Something Jammed in the Pump? Bosch Dishwasher E:21

What E:21 means

E:21 means the heat pump is straining against an obstruction, or sits still since something is stuck inside. the documented remedy is a single line, take the debris out of the pump, which tells you the trouble is mechanical rather than electrical. Hard scraps such as glass chips, fruit pits and bone fragments are what turns up, and they reach the pump when the filter is missing or seated wrong.

Common causes of E:21

Hard debris pulled into the pump past the filter
Piece of glass wedged against the impeller
Filter missing or seated incorrectly

✓ One safe check you can try

1. Unplug the dishwasher. 2. Turn out the lower filter and rinse it clean. 3. Shine a flashlight into the sump beneath and look for anything hard that does not belong. 4. Lift out what you can see with tongs, never with fingers. Stay out of the pump opening itself, since broken glass collects there.

! Why to stop there

Broken glass in the pump opening can cut a hand badly.
Probing with a utensil can push the debris further in or chip the impeller.
Running the pump against a jam can burn out the motor and turn a cleaning into a replacement.

Opening a panel yourself does not automatically cancel a manufacturer warranty, but it can cause accidental damage, and some manufacturers set their own service conditions. Check your warranty terms, or ask us, before deciding.

→Same appliance

Other Dishwasher codes

E:01Bosch Dishwasher E:01: Cycle Ended Early, Heater Relay or Pump Unconfirmed 2HBosch Dishwasher 2H: Long Cycle Warning on Older Displays 1Bosch Dishwasher Service Test Result 1: Aqua Sensor 2Bosch Dishwasher Service Test Result 2: Heating Group 4Bosch Dishwasher Service Test Result 4: Water Filling 8Bosch Dishwasher Service Test Result 8: Temperature Sensor 16Bosch Dishwasher Service Test Result 16: Spray Diverter E:30Bosch Dishwasher E:30, Voltage Too High and the Machine Shut Down

E:21E:21 questions

What usually causes the debris to get in?

A filter that is out or not twisted fully into place lets pieces reach the pump. Rinsing plates lightly and always refitting the filter keeps hard scraps away.

Will E:21 come back after I remove the object?

If the pump was undamaged, no. If the impeller is chipped, or a second object remains, the code returns and we would inspect the pump.

Do you need to remove the dishwasher to clear it?

Often we can reach the pump from the front after the base panel is removed. If the machine must come out, we tell you before beginning, and the written price reflects it.