Bosch · Dishwasher
Bosch Dishwasher E13 Error Code
Hot water inlet valve or thermistor fault
What this error means
E13 on many Bosch dishwashers indicates a fault in the hot water inlet path—the valve or inlet thermistor did not deliver water at expected temperature within the fill window. Models plumbed to hot-only supply show E13 when the household water heater is distant or set too low.
How E13 is detected
When E13 appears on a Bosch dishwasher, the control board has confirmed that water did not leave the machine within the programmed drain window. On Bosch SHE53B75UC, Bosch SHEM63W55N, and similar variants, the drain pump runs for a fixed interval—often three to seven minutes on washers and dishwashers—while a pressure switch or turbidity sensor verifies the tub or sump is empty. If water remains, the cycle stops to prevent spin with a full tub or overflow on the next fill.
Most E13 calls are resolved without parts: run the kitchen faucet until fully hot before starting the dishwasher. Restricted drain paths mimic pump failure because the impeller spins against a blocked hose or filter. Document whether the pump hums audibly during the drain step; a humming pump with no water movement points to a clogged filter or kinked hose, while silence may indicate a failed pump motor or loose wiring at the harness.
After clearing blockages, run a short cycle and listen at the drain hose for steady water flow. If E13 returns on the next load with a clean filter and straight hose, measure resistance at the pump motor connector per the service manual for your model before ordering a replacement pump assembly.
Common causes
- Household water heater set below 120°F
- Long plumbing run delivering cold slug at cycle start
- Hot inlet valve solenoid failed to open
- Inlet thermistor reading incorrectly at the valve body
Step-by-step fixes
- 1Run the kitchen faucet until fully hot before starting the dishwasher
- 2Verify the dishwasher inlet is connected to hot supply per install manual
- 3Reset breaker thirty seconds and retry on a Normal cycle
- 4Check whether cold-only cycles complete without E13
When to call a technician
E13 on hot cycles with verified hot tap water at the disconnected hose requires inlet valve or thermistor replacement.
Affected models
- Bosch SHE53B75UC
- Bosch SHEM63W55N
- Bosch SHX5AVF5UC
Prevention & maintenance
- Clean drain filters and hose terminations monthly on high-use dishwashers to prevent E13 from lint and food debris buildup.
- Record when E13 appears in the cycle and whether it clears after a 60-second power reset on your Bosch dishwasher—that detail speeds diagnosis if you call service.
- Keep the model and serial number from the rating plate when ordering parts for E13; Bosch uses multiple revisions with different harness lengths and board firmware.
- Photograph wiring connector orientation before disconnecting any component while troubleshooting E13; reversed plugs on pumps and valves cause immediate repeat faults.