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Power indication lights up

Bosch Power indication lights up pressure washer: auto-off

Verified with sources2 sourcesReviewed Oct 18, 2026

Technician coming? See the 2 steps they must show you

Yellow and black Kärcher K 5.85 wheeled pressure washer with the spray lance stored in the handle and a water hose connected — PigletCC0 Image source

Risk level

Low

Urgency

Low

Quick answer

On the Bosch Fontus 18V cordless pressure cleaner (18 V, 170 W), when the power indication lights up but the pump is no longer running, the auto-off function has been activated after 30 minutes of continuous operation. Switch the machine off and then on again.

Safety first

Stop and check this first

Always switch the machine off, pull the trigger to release pressure and drain the water from the hose, and remove the 18 V battery prior to all cleaning and maintenance work; do not modify the machine or open the pump or battery.
Never direct the water jet against the face of people or animals, the machine itself or electric components, operate the machine only when the battery compartment is shut, and store the battery separately between -20 °C and 50 °C.

Safe checks you can perform

Switch the machine off and then on again using the On/Off switch
Refill the water tank and press and hold the trigger to vent air
Clean the water filter and nozzle and check permitted battery temperature

Leave these tasks to a qualified professional

Do not attempt this professional task: Pump motor and auto-off check at an authorised Bosch Service Centre
Do not attempt this professional task: Inspection of the pump, spray gun and hose for excessive or standby leaks

What a technician must be able to justify

Technician visit

These are the steps they must carry out and show you. Tick them as they work: if steps are skipped, do not accept a part swap.

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Pump motor and auto-off check at an authorised Bosch Service Centre
What they doRepairs may only be carried out by authorised Bosch Service Centres if the pump fails to run after switching the machine off and on again or if continuous malfunctions occur in standby mode.
They must show youthe functional test of the 170 W pump motor, autostop function and 30-minute auto-off function.
In writingthe diagnostic report for the Power indication lights up symptom and verified pressure (2.0 MPa rated pressure and 4.0 MPa max. system pressure).
Inspection of the pump, spray gun and hose for excessive or standby leaks
What they doIn case of excessive water leaks from a leaking pump or continuous malfunctions where the motor starts in standby mode due to a leaking pump, spray gun or hose, an authorised Bosch Service Centre inspects the assembly.
They must show youthe leak inspection of the pump, spray gun and hose connections.
In writingthe Bosch-approved original spare parts fitted and confirmation that excessive leaks are resolved.

Before accepting a part or repair

Nothing has been shown yet. Do not accept a part swap based on the code alone.

Follow these steps

Note: Follow the documented order. An error code identifies the affected system, but it does not prove by itself which part has failed.

Switch the machine off and then on again using the On/Off switch
No special tools
Who:
you, operating the Bosch Fontus 18V On/Off switch.
How:
release the spray-gun trigger, press the On/Off switch to switch the Bosch Fontus 18V off, and press it again to switch the machine back on, following the corrective measure in the Bosch troubleshooting table.
Result that matters:
that the 30-minute auto-off state resets and the pump runs when the spray-gun trigger is pulled.
If the pump runs when you pull and hold the trigger:
the 30-minute continuous-run auto-off function had stopped the motor.
If the machine had switched off after 5 minutes without operation (autosleep function) or does not power up:
press the On/Off switch for activation and check the 18 V battery charge-control indicator.
Evidence to keep:
photo of the power indication and the battery charge-control indicator.
Evidence: Bosch Fontus 18V Cordless Pressure Cleaner Original Instructions (F 016 L94 184)
Refill the water tank and press and hold the trigger to vent air
No special tools
Who:
you, checking the water tank and spray-gun trigger.
How:
if the motor is running but there is no or limited working pressure, refill the water tank using only fresh clear water (max. water temperature 50 °C, without cleaning agents or additives) and press and hold the trigger to vent air; note that it can take up to 10 seconds for water to come out when first used after the water tank has been emptied.
Result that matters:
steady water delivery at the 2.0 MPa rated pressure (4.0 MPa max. system pressure).
If water comes out steadily after holding the trigger for up to 10 seconds:
the water tank was empty or the pump was not vented.
If the tank is not being filled when tap water is connected or pressure pulsates:
switch the machine off and check and clean the water hose, hose connection, filter and nozzle.
Evidence to keep:
short clip of water delivery after refilling the water tank and holding the trigger to vent air.
Evidence: Bosch Fontus 18V Cordless Pressure Cleaner Original Instructions (F 016 L94 184)
Clean the water filter and nozzle and check permitted battery temperature
No special tools
Who:
you, with the machine switched off and the 18 V battery removed.
How:
switch the machine off, pull the trigger to release pressure and drain the water from the hose, open the battery compartment cover and remove the 18 V battery; check that the filter element is inserted, clean and undamaged, clean a blocked nozzle, and verify that the permitted ambient temperature is +5 °C to +50 °C during operation (0 °C to +45 °C during charging).
Result that matters:
a clean, undamaged filter and nozzle and the battery within its permitted temperature window.
If the battery was too hot or cold, or the filter was dirty:
allow the battery to cool or warm and never fill the water tank with the filter removed or damaged.
If excessive water leaks from the pump or continuous malfunctions occur in standby mode:
contact an authorised Bosch Service Centre.
Evidence to keep:
photo of the clean filter element and the 18 V battery compartment.
Evidence: Bosch Fontus 18V Cordless Pressure Cleaner Original Instructions (F 016 L94 184)

Still not solved

If the error persists, stop here. See what the technician must do and show you.

Where this code applies

A code is meaningful only inside the right product and version context.

Primary scope

System: Garden
Brand: Bosch
Product type: Pressure washers

Known code variants

Auto-off function activated Fontus 18V
Bomba parada con indicador encendido
Función de desconexión automática Fontus 18V
Indicador de corriente encendido pero la bomba deja de funcionar
Power indication lights up but pump no longer running
Pump stops with power indication lit

What it means

The original Bosch Fontus 18V Cordless Pressure Cleaner instruction manual (document F 016 L94 184, article number 3 600 HB6 1.., 18 V, 170 W) documents in its troubleshooting table the problem where the power indication lights up but the pump is no longer running. The stated possible cause is that the auto-off function has been activated because the motor switches off when the product runs continuously for 30 minutes, and the corrective measure is to switch the machine off and then on again. Other models may differ, and this state alone never proves a component is faulty.

Warnings and stop conditions

Higheditorial warning
Always switch the machine off, pull the trigger to release pressure and drain the water from the hose, and remove the 18 V battery prior to all cleaning and maintenance work; do not modify the machine or open the pump or battery.
Evidence: Bosch Fontus 18V Cordless Pressure Cleaner Original Instructions (F 016 L94 184)
Mediumeditorial warning
Never direct the water jet against the face of people or animals, the machine itself or electric components, operate the machine only when the battery compartment is shut, and store the battery separately between -20 °C and 50 °C.
Evidence: Bosch Fontus 18V Cordless Pressure Cleaner Original Instructions (F 016 L94 184)

Symptoms and causes

Probable causes · in order

Auto-off function activated after 30 minutes of continuous runningCommon
The auto-off function on the Bosch Fontus 18V switches off the motor when the product runs continuously for 30 minutes, leaving the power indication lit while the pump is no longer running.
Evidence: Bosch Fontus 18V Cordless Pressure Cleaner Original Instructions (F 016 L94 184)
Motor stopped by the autostop function on trigger release or autosleepPossible
The autostop function switches off the motor as soon as the spray-gun trigger is released, while the autosleep function automatically switches off the machine after 5 minutes without operation.
Evidence: Bosch Fontus 18V Cordless Pressure Cleaner Original Instructions (F 016 L94 184)
Water tank empty or pump not vented with air in the pumpLess common
If the motor is running after switching the machine back on but there is no or limited working pressure, the troubleshooting table lists two possible causes: the water tank is empty or the pump is not vented.
Evidence: Bosch Fontus 18V Cordless Pressure Cleaner Original Instructions (F 016 L94 184)

Virtual technician

Does Power indication lights up still appear after these checks?

Answer a few questions to narrow down the likely cause and the safest next action. Guidance only - it never replaces a professional.

Start diagnosis

Sources and technical references

1
Bosch Fontus 18V Cordless Pressure Cleaner Original Instructions (F 016 L94 184)
Bosch · 2023 · official_doc
2
Bosch Fontus 18V Limpiadora a presión ACCU Manual original (F 016 L94 184)
Bosch · 2023 · official_doc

Sources: Bosch Fontus 18V Cordless Pressure Cleaner Original Instructions (F 016 L94 184) · Bosch Fontus 18V Limpiadora a presión ACCU Manual original (F 016 L94 184)reviewed 2026-10-18 · verified

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