Bosch E17 washing machine: what it means & what to check

What E17 actually means

The machine hasn't taken in enough water in the time it allows, so it has stopped before the wash can start.

E17 is the water fill timeout on older Bosch washers (roughly pre-2010 models; the same fault shows as E30-10 on newer ones). The control board opens the inlet valve, waits for the water level to reach the point it expects, and if that hasn't happened within the allotted time it abandons the cycle and puts the code up. You'll usually see it within the first minute or two of starting, often with little or no water in the drum.

What E17 looks like on a Bosch washing machine

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Bosch washing machine, E17 usually shows up as one or more of these:

Not filling with water
No water going in
Takes for ever to fill
Stops right at the start of the cycle
Overfilling, or won't stop filling
Stops with water still inside
Fills and drains over and over
No function at all

Recognise any of those? That is this fault, and the rest of this page explains what causes it and what you can check yourself.

What usually causes it

Tap turned off or only part open
Kinked or trapped fill hose behind the machine
Blocked filter in the inlet hose where it screws onto the tap
Faulty water inlet valve not opening
Pressure system or control board misreading the water level

What you can safely check yourself

Work through these in order. Anything beyond this — panels off, testing parts, anything to do with the wiring — is an engineer's job, and not one to attempt with the machine plugged in.

Check the cold tap feeding the machine is fully open.
Pull the machine out gently and make sure the fill hose isn't kinked, crushed or trapped.
Run the tap into a bucket if you can reach it, to confirm you actually have decent water pressure at that point.
Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then power up and restart the cycle.
If your area has had a mains repair or a supply interruption, wait until pressure is back to normal before trying again.

Common questions about Bosch E17

What does E17 mean on a Bosch washing machine?

The machine hasn't taken in enough water in the time it allows, so it has stopped before the wash can start. E17 is the water fill timeout on older Bosch washers (roughly pre-2010 models; the same fault shows as E30-10 on newer ones). The control board opens the inlet valve, waits for the water level to reach the point it expects, and if that hasn't happened within the allotted time it abandons the cycle and puts the code up. You'll usually see it within the first minute or two of starting, often with little or no water in the drum.

Can I fix Bosch E17 myself?

There are 5 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Check the cold tap feeding the machine is fully open.
Pull the machine out gently and make sure the fill hose isn't kinked, crushed or trapped.
Run the tap into a bucket if you can reach it, to confirm you actually have decent water pressure at that point.
Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then power up and restart the cycle.
If your area has had a mains repair or a supply interruption, wait until pressure is back to normal before trying again.

This sometimes clears with those checks. If it comes back, it needs looking at properly.

How much does it cost to repair Bosch E17?

£66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it, or £84 in total including VAT if it is put right on the visit and no parts are needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.

Tried the checks and it's still showing E17?

This sometimes clears with the checks above. If it comes back, it needs looking at properly. Then it wants someone who can open it up.

What it costs, before you call: the price is the same whatever the fault turns out to be — £66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it, or £84 in total including VAT if it is put right on the visit and no parts are needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.

Our own engineers, not a call centre. We cover Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire — most washing machine faults are seen same day or next day.

Call 0115 648 0929 Book online — postcode and number is all we need

Outside our area? The explanation above still stands — take it to a local engineer and tell them the code. Knowing it saves them time and you money.

Other Bosch washing machine codes

All Bosch fault codes and repairs →

What this looks like when it happens

Repairs we cover near you

Written by the engineers at ASAP Repairs, 0115 648 0929. We repair these machines for a living in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire.

Bosch E17 error — washing machine