Esam 6900 Steam stopped working

    Modell: ESAM 6900 | Baujahr: *bitte ausfüllen* | Anzahl Bezüge: *bitte ausfüllen* | Entkalkungsmittel: *bitte ausfüllen*

    mechanische und elektrische Kenntnisse vorhanden? *nein* | Messgerät vorhanden? *ja*

    Greetings from Ireland. Apologies I do not speak German. I'll try to fill the rest of the info when I get home later. My ESAM6900 stopped producing steam. Over the weekend, the machine worked well coffee, latte and hot chocolate all worked. Sunday morning I had to move the machine and it was in a cramped space. I made a hot chocolate it worked. After I tried to do a latte and the steam wouldn't work.

    I found the pdf "Verschiedene Widerstandsmessungen an einer DeLonghi ESAM und Baugleiche AEG 12 13". I have a multimeter and i'm okay with using it kinda. I know I have to put it on Ohms and if they bits touch, it beeps which means there is continuity. Would anyone be able to guide me as to where I need to put the multimeter to check. . I know they are circled on the pdf but i'm not sure what i'm supposed to do or where i'm supposed to test.

    Also would anyone be able to tell me is the steam thermoblock the one at the back of the machine or the one under the heating tray?

    Chatgpt is telling me it's probably a fuse so i'm trying to find out which part it is?


    Thank you for your help and patience.

    Hi TeKa,

    There is no steam at all. the descaling works and i get hot water but the milk carafe or hot chocolate carafe do nothing when in use.

    Can I ask you would you know which one of the block is the steam one. the one at the back or the one under the warming tray. I'm hoping to get a look at the resistance tonight.

    Thank you for getting back to me

    Hi Linoel,

    the ESAM 6900 has 3 Solenoidvalves:

    1. In the rear part mounted on the holder of the u-shaped steam heater. --> Pressure relief after steam production.

    2. In the front behind the Display, left valve --> Hot Water delivery

    3. In the front behind the Display, right valve --> Steam delivery

    I think the right valve is no longer switching or is blocked.

    Do you know how to get into test mode of the machine?

    Hi TeKa,

    Sorry I don't. But I found this

    To enter test mode on a De'Longhi ESAM 6900 (Primadonna Exclusive), follow these steps based on the machine's specific LCD display interface:

    1. Unplug the machine from the power outlet.
    2. Ensure the main switch on the rear of the machine is in the "I" (On) position.
    3. Open the service door (the door that allows access to the brewing unit).
    4. While holding the service door open, press and hold the "Quantity Selection" knob (turning it or pressing it depending on the specific sub-model interface, often combined with the "1 Cup" button) and the "Long" coffee button simultaneously.
    5. Plug the machine back in while continuing to hold the buttons.
    6. Wait until the display shows "Select Test" or "Test Mode".
    7. Close the service door and press the "Cappuccino" button to confirm entry into the test mode. The display should then indicate that the test mode is active.

    To exit the test mode, turn the main power switch to "0" or unplug the machine. Note that the test procedure will also disable automatically after 2 minutes of inactivity.

    Key Test Functions Available

    Once in test mode, you can individually test components using the buttons:

    • Cappuccino: Activates EV1 and EV2 (solenoid valves).
    • Latte Macchiato: Moves the brewing unit downwards (Motor down).
    • Beans Amount (ESC): Moves the brewing unit upwards (Motor up).
    • Left Arrow (P): Heats the thermoblock.
    • Right Arrow: Activates steam heating.
    • 1 Cup / 2 Cups: Can be used to test specific electrical valves (EV1/EV2) depending on the configuration.

    If those are the correct steps. What should I try?

    Thanks for your help

    Evening TeKa,

    Got into the test mode. When I follow the guide you sent. I can try the valve. EV1 and EV2 seem to work. I can hear them click. When I press the button for EV3, nothing happens.

    So I think it's the solenoid for EV3 that might be blocked or defective. I have opened the machine and took the back cover, sides and screen. It is the one on the left handside behind the screen that seems not to respond when I press the hot chocolate button.

    How can I find the part number for this solenoid? it seems pretty straight forward to replace. Remove the hose clamps, disconnect the hoses on each side. Disconnect the 3 electric cables. Unscrew the plastic that holds the solenoid and change the part.

    Should I check anything else while I have the machine open. Could it be a fuse blown and the signal doesn't get to the solenoid?

    Edit: I tried the fuse at the back of the machine on the U shaped thermoblock. The 170C thermofuse shows continuity when tested. The one below the 318C thermofuse appears to be blown, it does not beep when checked for continuity. Again How can i find the part number for my ESAM6900.

    Thanks for your help.

    Lionel

    Edited once, last by lionelpoirier64: Added thermofuse test (April 22, 2026 at 10:24 PM).

    Good evening Lionel,

    the part number of the left an right solenoid valves in the front of the machine is identical:

    5213218321

    Her you can find some fotos of the part:

    Solenoidventil Magnetventil für DeLonghi Kaffeevollautomat
    Solenoidventil mit zwei Abgängen für DeLonghi EAM & ESAM Kaffeevollautomaten. Mit diesen Ventilen wird Wasser und Dampf in den Maschinen gesteuert.
    www.juraprofi.de

    There are two identical 318 °C safety thermostats mounted on the u-shaped thermoblock:

    part number: 5232105000

    DeLonghi Thermostat für Dampfheizung 318°C
    Thermostat 318°C für den Erhitzer in DeLonghi Kaffeevollautomaten und Nespresso Maschinen
    www.juraprofi.de

    Before ordering the safety thermostats, make sure, that the one is really defective. Normaly, when the safety thermostats are blown, the machine should show the warning message "General Alarm" at startup and heating up of the machine.

    You are a start TeKa. Thanks for the part numbers. I do not get the General alarm when the machine is starting up but i do get a heating up message when I try to use the steam function and then the machine does nothing it loops indefinitely. The fuse is blown for sure as there is no continuity. I checked 3 times the fuse above it shows continuity when tested with the multimeter.

    Now to try and find a guide to take the heater off as the screw that hold the fuse is behind the heater.

    I hope juraprofi.de delivers to Ireland but i'll check that in the morning. I'll order the parts and get back to you. Hopefully with good news.

    Again thanks for your help.

    Lionel

    Apologies for the delay. That is very good advice.

    Model: ESAM 6900 | Year of manufacture: *2014* | Number of brews: *20260* | Descaling agent: *Delonghi*

    # of coffees delivered 20260

    # of milk drink 1368

    # of hot chocolate 18

    Total litres of water 3904

    Total filters used 8

    Total descale cycle 10 (i have a water softener but I descale it at least once a year)

    Hope this helps. Let me know if you want anything else.

    Thanks

    By service do you mean changing other parts or having someone look at it like a car? like an oil change.

    Then no.

    I descaled it once a year or so. And changed the water filter once a year too but again I have a water system / softener for the house.

    The DeLonghi ESAM are very reliable. They can last over 20 years and produce over 50.000 coffees with some service and care.

    Every 1 to 3 month:

    Make sure, that the pistion of the removeable brewing unit can be pressed in easily!

    Grease the inner wall of the removeable brewing unit thin with food safe silicon grease.

    After 6.000 Brewings:

    1. Replace the 3 big O-Rings (1 on the upper brewing piston, 2 in the removeable brewing unit).

    DeLonghi Ersatzteile Set XL für DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM mit Anleitung
    DeLonghi Reparaturset mit vielen Dichtungen und Silikonfett zum schmieren der Brüheinheit für alle ESAM Kaffeevollautomaten, inkl. Anleitungen zum runterladen.
    www.juraprofi.de

    plus 12 of this:

    Schlauchdichtung für DeLonghi Kaffeevollautomaten 5313217701
    Dichtungen und O-Ringe für Schlauchverbindungen in DeLonghi Kaffeevollautomaten bequem online kaufen. ✔ PayPal ✔ Schneller Versand
    www.juraprofi.de

    2. Make sure, that the drive spindel is not dirty or running dry. Clean and grease it.

    3. Clean the grinder.

    After 20.000 Brewings:

    1. Replace all O-Rings in the Maschine and the upper brewing piston. Complete maintenance-kits are offert for this.

    2. Make sure, that the black pressure relief hose on the left side of upper brewing piston to the condensation chamber (located between water tank and brewing area in front of the machine) is not blocked. Clean this hose carefully!

    3. Clean the grinder.

    4. refurbish or replace the pump - the piston O-ring is getting hard --> lower pressure and pump performance.

    You are not sure you can do this?

    You will find a lot of information here:

    Delonghi Kaffeevollautomaten Reparaturanleitungen - kostenfrei - komtra.de

    Service Anleitungen für DeLonghi Kaffeevollautomaten - BND Kaffeestudio GmbH

    And a very goog youtube-channel with a lot of DeLonghi stuff:

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    Thanks a lot for all this information.

    I'm gonna order the O-rings as advised. I think I'll be ok with replacing them.

    The video looks very helpful.

    I'm planning to keep it going for a few more years.

    I'll go ahead with the order and keep you informed.

    Thanks again.

    Lionel

    Evening TeKa,

    I have all the parts ordered the solenoid (in case it's also faulty, the thermofuse and the seal kit and 12 seals you recommended. I also took a Delonghi care kit ( it was 20€ cheaper than in the shops here). I should have everything before the end of the week. I was looking a the links you sent me but I can't find anything on how to replace the 318c thermofuse. Would you know of a guide to take the steam heating block out?

    Thanks, Lionel

    Edited once, last by lionelpoirier64: Spelling mistakes (April 28, 2026 at 12:05 AM).

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    Before replacing the thermo fuses you should test the triac (Semiconductor switch) for the steam generator. In most cases the thermo fuses fail by ageing. In rare cases the triac is internally shorted. This can be cause by voltage spikes.

    To test this pull the power plug. So there is no supply voltage.

    Set the power switch on the back of the machine to ON.

    You can test the triac with the continuity / resistance function of your multimeter.

    The red wire to the thermo fuse has 0 Ohms or continuity with one of the pins of the power plug

    The blue wire to the other thermo fuse must have NO continuity or at least some Mega Ohms! If there is continuity the triac has is internally shorted. Than the triac has to be replaced.

    I just found a very good description for replacing the Thermo fuses here in the Downloads:

    file:///C:/Users/du/Downloads/Ausbauen%20des%20hinteren%20Solenoidventils%20und%20der%20beiden%20Thermostate%20der%20Dampfheizung-1.pdf

    But there are much more informations that may be helpful for your DeLonghi ESAM:

    Allgemein - Kaffee-Welt.net - Das bohnenstarke Kaffeeforum!

    EAM / ESAM - Kaffee-Welt.net - Das bohnenstarke Kaffeeforum!

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