Laundry day is rarely everybody’s favourite day of the week. It’s even worse when you find your Bosch washing machine won’t spin.
Now you find yourself with a load of soggy clothes and need help to dry them. You’ll need to figure out how to get the machine spinning again.
Don’t panic; assume this requires a call to Bosch customer service. With some troubleshooting, you can find the cause of the problem and take care of it yourself. Overloading the machine, a clogged drain hose, or a faulty door latch are common problems, and you can fix them yourself.
In this article, we will go over several of the troubleshooting tips you should know and how to know when to call a technician.
Common causes of a Bosch washing machine that isn’t spinning
Very often, the cause of the Bosch washer not spinning is straightforward and not a cause for concern. The most common reasons can easily be fixed in a matter of minutes if you are inclined to use a little bit of elbow grease. Read on for some common causes and how to deal with them.
Overloading the machine
Every Bosch washing machine is rated for a certain number of kilos that it can reasonably handle. If you go beyond that limit, it is going to cause problems. The drum won’t spin because the sensor reads that it is too heavy.
A drum that has too much-waterlogged clothing risks burning out the motor, and that’s the best-case scenario. The worst-case scenario is one in which the drum comes loose and becomes a dangerous situation. For these reasons, the washing machine sensors will ensure it doesn’t spin.
Another factor you should be aware of, even when respecting the weight limit, is that you can cause the load to be unbalanced depending on how you load it. Make sure to put clothes into the drum evenly and not in a big mass that could get tangled up with each other. When you hear the Bosch washer bumping before it stops spinning, it is a sign that all the clothing is bunched up in a ball, causing balance issues.
Troubleshooting tips:
- Check the manual: Read the manual that came with your machine. It should have information on the maximum load capacity.
- Look for markings: See if any markings on the machine indicate the maximum load, either on the drum or control panel.
- Measure your clothes: Before putting clothes in the machine, measure them or use a scale to determine how much you add.
- Divide large loads: If you need to wash many clothes, consider dividing them into smaller loads to avoid overloading the machine so it continues spinning properly.
- Distribute evenly: To ensure your machine is spinning properly, distribute your clothes evenly within the drum.
- Avoid overstuffing: Avoid cramming too many clothes into the machine, as this can make it difficult for the drum to spin freely.
If your Bosch washer is already not spinning due to an overloaded tub, open it up and remove some of the clothing paying attention to disperse the clothing evenly. Then try to start the spin cycle again. You may need to reset it to get it going again.
Broken belt
There is a drive belt that connects the motor to the tub so that it can spin. These belts are made of durable rubber, yet, they don’t last forever. You could have a situation where the belt has expanded and is now loose. Too loose to properly spin the tub. Or, the belt could be broken, and this will cause the entire machine not to function.
You would need a technician to fix a broken or loose belt. Some people may feel more comfortable having a trained professional do the work, but it is something that most people can manage themselves.
Troubleshooting tips:
- Turn off the power: Before checking the belt, unplug the machine or turn off the power to avoid any electrical hazards.
- Get to the belt: To see the belt, you’ll need to take off the machine’s back panel. Check the manual for instructions specific to your model.
- Take a look: Once you can see the belt, examine it for any cracks or fraying. If the belt is loose or slipping, it may be damaged.
- Clear out any debris: Check around the belt and the pulleys for any debris that might have been caught. This can cause the belt to be damaged or slip.
- Test the tension: Use your hands to apply pressure to the belt in different directions gently. If the belt feels loose, it might need tightening or replacing.
Replacing the belt from washing machines is relatively easy if it is damaged. Make sure to order the specific one for your model by checking the manual and having it ready when you need to swap it.
Water not draining
A very common cause of the washing machines that won’t spin is there is a clog in the drain pump, washing machine hoses, or filter. If the remaining water isn’t draining properly from the tub, the washer drum can’t spin. All the water has to be removed before the spin cycle starts. The machine may stop working and must be cleared of the water and reset to work again.
Before you do anything, check to see if there is water in the tub. Sometimes a faulty sensor reads that there is when it is empty. If there is remaining water, then follow the steps below.
Troubleshooting tips:
- Unplug the machine: Shut off the appliance from the mains plug.
- Remove the water: Locate the service flap on the bottom right corner of the machine and open it up. Withdraw the small drain hose and open it over a receptacle to collect the water. Carefully remove the filter’s pump cover slowly for the drain pump to the hose’s right. Check for debris or pump blockage build-up that could block the drain pump and impeller.
- Reassemble and close the flap: Reverse the order you did to close everything up.
- Check the drain hose: A drain hose leads from the tub to the drain pipe and removes the water after the cycle. Carefully remove the hose clip from the tub and check it for clogs or kinked waste water hose.
- Reattach the drain hose: Once the pump blockage has been cleared and the hose has been inspected, you can reattach the drainage hose to the machine and the drain or standpipe. Make sure the hose is securely attached and there are no kinks in the washing machine hoses or other restrictions in the hose.
- Test the machine: After cleaning out the drain pump, and reattaching the hose, run a wash cycle to see if the machine is spinning correctly. If it’s still not spinning, another issue besides a kinked waste water hose or clogged drain pump may be causing the problem.
Faulty door latch
The washer door latch closes the lid or door firmly, so it doesn’t open during the wash cycle. If the latch is loose, when the Bosch washer starts spinning, it can dislodge the door slightly and signal to the control board that it is open.
A faulty lid switch may signal to the control board that the door is open even if firmly closed. In either case, the machine will stop the spin cycle to avoid any damage to the machine.
You should quickly inspect the door latch to see if it is dirty or if some debris is blocking the connection. If the lid switch seems fine, then do some troubleshooting.
Troubleshooting tips:
- Test the door: Give the door a good go-over. Open it several times to see if it’s closing securely and smoothly. If you’re having trouble closing the door, or it doesn’t seem to be shutting correctly, the latch could be the issue.
- Inspect the latch: Give the latch a thorough examination. Look for any signs of looseness or damage. Also, inspect the hinges and the mechanism that connects the latch to the machine to see if they’re in good shape. If the latch is damaged or the hinges are loose, the latch is likely faulty.
- Try to open the door: Close the door and try to open it using the handle. If you can open the door with little resistance, the latch may need to be fixed.
- Use a multimeter: If you have a multimeter, you can test the door latch for electrical continuity. Set the multimeter to measure resistance and touch the probes to the two contacts on the door latch. If the resistance reading is infinite, the latch is likely faulty.
This is something that you can replace yourself if you are handy. It usually involves replacing the switch assembly by unscrewing it, disconnecting the wires, adding a new one, and reversing the steps. Calling a technician is your best bet if you are hopelessly not handy.
Control board error
The control board regulates all of the functions of a washing machine. As with any electronics, it is prone to bugs and malfunctions. A problem with the control board can cause the machine to malfunction or stop working altogether, including not spinning.
Various issues, including power surges, voltage spikes, software problems, etc., can cause control board errors. Symptoms of a control board error may include:
- An error code on the display screen.
- A failure of the machine to start or complete a cycle.
- A failure to spin.
In any case, you’ll need to determine if a simple reset will solve the problem or if you need a technician to come and replace it.
Troubleshooting tips:
- Hard reset: The first step in troubleshooting this issue is to try a power reset. This involves unplugging the machine from the wall and waiting a few minutes before plugging it back in. This can clear any temporary issues and get the machine working again.
- Check for error codes: If a power reset doesn’t resolve the issue, check for any error codes on display. Error codes can help diagnose the problem and indicate whether it’s a control board issue or another problem.
- Check the connections: Make sure all the connections to the control board are tight and secure. If any of the connections are loose, it can cause the machine to stop working or produce error codes.
- Check the voltage: Use a multimeter to check the machine’s voltage to ensure it’s within the proper range. If the voltage is too low, it can cause the machine to malfunction.
If the reset doesn’t work or error codes tell you the control board is not working, you should call a technician. If you try to replace it and make a mistake, you will void the warranty. Best to leave it to the pros when something as sensitive as a control board is causing the problem.
Bosch washer not spinning fast
If the spin speed doesn’t seem quite right, then this is a sign of trouble coming. If your Bosch washer is not spinning fast, it could mean a few different things.
The most likely cause is you overloaded the Bosch washing machine. Since it has to work harder to spin the load, the spin speed will be reduced.
It could also be due to motor problems that a technician must check out. If it is more than four or five years old, it could be the brushes that are worn down and causing the motor to run more slowly. Those are not
Final Thoughts
These are the most common causes of a Bosch washing machine not spinning. If none are the culprit, immediately calling in an expert is a good idea. After all, the laundry isn’t going to wash itself if the machine is not working for some time!
