The short answer
E6102 is a drain fault: the table records that the drain pump is blocked, or that its cover is loose or missing. The machine cannot get rid of its water. The cover is the part that catches most owners out — it has to be locked home, and a missing one is a standing fault.
Code table
Reference| code | meaning | owner-checkable |
|---|---|---|
| E6102 | The drain pump is blocked or the drain pump cover is loose or missing. | yes |
| E6101 | There is an issue with the drain pump. This happens when the drain pump is blocked, clogged, or faulty. | see page |
| E6103 | The dishwasher is not draining properly due to the drain filter being blocked. | see page |
What you observe
- Dirty water standing in the bottom of the tub — The defining symptom of any drain fault.
- The pump cover is loose, out of place or missing — Exactly what the table names, and it is visible once the filter is out.
- NEAR MISS — the machine drains but leaves dishes dirty — Draining while washing badly is a spray-arm or filter problem instead.
Likeliest causes first
- The pump cover not locked home, or missing — First, because the table names it: the cover directs flow into the impeller, and without it the pump churns instead of pumping.
- Debris trapped at the impeller — Second: glass, stones and labels lodge where the cover was meant to protect, and they stop the impeller turning.
- A failed drain pump — Last: genuine motor failure, once the cover is correct and the impeller is clear.
Check in this order
- Bail out the standing water first — Nothing else can be done with a full tub, and the water will otherwise end up on the floor.
- Remove the filter and inspect the pump area — Check the cover is present and locked, which is exactly what the table points at.
- Check the drain hose and the waste connection — A new waste disposal or a sink trap full of fat blocks the machine from outside.
Owner-safe steps
- Bail the tub out with a jug and finish with a sponge — Get it as dry as you can before anything is unscrewed.
Tools: jug, spongeAbout 20 min
- Lift out the filter assembly and wash it thoroughly — Take it apart as the manual shows; the mesh and the coarse trap both need doing.
Tools: brushAbout 20 min
- Check the drain hose for kinks and the waste spigot for a blanking plug — A new disposal unit fitted with its plug still in place stops the machine draining completely.
About 20 min
Safety first
Safety
Unplug the appliance or switch off its breaker before removing any panel — a capacitor can hold a charge after the power is off. A dishwasher sits on a live circuit and a water supply at once: close the supply valve as well as the breaker, and expect standing water in the base of the tub.
When to call
Call when the filter is clean, the cover is locked home, the impeller turns freely and water still will not leave the machine. At that point the pump itself is the suspect, and it is reached from underneath. Tell the technician what you cleared and whether the pump made any noise — a silent pump and a straining one point at different repairs.
Neighbouring codes — E6101 and E6103 sit beside E6102 and name overlapping hardware, so most checks here carry across. Read the two meanings side by side: where they differ in the part named, the order of the checks changes with them.
What this page does not cover
This page is written for the Bosch dishwasher class rather than for one model line, and E6102 is read exactly as the shared table records it. If your family or model has its own page, that page is the more specific answer and it is linked below — go there first when your model is named.
Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 12 years experience
Experienced technician with 12 years specializing in washing machine and dryer repairs across all major brands.
