The reading in two sentences
Read E6160 as this: the control could not find the reference position of the controlled lower spray arm. You can run the machine, but wash results in the lower basket will be uneven until it is put right. You can settle whether this is a one-off or a real fault yourself; naming the failed part is not owner work.
Error codes
Reference| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| E6160 | PowerControl™ (Controlled Lower Spray Arm) reference position not found. |
What else is happening when this shows
- The arm does not sweep freely when you spin it by hand — A stiff or catching arm is the fault in most cases and it is found in seconds.
- Performance is uneven — one area treated and another not — A mechanism stuck in one position does its job in one place only.
- NEAR MISS — nothing moves anywhere in the appliance — A general failure to move is a motor or a supply fault rather than a position fault.
What triggers E6160, most likely first
- The lower basket or a tall item fouling the arm — It is the commonest cause and it costs nothing: a pan handle or a fallen utensil through the basket stops the arm short of its reference, and the control reports the reference rather than the obstruction.
- Limescale and residue binding the arm bearing — The arm turns in water full of dissolved minerals, and a bearing that has scaled turns stiffly enough to miss the reference window the control allows.
- A failed drive or control for the mechanism — Last: the expensive candidate, and the one that cannot be identified honestly until the path is clear and the sensor has been checked.
The order to work through
- Check the arm jets and the bearing for scale — Scale on the jets and at the centre is visible and it is the usual reason a free arm becomes a stiff one.
- Take the lower basket out and spin the arm by hand — It should sweep freely through its whole travel with no catch anywhere.
- Look for something in the path of the movement — A fragment, a stray item or a badly loaded accessory explains most of these codes at no cost.
- Body: Move it by hand first — free, stiff or blocked decides whether this is a mechanical job or an electrical one.
The reset and the checks that follow it
- Empty the appliance and look along the path of the movement — With the power off. You are looking for anything that should not be there, however small.
Tools: torchAbout 15 min
- Remove the lower basket, clear the arm and spin it through a full turn — Look for a utensil through the basket, then check the arm turns freely rather than in steps.
About 10 min
- Move the mechanism gently by hand through its travel — It should move freely. Stiffness, a catch or a hard stop is the fault, found without tools.
About 10 min
- STOP HERE — the sensor and the drive are inside the appliance — Both mean panels off next to live terminals, which is where an owner check ends.
Before a panel comes off
Safety
Unplug the machine or switch off its breaker before any panel comes off — a capacitor can hold a charge after the power is off. Expect hot water: let a heated cycle cool before opening the door or lifting the filter, and never work round the door interlock to start a cycle.
Where an owner check ends
Call if the mechanism is seized, if you can hear it straining, or if the code returns on a clean, free mechanism.
Other codes on a Bosch dishwasher
What is deliberately not here
Treat this as the general Bosch dishwasher reading. It stops short of anything model-specific — part numbers, harness colours, connector layouts and service-mode entry — because those differ by family and a technician takes them from the rating plate rather than from a code. A family- or model-specific page, where one exists, is linked from the code index below and is the closer answer.
Links: - [Bosch dishwasher error codes](/blog/bosch-dishwasher-error-codes)
Next steps
Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 12 years experience
Experienced technician with 12 years specializing in washing machine and dryer repairs across all major brands.
