My four-year-old Giotto is making some very curious noises when it first gets switched on in the morning. You can hear what sounds like a solenoid clicking away continuously inside the machine. Frequency is about once every second. This lasts for approximately 2 to 3 minutes, then the frequency slows down and then it stops altogether. During the clicking, the pump to fill the boiler sometimes kicks in and out to the rhythm of the clicking, but sometimes it runs for 10 seconds continuously (no clicking while it's running). This tells me that this solenoid (or whatever it is) has some control over the pump. Once it stops, the machine proceeds to heat up normally, to normal pressure, and brew and steam as normal.

FYI, I can't hear the boiler heating while the clicking is going on, and it only seems to start heating when the episode stops. Also, there's no clicking whatsoever when hot, and no pump cutting out when hot. So this only happens for the first few minutes at start from a cold state. BTW, the machine gets descaled about every four months, if that's relevant.

So, before I open up the machine to look at the guts of it, does anyone have any hints or ideas as to where I can start looking? Corroded electrical connectors, perhaps? A sensor of some kind that's shot? Or perhaps I'm fooled by the sound into thinking it's a solenoid, when in fact it's the pump itself? Any help greatly appreciated!

Cheers....

Just a guess, but I would start by grounding the water level sensor. It may have scale buildup and is sending erratic signals to the controller / boiler refill solenoid.

Hi Dan! I presume you mean the boiler water level sensor (?) By grounding, do you mean temporarily grounding it to see if that's the culprit? If so, then descaling? FYI, I just descaled recently, with citric acid sol'n, and it had no effect.

When you "ground" the connection to the water level sensor, it. in essence, sends a signal to the controller that the water is just fine. Conversely, when you break that ground, the fill solenoid and pump are activated simultaneously by a relay within the control box and will remain activated until you establish a good ground once again.

It makes good sense to simply remove the probe and LIGHTLY clean the end with crocus cloth, emery paper, wire wheel, etc. etc. and reinsert to the same position.

Hope this heps.

OK - now I get it. Thanks Eric! I'll try that soon and post back to see if that does the trick.

When I put the sensor back into the tank, what thread sealant should I use? Teflon tape?

The level probe is "held" in place by what would properly be called a gland nut (the uppermost nut). You can loosen this nut all the way and then simply remove the probe by twisting and pulling. TYPICALLY, the flattened portion of the probe that accepts the female spade terminal is all you see at the top but maybe ya have 1/8" or so of the tubular probe also.

If you do end up removing more than what I describe, yes, you can use teflon tape, but I would prefer a light coating of a suitable Loctite thread sealant. You don't need any sealant on the threads of the gland nut.

Hey Eric -- Just noticed your last name. A Svendson helping a Svend...gotta love it!

I've got some blue Loctite, and could use that if I pull out anything other than the sensor gland nut. Thanks!

I'll try to do this tomorrow, but otherwise it may be a few days until I get to this. I'll post back here with the outcome, or if I need more help.

Skål! and thanks again.....

I get something similar on my Silvia, albeit with far fewer moving parts. It's a sort of 'thunka-thunka-thunka-thunka-thunka-thunka-' like, well, like a pan tamper, or an English hammer (foot operated power hammer). It's not too loud, nor is it annoying, but it is curious, and it'll do it whether the machine is heating or sitting.
One thing that stands out is the lines that I've extended, to use a larger (2.5 gal) reservoir that sits directly behind her, sort of rock with the beat of the thunka. I'd guess the thunks occur at about 2.5 to 3 Hz?