Bosch Condenser Dryer "Clean Container" (secret flap door)

We have a WTE84103GB/08, which kept stopping after about 5mins with the container warning light lit. Whoever discovered the secret flap well done and thankyou. I thought the warning light was a problem with the top water tank, but couldn’t find any switch associated with it. Anyway found the flap at the bottom of the condenser box and managed to get it open eventually. Full of horrible gunge. Thanks again. Bondm
 
Worked for me as well, great tip! I found it easier to open the door by pulling first on one flap and pulling the door slightly up so that flap stays open and then doing the same on the other one
 
Have a Classixx 7 - just under 2 years old - had same problem with water container warning light coming on and stopping machine - serviced the areas that should be kept clear - didn't solve the problem - found this forum - have followed the "instructions" - found the secret panel - a bit awkward but managed to remove it - small screwdriver and a knife - reservoir below was full of water and gunge - cleaned it all out - have now completed 3 drying cycles and still not had to empty water container - very many thanks to the person who posted the information
 
Bnaji said:
I had the same problem. My 1 year old Bosch Maxx 7 sensitive condenser dryer would stop after a minute or so and would indicate a full tank of water. Filter was clean, water tank empty, cooler filter think from the front bottom left of dryer was clean, made me crazy!

Found this great post, took apart my dryer, hoses clean, no problem... Then I found a "secret door" flap, whatever, located in the bottom panel in the slot where the large cooler/filter thing goes. It is in the way back on the bottom. Lies flat has two hinges that you pull in with your fingernails towards you. Lift the flap up and you have a small holding area that gets full of gelatinized sludge! Pulled out about a cup full of lint filled slime gel, dried everything, put cover back on, viola! Works like new.

You don't even have to take the dryer apart if you can find the secret flap! Oh well, at least I know how to take it apart if I ever get bored. Thanks a million for the posts you great, helpful people!
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Thanks for this post and others that followed it with clues on how to fix the Container Full (when it wasn't) error and causing washing to only partly dry. Cleaned all the bits as suggested in manual, with no solution. Found this 'secret panel flap' post and with a fair amount of patience involved got the flap opened and cleaned out handfuls of slimey gunk. Working well again. Have a two year old machine and the same explanation worked. Brilliant.
 
SparksAreFlying, we have a Classixx7 too. Your comment gave me confidence that this model also had a ‘secret flap’. Found it and cleaned out the newly found compartment. Fingers crossed this will do the trick on our 5-year old, previously trouble free machine.
 
Bnaji said:
I had the same problem. My 1 year old Bosch Maxx 7 sensitive condenser dryer would stop after a minute or so and would indicate a full tank of water. Filter was clean, water tank empty, cooler filter think from the front bottom left of dryer was clean, made me crazy!

Found this great post, took apart my dryer, hoses clean, no problem... Then I found a "secret door" flap, whatever, located in the bottom panel in the slot where the large cooler/filter thing goes. It is in the way back on the bottom. Lies flat has two hinges that you pull in with your fingernails towards you. Lift the flap up and you have a small holding area that gets full of gelatinized sludge! Pulled out about a cup full of lint filled slime gel, dried everything, put cover back on, viola! Works like new.

You don't even have to take the dryer apart if you can find the secret flap! Oh well, at least I know how to take it apart if I ever get bored. Thanks a million for the posts you great, helpful people!
Click to expand...
+1, works with maxx8 as well (a lot of stuff accumulated over the 8 years we have it), thank you!
 
Parapaul said:
Have a Classixx 7 - just under 2 years old - had same problem with water container warning light coming on and stopping machine - serviced the areas that should be kept clear - didn't solve the problem - found this forum - have followed the "instructions" - found the secret panel - a bit awkward but managed to remove it - small screwdriver and a knife - reservoir below was full of water and gunge - cleaned it all out - have now completed 3 drying cycles and still not had to empty water container - very many thanks to the person who posted the information
Click to expand...
 
This cure solved the issue for a few weeks - then back to the old problem - did realise that you didn't have to keep emptying the reservoir, just press the start button again - did check the "secret flap" but all was clear - opened the back of the machine - plenty of (torx) screws - different sizes - need to remember where they go - found a couple of tubes to blow clear - didn't resolve the problem - eventually gave in and called a fitter - diagnosis was a blocked pump body which was soon cleared - fairly easy to get to - will be doing the job myself next time - think you can access the "secret flap" once the motor has been removed - takes about an hour all told with so many screws to undo, to gain access via the side panel - was advised to use the garden hose to flush the condenser matrix as just flushing the air tubes is not sufficient to totally clean the unit as the kitchen tap hasn't got enough pressure to clean out the narrow passages
 
This thread is excellent! Thankyou Guys
I’ve been vigilant about cleaning the filters/inner housing etc of my Bosch Condenser dryer since I bought it in 2016 (I don’t have time to a super-cleaner-I just want to keep appliances sound for as long as possible to save money & avoid waste & hassle), but had this exact error which had me stumped. So glad that found this.
I just followed the steps including cleaning the moisture sensors, and cleaned out the area under the secret flap and problem solved.
Just a note- in my case it took 30 mins or so for the Dryer to recognise the blockage was cleared so initially, it seemed the problem hadn’t been fixed.
After that the problem is gone
ParaPaul makes an important point about the need to force out the trapped lint from the condenser unit with a garden hose to thoroughly clean it
 
ginoT said:
once you find this "secret flap" fingers alone to pull out the gunk isn't enough. would recommend using a quality kitchen towel/cloth to stick in there and fish out whatever you can. And make sure you reach the area where the water pump is located (located to left once you're inside this flap bit)

can't believe Bosch didn't make this cleaning (1) easier , (2) explicit in the care & maintenance. I do mine every 2-3 months
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Exactly. Why don’t Bosch include the”Secret Flap” in the user care and maintenance instructions?

Looking back through this thread it appears to be a consistent feature on Bosch Condenser dryers dating back to 2010 at least.

Checked my manual to be sure and there is nothing about it?

I wonder how many engineers have been called out to fix this relatively simple problem; simple when you have the information that is.
Thanks again guys & Merry Christmas you leges
 
An update - if the problem persists or returns you will have to get serious and undo quite a few screws to get to the pump body - the fitter - cost £90 - sorted my machine out by clearing the pump body - so far - 8 months on - it is still working fine - when the problem re-occurs I will be tackling the job myself - unfortunately, the screws have a "torx" head so special screwdrivers will be needed but sets of bits are quite cheap - a lot less than a callout - it is not a technical job - just time consuming and you need to remember where the various sized screws go
 
Thanks to all who have highlighted the "secret flap" - you really do need to persevere when trying to remove this flap. I found that levering the left hand hinge gently until the flap is raised just a little is best practice - this allows you to apply significant pressure (I used a chisel as the sharp edge allows better purchase) on the left sided plastic catch whilst levering BETWEEN the two catches (hinges) with a screwdriver. Eventually the left hand catch will give and you can then get at the right hand catch (hinge) using the chisel once again. You do not need to worry too much about damaging the flap as when it is replaced (having cleared out all the gunge!!! of course) you will find that the flap will be held firmly in place when you replace the two "units" on top of it. Why Bosch have kept this design feature for so many years, beats me.
 
Hi all! I’m having the same problem but can’t seem to find the secret flap! Maybe mine doesn’t have it but sounds like most Bosch ones do... Can someone let me know where exactly it is? Thanks!
 
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