What Er:08 Means
Er:08 on a Bosch front-load washer records the heater running past the time the control allows. Bosch describes it as the heater failing to switch off, with a damaged heater or a stuck heater relay as the causes, and the same remedies as the unexpected-heating code: check the element for a short to earth, replace it if faulty, or replace the control.
Common Causes of Er:08
- Heater relay stuck closed on the control module
- Heating element damaged or leaking to earth
- Control module unable to interrupt the heater circuit
🔧 One Safe Check You Can Try
Isolate the washer at the breaker and leave it off. This code and its companion describe a heating circuit that is not responding to the control, and the safest state for that machine is unpowered until it has been inspected.
⚠ Why You Shouldn't Go Further Than That
- A heating element that cannot be switched off in a sealed drum is a fault to interrupt at the breaker, not to observe through another cycle.
- Bosch's diagnostic uses the heater test programme, which deliberately energises the circuit and is not something to attempt casually.
- The element and its relay are at opposite ends of the machine, so the diagnosis decides between two completely different repairs.
- Rear panel access means drawing out a machine that may be built under a counter with the hoses and power cord still connected.
Opening a panel to inspect or repair something yourself doesn't automatically cancel your manufacturer's warranty — but it can risk accidental damage, and some manufacturers do have specific service conditions. Check your product's warranty terms, or ask us, before deciding.