Siemens F17 washing machine: what it means & what to check

What F17 actually means

The machine hasn't taken in enough water in the time it expects, so it has stopped rather than run the wash dry.

F17 is a fill timeout. The control board opens the water inlet valve at the start of the cycle and waits for the water level to reach the point it expects; if that doesn't happen within the allotted time, the cycle is abandoned and F17 appears. It's the older Siemens and Bosch display code for the same fault that later machines show as E30-10, so you'll see it on the pre-2010 generation of these washers.

What F17 looks like on a Siemens washing machine

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Siemens washing machine, F17 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

Water supply turned off, or the tap only part open
Inlet hose kinked, crushed behind the machine or trapped after it's been moved
Blocked filter in the inlet hose or at the tap connection
Faulty water inlet valve not opening when told to
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 water tap behind or under the machine is fully open.
Pull the machine forward gently and look for a kinked or squashed inlet hose.
Run a cold tap elsewhere in the house to confirm you have normal mains pressure — a stopcock left half shut after other work is a common one.
Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then power it back up and restart a cycle to clear the code.
If the machine has recently been moved or plumbed in, check the hose isn't pinched against the wall.

Common questions about Siemens F17

What does F17 mean on a Siemens washing machine?

The machine hasn't taken in enough water in the time it expects, so it has stopped rather than run the wash dry. F17 is a fill timeout. The control board opens the water inlet valve at the start of the cycle and waits for the water level to reach the point it expects; if that doesn't happen within the allotted time, the cycle is abandoned and F17 appears. It's the older Siemens and Bosch display code for the same fault that later machines show as E30-10, so you'll see it on the pre-2010 generation of these washers.

Can I fix Siemens F17 myself?

There are 5 checks you can safely do yourself first.

Check the water tap behind or under the machine is fully open.
Pull the machine forward gently and look for a kinked or squashed inlet hose.
Run a cold tap elsewhere in the house to confirm you have normal mains pressure — a stopcock left half shut after other work is a common one.
Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then power it back up and restart a cycle to clear the code.
If the machine has recently been moved or plumbed in, check the hose isn't pinched against the wall.

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

How much does it cost to repair Siemens F17?

£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 F17?

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 Siemens washing machine codes

All Siemens 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.

Siemens F17 error — washing machine