blasted water thru the back of the machine’s drain exit and let the water flow in reverse for about 20 seconds. Afterwards, I found the broken drill bit lying on the deck just in front of the sump. Maybe I overlooked it the first time?? Not certain, but it’s out of there and the machine isn’t giving the error code anymore.
Regarding the softener dispenser having clear water standing in it after a wash cycle, this is odd. Used a coat hanger to see if there was a blockage and it appeared to be clear. What I do now is with the machine off and the clear water standing in (following a wash cycle); I simply pour about a half cup of water into the dispenser and all of the water will immediately drain into the machine. Then, next time I use it, it will hold the fabric softener and dispense it in its normal cycle as programed. Without fail, after the cycle is finished, clear water will be there again. The detergent or bleach dispensers don’t do this; I can live with this minor nuisance.
Thanks again for the E04 error code correction, the machine is draining well.
GregNMotownTN says: Dec 29, 2012. 10:56 AM
Thanks for the information about the Bosh washing machine error code and how to correct it. My machine is 6 years old and just used a couple times a week. The E04 code started randomly occurring a few months ago but I could usually get it to reset and work until a few days ago. I was considering buying a new machine. I took my machine outside, open the bottom clean out and didn’t find anything until I took the water hose and back flush the machine thru the drain. A broken, slimy piece of a drill bit flushed out; certainly from my unchecked pocket months ago. I have another minor problem with my machine that also started recently. I find standing, clean water in the softener dispenser after each cycle. What causes that? Thanks again.
brgt40 (author) says: Jan 2, 2013. 12:23 PM
I am glad my "ible was helpful. Am I to understand that after you opened the sump area, you connected a garden hose to the machine's output hose to force water into the sump? The water flowing in reverse forced out the drill bit that was deeply embedded. WOW!

Sorry, but I do not know why the softener dispenser has taken to draining incompletely. I have not had to troubleshoot the bleach/softener dispensers.

Since you are willing to drag your machine outside (to the woodshed as it were) to hose it down :), this problem will not go unsolved for long. So when (not if) you find out the cause/solution of the incomplete drainage, please post.

Thanks for your comments and have a Happy New Year.
Rjames70 says: Jul 2, 2012. 9:24 AM
I have had the exact situation and although I did get lots of junk out of the impeller. It still did not fix my Drainage Blocked popups. When on drain the impelle is absolutely turning. I was wondering if you knew what might be the next step. It is draining some of the water but not all of it.
brgt40 (author) says: Jul 2, 2012. 5:27 PM
After removing the sump cover with its attached flow director, I removed junk from the sump and a nail from impeller itself that had locked the impeller. If you can spin your impeller by hand, then you have a greater problem than I had.

Questions 1, 2 and 3: Did you manually spin the impeller? How do you know the impeller is turning during the drain cycle? My motor still hummed when it was not working. You say not all of the water is pumped out, How much water is left? If you have gallons/litres, the machine is not moving any water.

Check your impeller against my picture. If yours is not like mine maybe a design change or maybe an obstruction broke a vane so pump is not moving as much water hence the E04 msg.

I expect the impeller is belt-driven and not directly attached to a motor, maybe the impeller belt is slipping/broken.

These are my guesses and are things that I would look for to troubleshoot the problem. Hope this helps. Keep me posted.
AK58 says: Oct 27, 2012. 6:29 AM
Thank you! Your advise was helpful 100%
Rjames70 says: Jul 3, 2012. 5:50 AM
Thanks for the help! Question 1: The impeller now that it is cleaned does spin freely, I took the machine in my garage and fully drained it and stripped it down to the impeller. At that point I ran it through a cycle and when it came to draining time the impeller was spinning freely. When I said that it wasn't draining all the water I may have been mistaken. I was not yet aware that the washer senses the amount of water to use by the amount of laundry. I took my drain hose and put it in a 5 gallon bucket. I took the cold water hose attacthed it to a garden hose and turned it wide open, After putting the washer on a cold cycle it drained probably a gallon into the 5 gallon bucket. I assumed that it wouldn't be all of it but if it sensed that there is no laundry in it, then it may have very well been, I'll check the impeller this afternoon and note anything I find different, Thanks very much for your time!
lkardon says: Oct 15, 2012. 7:21 PM
OK, another nylon sock here. Thanks so much for doing this and saving me $80+. I do wonder though how the nylon socks are getting through the holes in the drum into the impeller intake. Seems like there is a design flaw. Thanks again.
gf4444 says: Jun 13, 2012. 8:16 PM
Thank you so much!!!!!
Just like Moby Rick we also had a small nylon sock stuck in the impeller intake. Thanks again! You save me big $$$$$

brgt40 (author) says: Jun 22, 2012. 8:30 AM
You are very welcome. It has been awhile since I logged in otherwise I would have responded sooner. Thanks for the comment. I am glad the instructions helped.
robsmyser says: Jun 12, 2012. 12:00 PM
Outstanding instructions and I almost got it. But I seem to have a green O-ring that came off the sump thing, and no apparent place to put it. The cover leaks after I reassembled it and I suspect I am supposed to have put the O-ring someplace. But where?
brgt40 (author) says: Jun 22, 2012. 7:16 AM
I was not ignoring you! I had not logged into my account for a while.

I hope you have found a place for the o-ring.

I just opened my machine for this question and I do not have an o-ring that just falls out. I have a black gasket that fits in a groove around the sump cover. I have to pull the gasket out of the groove. The gasket would interfere with the cover if it were just placed over and not fitted in the groove. I will post additional pictures of my cover with the gasket removed.

So it sounds like Bosch changed their design.

Please send me some pictures to post to alert other people. Thanks.

P.S. I have not had to reopen my machine since writing this instructable. My sump was clear of debris. There was some soft gunk that came out easily. There was no build up on the white part of the sump cover at all. Just that slime under the gasket.
Lucegagain says: Apr 22, 2012. 5:49 AM
Thank you so much! I was able to fix this by myself (with YOUR) help!

Btw, Do you know how to disconnect the irritating end of cycle buzzer? I can sleep through it, but my husband can't.
brgt40 (author) says: Apr 22, 2012. 12:00 PM
You're welcome! What was plugging your machine? I am amazed at what makes it to the impeller.

Yes, I do know how to stop the end of cycle beeping (eocb); It is funny how some people find that noise very irritating and others do not:

Turn the dial to one of the programs - for example "Cold Wash", but DO NOT start the program;

Simultaneous press and hold two of the optional features buttons - for example "Bleach" and "Rinse".

After a second or two of holding, the machine should give a short beep. At that point the end of cycle beeping is off.

The beeping stays off until the above process is repeated. There is a long beep when the eocb is reactivated.

You can turn off the eocb and turn it back on (and back off) so you can hear the difference. There is no visual reminder that the signal is off, so if someone else uses the machine and depends on that signal - be sure to tell them that it is off. I tried the no signal option but found I kept listening to hear if the was still running instead.

I had not figured out how long are the cycles with and without the options. I think the machine varies the length of the cycles by the amount of soil or just to annoy me.
Moby Rick says: Mar 25, 2012. 12:31 PM
Thank you!
After using all the helpful language I learned in the Navy, then finding the manual cute at best (should be called 'Bosch trouble shooting if you don't really plan on shooting the trouble'), I got lucky and found your blog. There it was, stuck in the impeller intake, one of my wife's nylon sock thingies. If I had Super Bowl tickets I'd send them to you.
Best Regards,
Moby
brgt40 (author) says: Mar 27, 2012. 6:29 PM
Hey, thanks for your time in the Navy.

I am glad I helped you out.

Isn't it amazing what gets past the "filter/screen" in this machine? Whew!
dazed and confused says: Feb 18, 2012. 10:56 AM
Thank you so much for the detailed instructions and photos. My husband and I fixed it today and it took all of ten minutes. Our culprit was an under-wire from a bra! I did not think it would be so easy to fix. Sooooo happy to save some money on a repair bill!
brgt40 (author) says: Feb 25, 2012. 9:54 AM
Thanks for the comment.

I am so glad my instructions were helpful.

An underwire?!? Really?!?! Maybe this machine should come with a warning label?

Or maybe just a better strainer/screen/filter.

Thanks.
lkaugars says: Oct 15, 2011. 2:57 PM
Big thank you - fantastic instructions and my daughter and I were able to fix our washing machine, while my husband is gone!!!! It was a bit hard to get the sump cover off, but determination paid off. I would like to add another tip though - we put on fleece gloves, since the edge of the washing machines housing is fairly sharp and my daughter cut herself at the first try.... But we feel very accomplished!!
brgt40 (author) says: Oct 15, 2011. 7:24 PM
Ouch! Sorry about the blood. I am glad these instructions helped. Because of Instructables I get to enjoy a little of your accomplishment.

P.S. What was clogging your machine?
lkaugars says: Oct 15, 2011. 9:23 PM
a bobby pin....
Giselle Cooper says: Jul 3, 2011. 7:18 PM
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! You were my hero today. Thanks to your awesome instructions I was able to fix our washer with the help of my 13 year old son. Of course it also happened to me on a Sunday with Monday being a holiday. I always tell my children that repairing things is like cooking a meal. If you exactly follow the recipe anyone can cook. I find that true for repairs as well :-)
brgt40 (author) says: Jul 11, 2011. 1:29 PM
You are very welcome.
I agree with your analogy. Sometimes, though, I have had to pay to eat out anyway (or maybe clean up my dirty dishes) - if you get my meaning.
Nonetheless continue to the next project! After all, no one was born knowing this stuff.

Thanks for the comment.
CoolhandL says: Jun 5, 2011. 7:43 PM
Thanks!

I had exactly the same problem, with exactly the same cause, and also on a Sunday. It wasn't how I wanted to spend my Sunday evening, but your detailed instructions saved me having to call a repairman, with a minimum of mess.

brgt40 (author) says: Jun 8, 2011. 7:20 PM
I am glad this was a help to you.
rmendenhall says: Apr 10, 2011. 1:20 PM
Thanks for the help on clearing this error!

We have found that newborn socks are usually what cause us to have this error not excessive suds.

Thanks for making it so easy to clear & saving us the money on a repair bill!
brgt40 (author) says: Apr 13, 2011. 5:15 PM
LOL!!

Next time take the socks off the baby before you put him/her in the washer ! ! !



I thought my nail/screws slipped through the holes in the tub. You point out that there is another way to get sucked into the pump. Thanks.

Hint: My wife has a zippered bag made of fishnet like stuff. She puts delicate items and/or items that would wrap themselves into a knot into it. And then she tosses the bag in with the rest of the wash. Maybe you can find one for your small items.

I can post/send a pic if you need.

Have fun the baby and take plenty of pictures!
ironsmiter says: Jan 4, 2011. 11:42 AM
apparently you can also get this error code if someone regularly adds the soap to the bleach slot instead of the soap slot. Also, if you use REGULAR detergent instead of the HE stuff.

Good to know that sump access port is there, and user serviceable.
Have to give it a check before I run my next load :-)
brgt40 (author) says: Jan 5, 2011. 6:08 PM

Thanks for the comment.

Yes, I read in the manual that suds can trigger the error. I don't understand how or why suds are a problem (to the computer and./or its sensors) but they are. Anyway, I use the low sudsing HE stuff.

When I feel a need for the suds, I go to a laundromat and watch their machines where the water half fills the drum and clothes peek out from under the foam. Ahhh, the simpler days!!!!!
ironsmiter says: Jan 5, 2011. 7:28 PM
As far as I understand... which is to say, how the technician explained it(had FREE in-home service for the first year of ownership)
The washer has a cavitation sensor. the extra bubbles cause the cavitation in the pump, triggering the code.
The obstructions in you cleanout port may be causing the same sort of water turbulence, also triggering the sensor error code.
brgt40 (author) says: Jan 9, 2011. 12:51 PM
Thanks for the additional info. It makes sense now how excessive suds would be a problem.

The wash water is not compressible, so the pump can push it out the drain. But if the pump gets a snootful of suds which is mostly air, the pump can not move as much (or any?) water. And that is because air is very compressible. The pump would have to work much harder to compress enough air to a high enough pressure that would lift the column of water up and out. That it should work as a "high" pressure air compressor is probably outside of the pump's specifications.

It is similar to the problem with radiators in a heating system and why heating systems have air bleed screws/systems.

In my case the impeller was jammed and no water was moving; with excessive suds the impeller spins in air but still no water is moving. Both result in e.04 error. Cool!

Thanks again
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