ECM Classika PID: No Water Flow At All

Learn what to do if you are not getting no water flow at all from an ECM Classika PID.

If you're trying to use your ECM Classika PID, but it won't produce hot water or steam from the group head, steam wand, or hot water valve, and otherwise won't brew or steam, review the following instructions to resolve the issue.

  • If the pump runs, and no water is coming out, make sure that the water tank is seated properly into the socket on the water res support.
    • Remove the water softener if you are using one. Old filters can get mucky and may need to be re-filtered, or may need to be replaced. Try running the machine without a filter.
    • Try force priming the machine. Remove the top of the machine and then remove the water reservoir from the upper cup tray. There are six 2.5mm screws holding the upper cup warmer to the machine. Facing the machine, two 2.5mm screws will be closest to you, one in each corner. The next two are holding the OPV in place (you will see a circular metal piece with a slit in it like a flat head screwdriver should go into it, and on either side will be the screws). The last two screws can be found if you look at the top of the machine from the back side. They are located where the upper cup warmer curves over the reservoir support. They will be found in each corner. Once these are removed, the upper cup warmer can be lifted off of the machine and set aside, facing upward as to preserve the chrome coating, or laid on a towel or pad. Using a towel or a pad, lay the machine on its back, underneath the machine will be four 3mm bolts (1 in each corner). Remove all four. Once they have been removed, support the housing and return the machine to the upright position. The housing should just slide down. Push the housing outward on either side to separate it from the frame and then slide it backwards away from the machine.
    • Looking at the back of the machine, you will see the water reservoir support. Inspect the plastic socket to make sure there is no damage. Look inside the socket where you will find a plastic shaft that runs through the center of it. This is a molded piece of the socket that when the tank is inserted the shaft pushes on a ball bearing in the valve of the water reservoir and allows water to escape the tank into the socket. If this plastic shaft is broken or bent to the side, it will not make contact and not allow water to be drawn in. Make sure the socket itself is intact. The socket can snap, leaving only the top of it secured to the reservoir support, giving the illusion the socket is there, so when the water tank is inserted it just rests inside the remaining broken portion of the socket.
    • Inspect the water line coming off of the socket, this should have no kinks in it. If the water line is kinked it will prevent any water from being drawn in. If the water line is fine, then we can try priming the pump. Using either a prime ball or a turkey baster, fill it with water, disconnect the waterline from the socket, insert the primeball/turkey baster into the waterline, turn the machine on and lift the lever, and while the pump is running, squeeze the prime ball/turkey baster. If you feel a small amount of resistance and then the water starts going through with ease, you should be fine to put the waterline back onto the socket. Insert the water tank, and try running the pump again while watching the water level in the tank. You should be able to see the level going down if the pump is now drawing water. At this point you will be able to put the panels back on the machine. If there is resistance and the water is not going through, either the pump is very locked up, or there is a blockage in the system and may need to be serviced.
  • Lift the lever. Can you hear the pump?
    • No. If the pump does not come on, manually use something to push in the switch behind the brew lever. Can you hear the pump now?
      • Yes. Adjust the microswitch behind the lever so it protrudes more, and the lever can reach it when it’s pressing down on it.
      • If the pump does not come on you can also flip the switch on the front of the machine that also activates the pump. If the pump turns on with the switch, the brew lever microswitch might be bad. If it works with the lever but not the toggle switch on the front of the machine, then the toggle switch may be bad. If the pump does not come on with either one of these methods, there may be an issue with the control board.
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