Bosch SG143EGB02/16 salt problem

[ChemistInTheKitchen]

Hi

I have one of these Bosch dishwashers (installed 12/2005). I noticed a couple of weeks ago that the “low salt” light hadn’t come on for a long time (maybe a month or more); more recently there’s been a build-up of white powdery film on the inside surface of the machine (presumably limescale, our water is reasonably hard) – so today I decided to add salt (in spite of the low salt light not indicating that would be required), but found that the inside surface of the screw-on lid to the salt reservoir on the water softener unit is crusted with common salt (see pic) – this deposit is not lime scale.

Some of the salt deposit was on the surface of the black elastomer sealing ring – could it just be that I hadn’t screwed the cap home?

What steps should I take to try to locate/fix the problem?

[ChemistInTheKitchen]

Re: Bosch SG143EGB02/16 salt problem

Hi

I’m a little surprised that no-one pointed out I had the model number wrong – should be SG143E02GB/16.

However, since my original post I’ve flushed out the salt reservoir with clean water (multiple times) and found that the low salt indicator appears to be U/S. The switch for the indicator appears to be located on the salt reservoir itself, but that’s part of my next problem – I don’t know if it’s the switch or the electronics module behind the on/off & programme switches.

I’ve had a look at removing the switch from the salt reservoir, but my fingers aren’t small enough to get in there – so I wanted to remove the reservoir, but find that the large plastic water inlet manifold (on the LHS of the d/w as seen from the front) holds it firmly in place (after having removed the ~80mm octagonal nut fixing the salt reservoir to the base of the dishwasher) . The only thing I can see that holds the inlet in place is a sealing ring (approx 70mm dia) – but I don’t know if this pulls off, or screws off, or what – so, my Q is –

How do I remove the inlet water manifold so I can remove the salt reservoir (or do I even need to do that?)?

[Martin]

Re: Bosch SG143EGB02/16 salt problem

2 options are available to avoid replacing the whole darn softener unit simply because the light no longer comes on.

Firstly, replace the Reed Switch (part no. 00166876) as that usually is the reason it fails.

Secondly, do nothing, touch nothing. Instead simply top up the salt every 3 weeks or so (on the assumption you use it once a day) A full salt container has sufficient salt for 20 wash approximately.

HTH? 😀

[ChemistInTheKitchen]

Re: Bosch SG143EGB02/16 salt problem

Hi

Many thanks for this.

Sorry for the delay in responding – I was waiting for a notification to my e-mail inbox (which may have been spam filtered out, so I don’t seem to have received anything).

Changing the reed switch would be my preferred (longer term) option (it’s nice to have warning lights working if they’re installed…). Looking at the diagram on the Bosch website it looks like it’s held in place by a single screw and (presumably) does not require removal of the water inlet manifold or the salt reservoir. I’ll let you know how I get on.

[ChemistInTheKitchen]

Re: Bosch SG143E02GB/16 salt problem

Eventually I’ve got round to dealing with this.

I followed option (2), i.e. just filled up with salt and carried on using the machine.

The salt level hasn’t changed in several months – there is loads of solid salt in the reservoir, and salt crusting on the inside of the filler cap, so it looks to me as if there is no salt being used. Once a month or so I’ve been descaling and “it seems to work”

I have checked the regeneration valve on the salt dispenser – it moves freely and has a resistance of ~2.3kOhm (from memory, it’s a while since I tested it), so it’s not open circuit or short circuit.

This leaves me with a decision to make – is it worthwhile replacing the reed switch, or does it indicate that a new softener unit is required? What other tests should I do before deciding?

Re: the reed switch, what rating is it? I’m more than happy to do a bit of soldering to replace a ten-bob (okay, realistically a couple of quid) reed switch.

[Martin]

Re: Bosch SG143EGB02/16 salt problem

No salt being used means that the salt regeneration valve is not working. A new one cost under 20quid.(part no: 00166875)

[ChemistInTheKitchen]

Re: Bosch SG143EGB02/16 salt problem

Hi

Still no salt being used after replacing the regeneration valve (for the record, the resistance of both the replacement unit and the original one is 2.3kOhm, and both had the same free movement). I did the replacement 5 weeks ago, so I don’t think that can be the (only) problem – the machine is being used almost daily.

Also, more salt is being deposited on the inside of the salt dispenser cap, and there is plenty of solid salt at the bottom of the salt dispenser (in spite of having not topped up since about April…). Since the salt level is high, I would (naïvely) not expect the low salt indicator to come on…

So, I would guess that the next thing to target would be the salt dispenser itself, and that brings me back to an earlier (unasked here, anyway :-), although implied) question – what holds it on after I’ve removed the ~80mm octagonal nut? How do I separate it from the water inlet manifold?

Is it even likely to be the salt dispenser that should be replaced? Bear in mind that the machine is coming up to 12 years old and apart from this runs the cycles properly (using tabs that reportedly work well with hard water gives better results than “simple” powders).

thx in expectation

[Martin]

Re: Bosch SG143EGB02/16 salt problem

The water softener unit (part no: 00497684) costs £50.38 + P&P direct from Bosch.

You will need to lift off the inlet manifold first before removing the salt unit.

[ChemistInTheKitchen]

Re: Bosch SG143EGB02/16 salt problem

Thanks for this. I noticed previously that the inlet manifold appears to be held firmly to the body of the dishwasher at the top, by a sealing ring (~70mm dia) – but I don’t know if this pulls off, or screws off, or what – so, my Q is –

How do I remove the inlet water manifold so I can remove the salt reservoir (or do I even need to do that?)? I’d hate to rip it off only to find that there’s a stripped thread underneath…

[Martin]

Re: Bosch SG143EGB02/16 salt problem

Unscrew the collar that attaches the manifold to the tub then lift the manifold out, up and off the salt container.

[ChemistInTheKitchen]

Re: Bosch SG143EGB02/16 salt problem

Many thanks. I’ll let you know how I get on (won’t be for a while…)

[ChemistInTheKitchen]

Re: Bosch SG143EGB02/16 salt problem

Unfortunately, “unscrew the collar” is a sticking point (i.e. I’m stuck at this point) – I’m assuming this is Bosch part 00420585 (Cover Cap, water inlet/ condensation tube outlet). Is the collar a left or right-hand thread? I’ve tried turning both ways to no effect…

[Martin]

Re: Bosch SG143EGB02/16 salt problem

It has a conventional thread (as illustrated) and therefore unscrews anti-clockwise.

[ChemistInTheKitchen]

Re: Bosch SG143EGB02/16 salt problem

excellent, many thanks. I couldn’t find a view of the underside anywhere, but that makes it crystal clear.

[Author]

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