Bosch washing machine not taking powder

[foxhole]

Using powder in draws is very ineffective , it does not dissolve well and leaves a lot of waste sludge in the base of the machine .
Powder should be mixed in a jug of warm water and poured into drum before adding clothes.

 

[Johntheo5]

The two Zanussis work similarly.
The older (~10 years) opens the drawer bypass solenoid for 37 secs and then shuts it, it then opens the "drawer" solenoid for 1 minute 16 secs and the stops, wash commences.
The newer (3 year) operates the same way but for shorter periods, the bypass for 10 seconds, the drawer solenoid for 1 minute, wash then commences.

Theres a flap in the drawer that you close for liquid detergent and open for powder, is yours set up properly?

 

[Gossamer]

I left the machine running for longer this time to see the process as advised and it started putting water into the pre-wash drawer (I) which makes sense, but what struck me is how weak the flow was.
I'm starting to think the supply is the issue. Maybe there's a 'strainer' inside which is blocked with limescale??

 

[Johntheo5]

The main flexible hose will certainly have one, if not two strainers, the water needs isolating and the hose removed one end at the time, check/clean strainer(s).

 

[Gossamer]

Okay, cleaned the filter in the water supply hose. There was a little bit of muck in there but nothing much.
Then started a 30 minute quick cycle with the drawer out so I could see what the water jets were doing.
Basically there was water coming in the back and the odd drip coming from the Jets. Nothing much and in seven or eight minutes no water came out the Jets in a manner to wash the detergent in the washing machine.
Oh also put some viakal on a toothbrush and scrubbed the jets.

 

[Johntheo5]

Okay, cleaned the filter in the water supply hose. There was a little bit of muck in there but nothing much.
Then started a 30 minute quick cycle with the drawer out so I could see what the water jets were doing.
Basically there was water coming in the back and the odd drip coming from the Jets. Nothing much and in seven or eight minutes no water came out the Jets in a manner to wash the detergent in the washing machine.
Oh also put some viakal on a toothbrush and scrubbed the jets.

View attachment 362844

You would probably have to remove the top of the machine to see whats supplying those jets or maybe remove and clean them.

How long is it taking the machine to fill, sometimes it will just fill to the minimum level and start the wash and then depending on the wash size and type of material, frequently add more water in short bursts.
My newer Zanuzzi requires a minimum of 1.0bar mains pressure to operate, otherwise it flags a alarm, the older one will operate from a CWSC.