Pump Blocked - Cannot open/remove cap

The pump cap goes back into the machine about 7 cm (3 inches). It has openings that allow the water from the tank to drain during normal operation. However, if something (like a hairpin) is long enough to lodge between the cap's hole and the drainage tube then when you try to twist the cap open it jams against the offending item (hard to explain without a diagram). The only way to remove it is to tip machine up, unscrew whole pump unit, undo clips holing it in place and then pulling rubbish out. It's a pain. Then make sure the propeller is back in place, securely (or this will lead to more noise and refixing - which will be easier 'cos at least you can get the @#$#$% cap off now).

Sometimes it just takes brute force to open the pump cap. Try wiggling a bit from side to side; if an odd-shaped item is lodged in there, it can really be tough (but possible!) to open.

Try tightening back up then loosen some more. I found by going back and forth it freed up the debris that was interfering with the unscrewing thread. e.g each time I unscrewed I got a bit further than before until it came out .. yuk no a nice job though :(

Just had the same issue. I was able to turn it about half a turn and then it felt really stuck. Going through some of the reviews here I decided to turn the damn thing as hard as I could( used a screw driver) and kept turning it, at some point it got stuck again, so I used even more power... It took about 5 or 6 coplete turns, and then you just need to pull it towards you and it pulls out.
In my case, I found a sock wraped all around the screw inside the cap, which was the reason it was so hard to pull out in the first place.

I had the same problem. What I did to get around it was too run a rinse cycle followed by a drain cycle with no spin. That moved things around enough to open the cap. Inside I found a bobby pin and a penny.

We had this problem, after draining the washing machine wiggling the pump cover it would come off. It only turned about a quarter turn. We fixed it by running a drain cycle only as described in the manual. This seemed to dislodge whatever was blocking the pump cover from turning freely (a nickel and dime).

I had the same problem and solved it by disconnecting the washer from the water and the mains and then laying it on its back, the cause of the blockage was then dislodged and I could unscrew the pump cover.

Thank you so much for all the suggestions above! I couldn’t release the pump cover cap on my Bosch WDU28 and spent ages draining the machine. A lot of your comments gave me the confidence to turn it back and forth with some force ~ and, at last, it opened!! The offending item...a shirt collar stiffener ~ pesky little thing!
Thank you everyone!

Thanks to all the comments here I was able to solve this problem (the pump cover was turning a 1/4 turn then wouldn't turn any further).

I ran a drain cycle as suggested and this didn't seem to help but it did at least finish the cycle (as I'd already manually drained the water using the hose), so I could take the washing out.

I managed to remove the pump cover by continuing to turn it backwards and forwards, with a decent amount of pressure when turning it forwards (by hand), and eventually it moved past the blockage (3 hair clips, 2 coins and some hair) and unscrewed.

Thank you everyone.
Tipped the machine left side down
Took off the hose from the pump unit by opening the wire grip and fished out bra wires, kirby grips, a one dollar coin, and some indescribable gunk
All better now

If you disconnect the main tube running from the machine into the pump (on the left, accessible if you remove the front bottom panel, held on by plastic snaps and one or two screws), you can then clean out any blockages that are preventing the cap from being removed just by snaking a finger in. Not too tough and no need to put the machine on its side. The tube is held on by one of those wire crimps, you will need pliers to get it off and back on again. Once youve cleared that out, the cap should be easy to remove.

I've done all of the above and Broke the middle part of the cap...I need help

I had same issue tonight! Was struggling for almost 2 hours to open it. Eventually I got it open with pliers. I wiggled it around a little and then twisted hard! It was kind of scary, because I was scared that I was gonna break the cap. It came off, and there was a naughty piece of metal wire that was causing the problem!

I took  DW-40 and sprayed around the diameter of the cap, I could free it after that.
However no matter how many times I clean the pump trap and the little black hose I continue to get a "pump block" fault . Any other suggestions? Please help.