Bosch dishwasher: won't fill with water

The flood switch is tripped. This is located under the unit. Unplug or flip the breaker to the dishwasher, take off the black kick plate under the door, 2 screws, and you will see the white plastic "pan". The flood switch is located where you can't really see it but it is on the left hand side wall and is made of styrofoam. The best thing to do is to put some rags in the pan, this is not easy because there is little room to put them, and soak-up the water that has filled the pan. Eventually you will get enough water out that the float will deactivate the switch. What you hear "running" when you turn it on is actually the drain pump, it get activated when the flood switch is tripped.

I had the same problem with my Bosch dishwasher. It was the water inlet valve and not the float. I installed it myself without much difficulty. It's a $35 part.