What causes Bosch Washer E13?

Too much detergent, or regular (non-HE) detergent, making suds the pump can't clear, which the Bosch manual lists first. A drain pump blocked by a sock, coin, hair tie, lint or other debris caught behind the pump cap. A kinked, crushed or clogged drain hose, or a blocked drain pipe or standpipe. A drain pump that has failed or turns stiffly. Loose or damaged wiring between the drain pump and the control. Less often, a control module that isn't powering the pump.

How do I fix Bosch Washer E13?

Switch the washer off and unplug it. If water is still in the drum, put towels and a shallow pan under the service flap at the lower front corner first. Open the service flap, let the water run out (through the small emergency drain hose if your model has one), then slowly unscrew the pump cap. Bosch warns the water can be very hot. Clean out the pump cap, its thread and the pump housing, and check that the impeller inside can turn. Remove anything caught in it, then screw the cap back on firmly. Check the drain hose behind the washer for kinks or crushing, and clear any clog in the hose or the drain pipe it goes into. If you've been using a lot of detergent or a non-HE brand, switch to a small dose of HE detergent. Bosch's manual suggests mixing 1 tablespoon of fabric softener with 1 pint of water in the detergent dispenser to knock down heavy suds (not for waterproof fabrics). Plug the washer back in, switch it off for 5 seconds and on again, then run a Drain or Spin cycle and watch for leaks at the pump cap.

When should I call a pro for Bosch Washer E13?

The pump is clean, the hose is clear and E13 still comes back. AppliancePartsPros' checks are to measure the drain pump's resistance (about 140 to 200 ohms on WFMC and WFXD models), then check for 120 volts at the pump connector while it should be running: no voltage points to the control, voltage with a still pump points to the pump. The impeller feels gritty, catchy or very hard to turn by hand, which usually means a worn pump. You'd need to take off the front panel or test live 120 V wiring to reach the pump connector. The door stays locked with water in the drum and you can't drain it through the service flap.

Code: E13🧺 Bosch Washer

Bosch Washer E13 (E:13) Error Code: Drain Pump Time Exceeded (Meaning, Causes, Fixes)

Q: What does Bosch Washer E13 mean?

E13 (shown as E:13) on an older Bosch front-load washer, such as the Vision and Nexxt models, means the washer didn't drain in the time it expected. The most common causes are too many suds from too much or non-HE detergent, a blocked drain pump, or a kinked or clogged drain hose. Clean the drain pump, straighten and clear the hose, switch to a small dose of HE detergent, and run a Drain or Spin cycle. If the pump is clean and E13 keeps coming back, the drain pump itself or its wiring may need a technician. The Bosch Vision 500 Series (WFVC5400UC and WFVC5440UC) owner's manual lists the fault as "Washing solution has not drained completely. Indicator light 'rinse' is lit and display is flashing 'E:13'" and gives two causes: suds, and a blocked pump. AppliancePartsPros, writing about Bosch front-loaders with model numbers starting WFMC (Nexxt) and WFXD, calls E13 "Drain pump time exceeded": the washer couldn't drain the water within its set time, because of the drain pump, a blockage in the drain hose or drain line, or less often the control. Newer Bosch washers report drain problems with different codes (E18 or F18, E:00 with -18, or E:36), and Bosch's current US error-code list doesn't include E13, so check the owner's manual for your model number if you have a newer machine.

Reviewed 2026-10-25 · Based on 4 manufacturer & service sources

What the code means

The Bosch Vision 500 Series (WFVC5400UC and WFVC5440UC) owner's manual lists the fault as "Washing solution has not drained completely. Indicator light 'rinse' is lit and display is flashing 'E:13'" and gives two causes: suds, and a blocked pump. AppliancePartsPros, writing about Bosch front-loaders with model numbers starting WFMC (Nexxt) and WFXD, calls E13 "Drain pump time exceeded": the washer couldn't drain the water within its set time, because of the drain pump, a blockage in the drain hose or drain line, or less often the control. Newer Bosch washers report drain problems with different codes (E18 or F18, E:00 with -18, or E:36), and Bosch's current US error-code list doesn't include E13, so check the owner's manual for your model number if you have a newer machine.

Likely causes

Too much detergent, or regular (non-HE) detergent, making suds the pump can't clear, which the Bosch manual lists first
A drain pump blocked by a sock, coin, hair tie, lint or other debris caught behind the pump cap
A kinked, crushed or clogged drain hose, or a blocked drain pipe or standpipe
A drain pump that has failed or turns stiffly
Loose or damaged wiring between the drain pump and the control
Less often, a control module that isn't powering the pump

Safe DIY checks

⚠ Before you start

Unplug the washer before opening the pump cap or touching any wiring, and let hot wash water cool first, since it can scald. Voltage tests at the pump are done with power on and are a job for a technician.

Switch the washer off and unplug it. If water is still in the drum, put towels and a shallow pan under the service flap at the lower front corner first.
Open the service flap, let the water run out (through the small emergency drain hose if your model has one), then slowly unscrew the pump cap. Bosch warns the water can be very hot.
Clean out the pump cap, its thread and the pump housing, and check that the impeller inside can turn. Remove anything caught in it, then screw the cap back on firmly.
Check the drain hose behind the washer for kinks or crushing, and clear any clog in the hose or the drain pipe it goes into.
If you've been using a lot of detergent or a non-HE brand, switch to a small dose of HE detergent. Bosch's manual suggests mixing 1 tablespoon of fabric softener with 1 pint of water in the detergent dispenser to knock down heavy suds (not for waterproof fabrics).
Plug the washer back in, switch it off for 5 seconds and on again, then run a Drain or Spin cycle and watch for leaks at the pump cap.

🛠 When to call a pro

The pump is clean, the hose is clear and E13 still comes back. AppliancePartsPros' checks are to measure the drain pump's resistance (about 140 to 200 ohms on WFMC and WFXD models), then check for 120 volts at the pump connector while it should be running: no voltage points to the control, voltage with a still pump points to the pump.
The impeller feels gritty, catchy or very hard to turn by hand, which usually means a worn pump.
You'd need to take off the front panel or test live 120 V wiring to reach the pump connector.
The door stays locked with water in the drum and you can't drain it through the service flap.

Parts that commonly fix it

Always match the part number to your exact model.

⚙

Bosch washer drain pump (exact part for your model number)

Only if the pump has been cleaned, the hose is clear and the pump still won't run or turns stiffly. Match the part to the model number on the door frame.

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⚙

Washer drain hose (check length and fittings for your model)

Only if your current hose is cracked, crushed or permanently kinked.

Search eBay →

⚙

HE (high-efficiency) low-suds laundry detergent

Front-loaders need HE detergent in small doses; too many suds is a listed cause of E:13.

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⚙

Digital multimeter

For checking drain pump resistance with the washer unplugged.

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Sources

Last reviewed 2026-10-25. Always confirm against the manual for your exact model number.

Bosch Washer E13 (E:13) Error Code: Drain Pump Time Exceeded (Meaning, Causes, Fixes)

What the code means

Likely causes

Safe DIY checks

🛠 When to call a pro

Parts that commonly fix it

Bosch washer drain pump (exact part for your model number)

Washer drain hose (check length and fittings for your model)

HE (high-efficiency) low-suds laundry detergent

Digital multimeter

Related codes

Sources