What F17 actually means
The machine hasn't taken in enough water in the time it expects, so it has stopped and flagged a fill fault.
Bosch machines allow a set window at the start of the cycle for the drum to fill to the right level. If the control board doesn't see that water arrive in time, it halts and shows F17 rather than running the wash dry. On newer models the same physical fault appears as E30-10, and on older ones as F29, E17 or E29 \not level or drain sensing.
What usually causes it
- Water supply tap turned off or only part open
- Kinked or trapped fill hose behind the machine
- Blocked filter in the fill hose connection or a furred-up inlet
- Faulty water inlet (solenoid) valve not opening
- Low mains water pressure, or work being done on the supply
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.
- Look behind the machine and make sure the fill hose isn't kinked, crushed or trapped against the wall.
- Run a nearby cold tap to confirm you have normal mains pressure.
- Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, switch back on and restart a cycle to see if the code clears.
- On a washer dryer, note whether drying is also affected \u2014 the condenser needs water too, which is why a fill fault can stop it drying.
When to call someone
This sometimes clears with the checks above. If it comes back, it needs looking at properly. We cover Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire, and it's £66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it — £84 in total if it's repaired on the visit with no parts needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.
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
- Bosch E01 — The machine can't confirm the door is properly locked, so it…
- Bosch E03 — Your Bosch hasn't managed to pump the water out in the time …
- Bosch E13 — The machine hasn't managed to pump the water away within the…
- Bosch E16 — The machine thinks the door isn't shut, so it won't start or…
- Bosch E17 — The machine hasn't taken in enough water in the time it allo…
- Bosch E18 — The machine hasn't managed to pump the water out within the …
- Bosch E29 — The machine hasn't taken in enough water in the time it expe…
- Bosch E30 — The machine has tried to fill with water and not enough has …