In case your coffee machine won’t work, start by checking the symptom in the table below. It will guide you through the repair process no matter how much experience in home appliance troubleshooting you’ve got. They contain all the most common reasons why your coffee machine won’t work, with the most effective solutions for the CMA troubleshooting.
CMA Lever machine and Distribution machine troubleshooting:
| Indication | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| NO POWER TO MACHINE | 1) The machine commutator is in position “0” or “1” 2) The machine switch is defective 3) The mains power supply switch is in the OFF position 4) The connection to the electrical mains is defective | 1) Turn the machine commutator to position “2” 2) Replace the main switch 3) Place the mains switch in the ON position 4) Check for any defective connections |
| NO WATER IN BOILER | 1) The water mains tap is closed 2) The cut-off tap of the automatic level device is in the closed position 3) The pump filter is closed 4) The motor pump is disconnected or blocked 5) The water filling solenoid is defective 6) The water inlet solenoid valve filter is clogged | 1) Open the water mains tap 2) Open the automatic level device tap 3) Replace the pump filter 4) Check the motor pump 5) Replace the water filling solenoid valve 6) Clean or replace the filter of the solenoid valve |
| EXCESSIVE WATER IN BOILER | 1) The solenoid of the automatic level device is defective 2) The heat exchanger is perforated 3) The manual valve remains inserted | 1) Replace the solenoid valve of the automatic level device 2) Replace the heat exchanger 3) Check the level probe, the earth of the frame and the operation of the electronic control unit |
| STEAM DOES NOT COME OUT OF NOZZLES | 1) The electrical heating element is defective 2) The pressure switch contacts are oxidized 3) The heating element protection thermostat has cut in 4) The nozzle sprayer is clogged 5) Machine switch in position “1” | 1) Replace the electrical heating element 2) Clean the contacts or replace the pressure switch 3) Reset the heating element protection 4) Clean the steam nozzle sprayer 5) Turn the machine switch to position “2” |
| STEAM MIXED WITH WATER COMES OUT OF THE NOZZLES | 1)The boiler level is too high | 1) Check the status of the level probe: verify correct position and check for presence of any surface lime scale |
| NO DELIVERY | 1) No water mains 2) Group solenoid valve is defective 3) The pump is blocked 4) The control unit fuse is burned out 5) The injector is clogged 6) The group solenoid valve is clogged or dirty 7) The group filter is clogged 8) The volumetric dosing device is blocked | 1) Check that there is water in the mains 2) Replace the group solenoid valve 3) Replace the pump 4) Replace the solenoid valve protection fuse (1A) 5) Clean or replace the injector 6) Clean or replace the solenoid valve 7) Clean or replace the filter 8) Check/replace the dosing device |
| WATER LEAKS FROM THE MACHINE | 1) The tub does not drain 2) The drain tube is detached or broken or has obstruction to water flow 3) Hydraulic leaks in the hydraulic circuit | 1) Check the sewer drain 2) Check and restore the connection of the drain tube to the tub 3) Identify and eliminate hydraulic leaks |
| COFFEE IS TOO COLD | 1) The electrical heating element is defective 2) The electrical connection is defective 3) Lime scale on the exchangers and/or heating element 4) The pressure switch contacts are oxidized 5) The heating element protection thermostat has cut in 6) Machine switch in position “1” 7) In the CTS system, the lime scale has reduced the circulation of water 8) The delivery group is cold | 1) Replace the electrical heating element 2) Check for any defective connections 3) Clean the machine 4) Clean the contacts or replace the pressure switch 5) Reset the heating element protection 6) Turn the machine switch to position “2” 7) Clean the connections of the exchanger, and clean or replace the two circulation tubes 8) Eliminate air pockets in the hydraulic circuit in the following manner: - disconnect the electrical power supply to the pump - close the water tap of the softener - perform a dry run of delivery for a few minutes - reconnect the electrical power supply to the pump - open the water outlet tap of the softener - perform delivery until water comes out - wait a few minutes for heating |
| COFFEE IS TOO HOT | 1) Boiler temperature is too high 2) The flow reducer of the group is not suitable | 1) Reduce pressure in the boiler by turning the appropriate screw on the pressure switch 2) Replace the injector with one of a smaller diameter |
| DELIVERY OF COFFEE IS TOO FAST | 1) The coffee is ground too coarsely 2) The diameter of the injector is too large 3) Boiler temperature is too high | 1) Adjust the grinding of the coffee 2) Replace the injector with one of a smaller diameter 3) Reduce pressure in boiler |
| DELIVERY OF COFFEE TOO SLOW | 1) Coffee is ground too finely 2) The injector is clogged 3) The delivery group is clogged 4) The filter holder is dirty | 1) Adjust the grinding of the coffee 2) Replace the injector 3) Check and clean the delivery group 4) Clean and if necessary replace the filters |
| COFFEE GROUNDS ARE WET | 1) The group solenoid valve discharge is clogged 2) The delivery group is too cold 3) Coffee is ground too finely | 1) Clean the group drain 2) Wait for group to heat up completely 3) Adjust the grinding of the coffee |
| THE GAUGE SHOWS AN UNACCEPTABLE PRESSURE | 1) The gauge is defective 2) Incorrect pressure switch calibration. 3) Incorrect motor pump calibration | 1) Replace the gauge 2) Adjust the calibration of the pressure switch 3) Adjust the calibration of the motor pump |
| GROUNDS IN CUP | 1) The filter holder is dirty 2) The filter holes are worn 3) The coffee is not ground evenly 4) The undercup seal is worn 5) The temperature of the delivery water is high | 1) Clean the filter holder 2) Replace the filter 3) Replace the grinders 4) Change the seal 5) Check the causes and eliminate the problem |
| for SAE-SME: COFFEE DELIVERY ONLY BY MEANS OF MANUAL KEY | 1) The control unit fuse is burned out 2) The coil of the solenoid valve does not work correctly or has shorted out | 1) Replace the control unit fuse (1A) 2) Replace the coil of the solenoid valve |
| for SAE-SME: INCORRECT COFFEE DELIVERY THE COFFEE DOSE IS NOT MET THE LED OF THE DOSE PUSH BUTTON FLASHES | 1) The connection of the volumetric dosing device is defective 2) The connection of the electronic control unit is defective 3) The connector of the volumetric dosing device has humidity on it 4) The volumetric dosing device is defective: during delivery the dosing device LED does not flash 5) The coffee is ground too finely: there is not sufficient water flow in the dosing device 6) The non-return valve loses pressures (the dose is too small) 7) The drain valves lose pressure (the dose is too small) 8) Water leakage from the group solenoid valve during coffee delivery or when at rest 9) The volumetric dosing device is partially obstructed | 1) Check for proper connection of the volumetric dosing device connector 2) Check for proper connection of the 8-pole connector of the electronic control unit 3) Remove the connector of the volumetric dosing device and thoroughly dry the contacts 4) Replace the heads of the volumetric dosing device or replace the dosing device 5) Adjust the grinding suitably and if necessary check the grinders 6) Check and if necessary replace the non-return valve 7) Check and if necessary replace the drain valves 8) Clean and if necessary replace the solenoid valve 9) Clean or replace the volumetric dosing device |
| for SAE-SME: ALL THE LED OF ALL THE PUSH BUTTON PANELS FLASH for AEP-SMSA AEAP-SMAT: THE FRONT LED FLASHES | After a few minutes, automatic filling with water is stopped: 1) Time control device has cut in 2) No water in mains 3) The tap for the automatic level device is closed 4) Some of the tubes in the circuit are clogged 5) The probe and/or the earth are disconnected | 1) Turn the machine off and then back on 2) Open the water mains tap 3) Open the automatic level device tap 4) Check and replace the defective tubes 5) Check and restore connections |
| THE PUMP WORKS ONLY WITH THE MANUAL DELIVERY KEY | 1) The pump fuse of the electronic control unit is burned out | 1) Replace pump fuse of the electronic control unit (10 A) |
| SHUTDOWN OF ELECTRONIC SYSTEM | 1) The control unit fuse is burned out 2) The volumetric dosing device has a contact of the positive pole to the earth | 1) Replace the main fuse (125 mA) 2) Check for proper connection of the volumetric dosing device |
| THE PUMP LEAKS WATER | 1) Poor mechanical seal of the shaft or of the O-ring 2) The inlet and outlet connections are loose 3) The hex nut of the pressure relief valve or of the filter are loose 4) The gasket or the O-ring of the pressure relief valve or of the filter are defective | 1) Check the status of the pump and take any corrective action which may be required 2) Tighten the connections 3) Tighten the hex connection of the modulating valve and of the filter 4) Replace the gasket and the O-ring. Take care not to change the calibration of the valve |
| THE MOTOR STOPS SUDDENLY OR THE THERMAL PROTECTION CUTS IN DUE TO AN OVERLOAD | 1) Lime scale and mineral build-ups in the pump have caused it to jam 2) The pump and the engine are not aligned. 3) The motor is defective 4) The motor is connected with a voltage that is not correct | 1) Check the status of the pump and if necessary replace it 2) Install the pump-motor joint 3) Replace the motor 4) Ascertain that the power supply voltage of the motor is the right one |
| THE PUMP FUNCTIONS ELOW THE NOMINAL CAPACITY | 1) The inlet is clogged, perhaps only partially 2) The pump rotates in the wrong direction. 3) The pressure relief valve is not properly calibrated 4) The motor runs at low RPM 5) The inside of the pump is damaged due to the infiltration of foreign bodies | 1) Clean the filter holder 2) Check the motor 3) Calibrate the pressure relief valve 4) Check the voltage or replace the motor 5) Replace the pump |
| THE PUMP IS NOISY | 1) The pump and the engine are not aligned. 2) The gasket or the O-ring of the pressure relief valve or of the filter are defective. 3) The joint, the coupling screw or the V-shaped clamp are loose. 4) The inlet is clogged, perhaps only partially 5) The hex nut of the pressure relief valve or of the filter is loose | 1) Install the pump-motor joint 2) Replace the gasket and the O-ring. Take care not to change the calibration of the valve 3) Align and tighten the components which are loose 4) Clean the filter holder 5) Tighten the hex connection of the pressure relief valve and of the filter |
| THE CUP IS DIRTIED BY SPLASHES OF COFFEE | 1) Steam pockets in the delivery system 2) Air pockets in the hydraulic circuit 3) Coffee is ground too finely 4) The flow reducer of the group is not suitable | 1) Reduce water temperature 2) Check the cause and eliminate the problem 3) Adjust the grinding suitably 4) Replace the flow reducer |
The CMA group manufactures a variety of coffee machines under several brands. As the company’s main business is far from the home appliance industry, it prefers not to put an emphasis on its own brand name and not to promote it as a coffee machine brand.