The soap dispenser is an important part of the dishwasher. It opens at the right time during the wash cycle so that soap will be dissolved properly in the water. If you are facing a Bosch dishwasher soap dispenser not opening issue, the detergent will not dissolve in the water, leading to unclean dishes.
If the soap dispenser of your Bosch dishwasher is not working, you have come to the right place. In this article, I will share with you the top reasons and troubleshooting methods for not opening soap dispensers.
Why is my Bosch dishwasher soap dispenser not working?
Here are the top reasons why your Bosch dishwasher soap dispenser is not working.
Bi-metallic actuator/loop
The Bi-metal actuator in a dishwasher controls the opening and closing mechanism of the dispenser. It sends the electrical signal from the control panel to open and close the dishwasher dispenser.
This Bi-metal strip can get burned when the dishwasher dispenser is closed. In such cases, you will have to replace the strip with a new one.
Testing a Bi-metal strip by yourself is a difficult task as it needs some advanced technical knowledge. So, I will recommend you hire a professional technician for assistance.
Dried or caked detergent
In some cases, the reason why the soap dispenser is not opening can be caked or dried detergent around the detergent container, which prevents it from opening and closing properly. The dried-up detergent residue blocks the dispenser lid.
To clean the dried and caked soap from the detergent container, remove the lid of the dispenser using a screwdriver and remove all the caked and dried detergent using a toothbrush or toothpick.
Damaged container and cover
Another reason for the defective dispenser is its damaged soap container and cover. If the container or cover is damaged, it will stop the soap dispenser from opening at the right time.
Inspect the container and its cover for any signs of physical damage. Open and close it multiple times to check if it is stuck. If you find any broken parts, replace them ASAP to fix your issue.
Defective dispenser Actuator
The dispenser actuator in the dishwasher is responsible for locking your dispenser. It is also one of the electrical components of a dishwasher, which can get burned or be damaged.
If the dispenser actuator is damaged, it will be unable to receive proper signals from the control board, keeping the dispenser lid closed
The only solution to burned or damaged actuators is replacing them with new ones. If you are not confident in replacing it yourself, you can always call a technician for help.
Check the door pin.
A damaged dispenser door pin can also cause the dispenser not to open at the right time.. You will need to check the door pin once when your dispenser is not opening.
To check the dispenser door pin, open the lid of the dispenser with a flat-head screwdriver when the dispenser is locked. Then, pry it out and inspect the pin for any damage.
If you have a vertical sliding dispenser, you will have to snap each pin individually and check them for any signs of damage.
Misplaced dispenser door spring
The dispenser uses a spring mechanism to open its door. If the door spring is misplaced or has any physical damage, the dispenser will not open at the time.
Open the soap dispenser lid and locate the tiny spring connecting the door to the other end. Try opening and closing the door and ensure the dispenser door spring is working properly. In case the door spring is damaged, it’s better to replace it with a new one.
Inspect the latch
The dispenser also has a latch, which is responsible for closing the dispenser’s lid/door properly. It makes a ‘Click’ sound when the lid catches the latch.
If your dispenser lid is not making any ‘Click’ sound, there is probably a chance that your latch is broken.
Open your dispenser’s lid. You will find a small circular piece hanging out of the side and connected to the door spring. If it is broken, you will need to replace the dispenser door latch.
Defective dispenser lever
The dispenser lever is a white plastic component that helps in opening the lid/cover of your soap dispenser. This component is connected to the actuator and latch of your dispenser. When the actuator pushes the shaft, the lever rotates the latch to open the dispenser’s lid.
When the actuator signals, the lever rotates the latch, resulting in the opening of the dispenser’s lid.
Being plastic-built, the dispenser lever can easily get damaged. So, check it for any signs of damage. If your dispenser lever is broken, you might need to replace it.
Check the dispenser’s slide
This is one of the most common reasons for a non-opening dispenser. If the dispenser slide is blocked by some built-up or dried dishwasher detergent, the lid will get stuck. As a result, the soap dispenser will not open at the right time, and your dishes will remain unclean.
Check and remove any build-up on the dispenser slide using a toothbrush or a toothpick. Make sure that the door is moving freely on the slide.
A faulty main control board
If you have checked all of the above potential causes and haven’t found any fault component, it’s time to check your main board. It controls all of your dishwasher functions and responses.
If somehow your main control board is defective, It will not send enough voltage to the dispenser, and your detergent dispenser will not open.
To fix this issue, you might need to replace your main control board or its cables. You can easily replace the control board using the proper tools and the right information.
Scroll down the article to get the step-by-step instructions for replacing the control board.
How to troubleshoot a Bosch dishwasher soap dispenser not working?
After knowing all the reasons, you must be curious to know the solutions for your malfunctioning soap dispenser.
Here are the steps and instructions to troubleshoot your non-working soap dispenser.
Fix the software errors.
There may be a chance that your control board is facing a software bug. Errors in the software of your appliance are undetectable, but they can harm many of your appliance’s components.
The solution for software bugs is performing a hard reset on your dishwasher. To do so, follow the given steps.
- First, power off your dishwasher by unplugging or turning off the circuit breaker.
- Now, waiting for 5 to 8 minutes is crucial to clear out all the software glitches and errors from your dishwasher.
- After 5 to 8 minutes, restore the power of your dishwasher by reconnecting the plug or turning on the circuit breaker.
- Check if your issue is fixed. If not, follow the next instructions.
Replace the faulty parts
If you have found any damaged or defective parts while inspecting your dispenser, replace those parts with a new one to fix your issue. If not replaced, those faulty parts can worsen your issue. So, replace them before they start impacting the other components of your dishwasher.
To get the new part, you should find the Bosch dishwasher’s official parts and purchase that component according to your model.
After that, you can easily replace the faulty parts with a screwdriver, or else you can also get help from a technician.
Replace your soap/detergent dispenser
Some technical issues cannot be fixed. In such cases, you will have to replace the entire dispenser to fix your issue. So, purchase a new soap dispenser according to your dishwasher’s model and replace it with a new one.
If you don’t have any idea about how to replace your detergent dispenser, you can follow the instructions below.
- First of all, switch off the dishwasher or cut off its power by flipping the circuit breaker or unplugging the power plug.
- Remove all the dishware from the racks of your dishwasher.
- Then, use a flat-head screwdriver to remove the screws of the front panel.
- Now, carefully separate the two door sections to avoid any unnecessary damage.
- After that, you will need to remove the wire connection of the control panel.
- Make sure to remember the orientation of the wire, or else take a picture of how the wires are connected.
- Now, undo the six screws that are holding the soap dispenser and remove the clips.
- After doing this, pull the soap dispenser out of the dishwasher.
- Next, take the new soap dispenser and put it in the place of the old one.
- Secure it with the clips and screws.
- Next, reconnect all the wires of the control board and reinstall the door to complete the repair.
Replace the main control board
If the Bosch dishwasher is displaying an error code, it is recommended to refer to the user manual to find its meaning and best solution.
Issues with soap dispensers can be caused due to faulty control boards. All of the functions of the dishwasher are controlled by the main control board. If your control board is malfunctioning then none of your dishwasher’s functions will work correctly.
Follow the following steps to check the control board.
- Start with turning off the dishwasher’s power by disconnecting it from the power source.
- After that, open the outer panel of your dishwasher by removing its screws.
- Next, remove the cable connected to the outer door and separate the sections of the panel.
- Now, you can access the wire connections of the control board.
- At this point, restore your dishwasher’s power using a multimeter, and check the continuity in the wires of the control board.
- If the wires have continuity, it means your circuit board is working fine. But if the wires don’t have continuity, it indicates that your control board is faulty.
Now, if your control board is malfunctioning, I would recommend replacing it instead of repairing it.
To replace the main control board, first, you will need to turn off the power of your dishwasher by either disconnecting the power plug or flipping the circuit breaker.
After that, you can follow the instructions given in the video.
Contact a professional
If you are worried or not confident about fixing your soap dispenser by yourself, I recommend you get some help from a professional technician.
They are certified experts and trained to work on electrical appliances like dishwashers. They can easily diagnose and fix the issue in a minimum time. Call them and schedule a service for your dishwasher.
You can also watch this video to visually see the repairing process:
FAQs
When should the soap dispenser open in a bosch dishwasher?
The Dispenser doors are programmed to open during the wash cycle when the water of the dishwasher reaches a specific temperature. The warm water allows the detergent to dissolve properly, resulting in sparkling clean dishes.
How do you reset a soap dispenser?
Sometimes, software glitches can affect the soap dispenser, resulting in many issues. Resetting your dispenser can solve the issues. To perform a Reset, press the “Power” button for 12-15 seconds and turn on the appliance to check if the issue is solved.
How do I clean my dishwasher soap dispenser?
To clean the soap dispenser, use worn soapy water and a toothbrush to clean the dirt and dried-out detergent from the dispenser. After that, Rinse the whole dispenser with clean water and dry it with a soft cloth.
Conclusion
Soap dispenser not opening is a really serious issue on your Bosch dishwasher. The soap dispensers need to open at a fixed water level and temperature so that the detergent will dissolve in the water properly. If your soap dispenser is not working properly, your dishes will remain half-cleaned after the cycle.
There can be many technical and physical reasons for a non-working soap dispenser. But the commonest reasons among all are a faulty Bi-metallic switch, malfunctioning dispenser latch or lever, blockage in the slide, broken container, and faulty control board.
I have already shared the DIY guide needed to diagnose and fix the issue. You can hover over the specific troubleshooting steps to learn about it in detail.
This was all from my side, I hope you found this article helpful and knowledgeable. If you have any queries or doubts, you can always ask me in the comment section below. I will be happy to assist you further.
