Bosch Dishwasher E16: Water Inlet Valve Solenoid Failure

E16 signals that the EGS control board attempted to open the water inlet valve but detected no current flow through the solenoid coil. The inlet valve is an electrically operated gate that admits water from the household supply into the dishwasher tub. When its solenoid winding breaks or its electrical connection fails, the valve cannot open, and the machine cannot fill.

The BSH Dual-Solenoid Inlet Valve

Bosch dishwashers (800 Series and Benchmark models) use a dual-solenoid inlet valve — two independent valves in one housing. One solenoid controls the main fill, the other controls a secondary fill path used during certain cycle phases for precise water metering. E16 can trigger from either solenoid failing, and the error log does not distinguish which one failed.

300 and 500 Series models typically use a single-solenoid valve, which simplifies diagnosis — only one coil to test.

Ruling Out Supply Issues First

Before diagnosing the valve itself, confirm water supply is actually available:

Supply valve position: The shutoff valve under the sink must be fully open. Some supply valves (especially quarter-turn ball valves) have a handle that can be inadvertently bumped to a partially closed position. Turn the handle parallel to the pipe for fully open.

AquaStop hose condition: If your Bosch uses an AquaStop supply hose (standard on most models), check whether the AquaStop mechanical valve has tripped. A previous leak event can permanently close the AquaStop valve. The indicator window on the AquaStop connector shows red if tripped — the entire hose must be replaced.

Supply pressure: Disconnect the supply hose from the dishwasher inlet and hold it over a bucket. Open the supply valve. Water should flow strongly — at least 1 gallon per 30 seconds. Weak flow suggests a clogged supply line, a partially closed main valve, or low house pressure (below Bosch's 20 PSI minimum).

Testing the Inlet Valve Solenoid

1. Power off at breaker
2. Remove the kick plate
3. The inlet valve is mounted at the left-front corner of the base frame, where the supply hose connects to the machine
4. Disconnect the wire connector(s) — single 2-pin plug on 300/500 Series, two separate 2-pin plugs on 800 Series
5. Measure resistance across each solenoid's terminals:
   • Expected: 500-1500 ohms (varies by model)
   • OL (open): Solenoid winding is broken — replace valve
   • 0-50 ohms: Solenoid is shorted — replace valve
   • Normal range with E16 still appearing: Issue is board-side (relay or wiring)

Inlet Screen Clogging

Every Bosch inlet valve has a small mesh screen at the water inlet port. This screen catches sediment from the supply line. Over years, especially in areas with older galvanized plumbing, this screen accumulates debris until flow is severely restricted. To check:

1. Turn off supply valve
2. Disconnect the supply hose from the dishwasher inlet port
3. Look into the inlet port — the screen is visible as a circular mesh
4. If clogged, carefully remove the screen with needle-nose pliers
5. Clean under running water or replace ($2-$3 at hardware stores)
6. Reinstall screen, reconnect hose

A severely clogged screen can restrict flow enough that the tub does not fill within the board's timeout, producing E16 or E3 (fill timeout).

Replacement Procedure

1. Power off at breaker. Water supply off at shutoff valve
2. Remove kick plate
3. Disconnect the supply hose from the valve inlet port (have a towel ready)
4. Disconnect the outlet hose from the valve (connects to the tub fill port via a short rubber hose with a spring clamp)
5. Disconnect the electrical connector(s)
6. Remove the valve mounting screws (usually 2 Phillips-head screws securing the valve bracket to the base frame)
7. Install new valve (BSH 00622058 for most models): mount with screws, connect outlet hose (ensure spring clamp is fully seated), connect supply hose, connect electrical
8. Open supply valve and check for leaks at both connections before restoring power
9. Restore power and run a Quick cycle to verify fill operation

Parts and Pricing

Professional repair: $175-$375. The inlet valve is accessible without major disassembly — typical on-site time is 30-45 minutes.

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