The F16 error code on a Bosch washing machine indicates that either the door is open and needs to be closed or the door interlock is faulty, and the door can’t be engaged to start the wash cycle.
This error code might be displayed as the E16 error code depending on the model number of your washing machine.
This can be caused by a few reasons including a faulty door lock, the wiring that powers the lock being damaged or problems with the printed circuit board.
Before you try to fix your washing machine you should always isolate it from the electrical supply so that you can work safely.
This is what you should do if your Bosch washer has the F16 error code:
Make sure the door is closed
A simple fix for the F16 error code is making sure that the door is closed properly. Sometimes if the door has not been closed with enough force the door won’t engage.
It’s also fairly common for an item of clothing to get caught between the door and the door seal which will push the door outwards and trick the machine into thinking that the door is still open.
When the door interlock is coming to the end of its life it might struggle to lock the door but by closing it firmly it should still be able to engage and lock the door.
If you close the door with more force than you usually would, and the door locks it means the door lock needs to be changed for a new one.
Check the wiring going to the door lock
The door lock will usually have between one and three wires that supply power to it. You should visually inspect the wires for any damage.
Follow the wiring from the control board all the way down to the lock and look for any kinks, breaks or burning that would stop power from being given to the lock.
If you find any problems, you can either repair the wiring by cutting and crimping in new wiring or order a wiring loom for your machine and replace all of the wiring from the control board to the lock.
If your washer has recently had a repair the chances of the wiring being damaged are increased as a result of them getting caught and kinked when the machine was being reassembled.
Replace the door interlock
The door interlock is where the door catch pushes into and locks the door into place before a wash cycle starts.
When the door lock starts to fail it will intermittently engage the door and can sometimes be forced to lock the door by pushing the door into the lock with more force than you would usually need.
Bosch washing machine door locks are usually inexpensive and can be replaced quite easily.
You can often replace the door lock by removing the front of the door seal and unscrewing the lock so that it comes out of the front of the machine. You can then swap the wires over and then fit the new lock.
Swapping the lock for a new one will solve this problem most of the time but on rarer occasions, the control board might be damaged by a short circuit from the door lock being faulty.
Inspect the printed circuit board
If the door lock and the wiring seem to be working correctly then the problem might be with the printed circuit board (PCB).
If there has been a problem during a wash cycle with one of the parts on the machine it might have caused an electrical short on the circuit board.
If you visually inspect the circuit board, you might be able to see evidence of an electrical short such as burn marks or scorch marks.
If there are any black marks on the control board that can’t be rubbed off, then they are probably burn marks which means the control board will need to be repaired or replaced.
It is possible to repair a circuit board and some businesses specialize in repairing them but most of the time you will have to replace the control board which is expensive.
Depending on the model number of the machine it might mean that the repair is too expensive, and you have to replace the machine.
Summary
That’s everything you need to know about the F16 and E16 error codes on a Bosch washing machine.
Here is a quick recap of everything:
- Start off by making sure that the door is closed – One of the most common reasons that can cause the F16 error code is because the door is open or not closed properly
- Make sure that the wiring that powers the door interlock is in good condition – Look for any signs of burning that might have melted and disconnected the wires from the door lock
- If the wiring is in good condition, you should replace the door interlock – Replacing the door lock on a washing machine is usually straightforward and is an inexpensive repair
- Check the printed circuit board (PCB) for any signs that there has been an electrical short circuit – Black smoke marks that can’t be rubbed away are a sign that the control board has failed and will need to be repaired or replaced
If you find that the circuit board needs to be replaced it might be an uneconomical repair due to the cost of a new circuit board.
If you need any more information on Bosch washing machine error codes, you can go and check out our entire breakdown of each error code and what they mean.
