What E71 actually means

The machine can't get a sensible reading from the sensor that watches its Aquatech water-recirculation paddle, so it has stopped the cycle.

Blomberg machines with the Aquatech system use a small magnet in a paddle inside the drum and a reed sensor to confirm the paddle is moving water around as it should. E71 means that sensor circuit is reading as short-circuited or otherwise faulty, so the control board can't verify the paddle position. Rather than run a wash blind, the machine flags the fault and halts.

What usually causes it

Faulty Aquatech reed sensor
Damaged or chafed sensor wiring, or a loose plug on the motor board
Missing or displaced magnet in the Aquatech paddle inside the drum
Fault on the motor control board itself

What you can safely check yourself

Work through these in order. Anything beyond this — panels off, testing parts, anything to do with the wiring — is an engineer's job, and not one to attempt with the machine plugged in.

Turn the machine off at the wall for a minute, then switch it back on and try a short cycle — an occasional glitch can clear
Take out the load and look over the paddle fitting on the drum for anything obviously loose or a trapped item such as a coin or underwire

When to call someone

This one usually needs an engineer once you have tried the checks above. We cover Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire, and it's £66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it — £84 in total if it's repaired on the visit with no parts needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.

Outside our area? The explanation above still stands — take it to a local engineer and tell them the code. Knowing it saves them time and you money.

Blomberg E71 error — washing machine

What E71 actually means

What usually causes it

What you can safely check yourself

When to call someone

Other Blomberg washing machine codes

Need it looked at properly?