Bosch · Dishwasher
Bosch Dishwasher E24 Error Code
Drain fault—water not leaving the sump within the programmed window
What this error means
Bosch E24 is a drain timeout fault. After wash or rinse, the drain pump runs for a fixed interval while the control expects the sump to empty. If water remains—because the pump cannot move it, the filter is blocked, the pump cover is unseated, or the drain hose is obstructed—E24 displays and the cycle halts. E24 is distinct from E15 (base pan leak) and E09 (heat pump heater fault). On SHPM65W55N, SHE3AR75UC, and SHX33A05UC platforms, most E24 cases resolve at the bottom filter and pump cover without replacing the drain pump.
How E24 is detected
Bosch dishwashers use a twist-lock cylindrical filter in the tub floor. Beneath it sits a pump cover that must click fully seated—service bulletin E:25 documents E24 and related drain faults when the cover is rotated even slightly off index after filter cleaning. Homeowners often remove the filter correctly but reinstall the cover one notch short of the locked detent, leaving a gap that lets food bypass the impeller guard and jam the pump.
Garbage disposal knockouts are the classic new-install E24: the dishwasher drain hose connects to the disposal inlet, but the factory plug was never punched out. Water enters the hose during drain but hits the solid plug; the pump hums, the sump stays full, E24 appears within 30–90 seconds. Always verify disposal drain port flow with a bucket test independent of the dishwasher before ordering parts.
The drain hose high loop to the underside of the countertop prevents siphon backflow but must not kink behind the cabinet. Bosch specifies routing without low spots that hold water and restrict pulse draining. Inspect the air gap (if equipped) for clog at the cap—California and some codes require air gaps that clog with grease and mimic pump failure.
When the filter, cover, disposal port, and hose are clear but E24 persists, listen at the drain pump during the fault: silence suggests failed pump motor or loose harness at the sump; humming with no water movement suggests impeller jam from glass or seed. Access the pump from beneath after removing the toe kick and side panels per model—SHX33A05UC compact units require careful orientation to avoid stressing drain hose barbs.
Common causes
- Twist-lock bottom filter clogged with seeds, glass shards, or pasta starch blocking flow to the pump
- Pump cover under the filter not fully seated to the click position per Bosch E:25 bulletin
- Garbage disposal knockout plug still in place on new kitchen installations
- Kinked or sagging drain hose creating a water trap in the cabinet run
- Air gap or high-loop obstruction at the countertop penetration
- Drain pump impeller jammed by debris that passed an incorrectly seated pump cover
- Failed drain pump motor—open winding or seized bearing—after repeated jam events
Step-by-step fixes
- 1Cancel the cycle, unplug the dishwasher, and remove the bottom rack to access the tub floor filter.
- 2Turn the cylindrical filter counterclockwise to unlock, lift out, rinse under running water, and scrub the mesh with a soft brush.
- 3Remove the pump cover beneath the filter cavity; inspect the impeller for debris; rotate the impeller clockwise by finger—it should spin freely.
- 4Reinstall the pump cover aligning mark to mark, push down, and rotate clockwise until a distinct click confirms full seat per E:25.
- 5Under the sink, disconnect the drain hose at the disposal or tailpiece; poke the disposal inlet with a screwdriver handle to confirm knockout is open; run water through the hose into a bucket.
- 6Verify the drain hose high loop peaks at least under the counter underside with no kinks; re-secure with zip ties away from sharp cabinet screws.
- 7Run a quick rinse-only cycle and listen for steady pump hum and water flow at the sink drain; if E24 returns, access the drain pump connector beneath and ohm the motor per service spec.
When to call a technician
Contact a technician when E24 persists after filter, cover, disposal, and hose verification, and the impeller spins freely by hand but the pump does not move water during drain. Pump motor replacement or sump disassembly may be required. If glass was heard grinding before E24, mention possible impeller damage—running repeated cycles can crack the pump housing on SHPM65W55N units.
Affected models
- Bosch SHPM65W55N
- Bosch SHE3AR75UC
- Bosch SHX33A05UC
- Bosch SHPM88Z75N
- Bosch SHEM63W55N
Prevention & maintenance
- After every filter clean, rotate the pump cover until the click—partial seat is the top cause of repeat E24.
- Scrape plates before loading; seeds and lemon pits are the most common impeller jams on Bosch sump pumps.
- On new installs, confirm garbage disposal knockout removal before connecting the dishwasher drain hose.