Bosch Dryer E:03 Appears When Laundry Will Not Get Dry Enough

What E:03 means

Open the door and find damp towels, or notice the cycle dragging on far past its normal length, and E:03 may be on the display. It tells you the dryer could not reach the dryness you picked within a sensible time. Bosch lists five slow-down causes: grime on the moisture sensor, a restricted or over-long duct, a dirty filter, a load that went in soaking, or a program poorly matched to what is inside.

Common causes of E:03

Residue from detergent or softener on the moisture sensor strips
Duct that is partially clogged or longer than the allowed run
Laundry that went in far too wet, or a program that suits a different kind of load

✓ One safe check you can try

1. Turn the dryer off and let it cool. 2. Look beside the lint screen slot for two small metal strips. Wipe them gently with a soft cloth lightly dampened with white vinegar to lift the film. 3. Clean the lint filter too. 4. Run the next washer load on a faster spin before it goes in the dryer, then pick a program that matches the fabric.

! Why to stop there

Abrasive scrubbing wears away the coating the strips depend on, so a free cleaning job becomes a parts order.
A clean-up at the front fixes only one of the possible causes; a restricted duct is also a fire hazard and cannot be solved from there.
Changing a duct's length or route alters where hot, humid air ends up, and a mistake can send it into a wall.
If wiping the sensor and filter changes nothing, the remaining checks are inside the cabinet beside the heater.

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 Dryer codes

E:11Bosch Dryer E:11 Is a Quiet Early Warning About Airflow E:15Bosch Dryer E:15 Means the Heating Circuit Is Not Working E:17Bosch Dryer E:17 Reports the Exhaust Air Sensor Is Off E:18Bosch Dryer E:18 Flags the Sensor Above the Heater E24Bosch Dryer E24 Means the Self-Check Found an Electronics Error E10Bosch Dryer E10 Points to the Control Module or Its Wiring E12Bosch Dryer E12 Means It Overheated From Blocked Airflow E52Bosch Dryer E52 Signals a Problem With the NTC Temperature Sensor

E:03E:03 questions

Where do I find the moisture sensor?

Two metal electrodes sit on the front bearing shield, directly to the left of the lint screen opening. They are visible as soon as you open the door.

Can I just run another cycle and be done?

Once, perhaps, if you must. Doing it repeatedly against a restricted duct is how overheating starts, so removing the cause beats working around it every load.

When does E:03 need a technician?

When a clean sensor, a clean filter and a better-spun load still leave you with damp clothes. Then the duct and internal parts need checking, and we quote you in writing first.