I don't know what it is and have not investigated it at all, I have another machine as we moved from 2 houses to one and we had 2 washing machines between us. It's less than 11 years old, so cannot imaging the problem being too serious. In have user manual and refillable washing liquid and conditioner bottles that are unused. I'm sure if you are mechanically minded it's repairable and you will have yourself a cracking washing machine afterwards. It's available for immediate collection, and I CANNOT deliver it sadly. The Miele Washing Machine W1 WKH 120 WPS is a highly energy-efficient top-loading washing machine with a capacity of 8kg. With a spin speed of up to 1600 rpm, this machine offers excellent results in a compact size. With wash programs such as Eco Mode and Drain & Spin, this washing machine provides both convenience and high performance.