Temperature sensor
Common error-code part. Confirm resistance and connector style.
E09 on a Bosch residential dishwasher means the control board has confirmed the heating element has failed. Unlike E01 (which is a general heating circuit fault), E09 is specific: the element itself is gone. It needs replacement.
What This Error Means
The control board monitors the heating element during the wash cycle. When it detects an open circuit where the element should be — meaning the element’s resistance wire has broken — it throws E09. There’s no reset; the element must be replaced.
Common Causes
- Burned-out heating element — The resistance wire inside the element has broken. Normal wear at 5–10+ years of use.
- Limescale damage — Heavy scale deposits on the element can cause hot spots that eventually burn through the element wire. Running descaling treatments regularly prevents this.
Step-by-Step Fix
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Find your model number. It’s on a label inside the door frame (look on the door edge or the tub side wall when the door is open). Write down the full model number — elements are model-specific and using the wrong one won’t fit correctly.
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Order the correct element. Search for your model number plus “heating element.” Bosch Series 300, 500, and 800 use different elements, and the flow-through heater in some 800 models is a completely different part.
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Access the element from below. Disconnect power. Pull the dishwasher out and lay it on its back or side to access the bottom.
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Remove the heating element.
- Locate the element terminals at the bottom of the machine.
- Disconnect the wiring connectors from both terminals.
- Inside the tub, the element ring is held by mounting clips or a nut at each terminal point. Remove the mounting hardware.
- The element slides out from inside the tub.
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Install the new element. Slide the new element into position, seat the mounting hardware, reconnect the wiring connectors.
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Run a test cycle. Touch the water after 15 minutes — it should be warm to hot.
Parts You May Need
- Bosch dishwasher heating element (search your model number)
- Bosch dishwasher cleaner descaler
- Nut driver set
When to Call a Technician
If you confirm you have a flow-through heater model (Bosch Series 800, typically), this is a different and more expensive repair that involves the pump-heater assembly. A technician visit for diagnosis before ordering parts is worthwhile for these models.