Blomberg E71 washing machine: what it means & what to check

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 E71 looks like on a Blomberg washing machine

Most people find this page having searched for what the machine is doing rather than the code itself. On a Blomberg washing machine, E71 usually shows up as one or more of these:

Drum not turning
Won't spin
Hums or buzzes but nothing moves
Turns one way only
No function at all
Dead — nothing lights up
Lights flashing and nothing happening
Programme won't start

Recognise any of those? That is this fault, and the rest of this page explains what causes it and what you can check yourself.

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

Which Blomberg models show E71

E71 means the same thing on all 9 of these models. If yours is not listed, the explanation above still applies — the code is set by the control board, not the model number.

7100541100 · 7153341200 · 7166382200 · 7170881500 · 7171884000 · 7173581400 · 7174182800 · 7174184000 · 7178381300

Common questions about Blomberg E71

What does E71 mean on a Blomberg washing machine?

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.

Can I fix Blomberg E71 myself?

There are 2 checks you can safely do yourself first.

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.

This one usually needs an engineer once you have tried them.

How much does it cost to repair Blomberg E71?

£66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it, or £84 in total including VAT if it is put right on the visit and no parts are needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.

Tried the checks and it's still showing E71?

This one usually needs an engineer once you have tried the checks above. Then it wants someone who can open it up.

What it costs, before you call: the price is the same whatever the fault turns out to be — £66 including VAT for an engineer to come out and diagnose it, or £84 in total including VAT if it is put right on the visit and no parts are needed. Any parts needed are quoted on site before we fit them — you decide. Every repair carries a 90-day workmanship guarantee.

Our own engineers, not a call centre. We cover Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire — most washing machine faults are seen same day or next day.

Call 0115 648 0929 Book online — postcode and number is all we need

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.

Other Blomberg washing machine codes

All Blomberg fault codes and repairs →

What this looks like when it happens

Repairs we cover near you

Written by the engineers at ASAP Repairs, 0115 648 0929. We repair these machines for a living in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire.

Blomberg E71 error — washing machine