Wascomat Washer-Dryer Error Code 87: Open Circuit Input Sensor
Code 87 on the Selecta II dryer program unit means the inlet thermistor, or its wiring, is open. This is E 17 in the Selecta II manual. A technician should check the sensor and its wiring.
Medium: the dryer stops because it has no inlet temperature reading.
What does Wascomat error 087 / open circuit input sensor mean?
The inlet thermistor measures the temperature of the air entering the drum of the Wascomat WD4130 and WD4240. The Selecta II program unit reads its resistance. If the thermistor or the wiring to it is open, the resistance reads as infinite and the unit cannot know the inlet air temperature. It then shows ERROR 087 / OPEN CIRCUIT INPUT SENSOR, which the Selecta II manual lists as E 17. Without that reading, the dryer cannot regulate its heating safely, so it stops. The manual gives no further steps and points the reader to the Selecta II service manual. An open circuit usually means a broken wire, a connector that has come loose or a sensor that has failed internally, and this is the opposite of the shorted reading behind code 73.
Affected models and control systems
The dryer program unit (Selecta II) of Wascomat washer-dryers WD4130 and WD4240 only.
Code numbers and their meaning can change between control generations. We match the full model and control before acting on a code.
What you may notice
- ERROR 087 / OPEN CIRCUIT INPUT SENSOR appears on the dryer display
- The dryer stops at the beginning of the heating phase
- The dryer will not heat
- The code returns each time the dryer starts
Possible causes
Likely causes — what usually sits behind error 087 / open circuit input sensor on this control. A technician confirms which one it is before any part is replaced.
- A sensor connector that has loosened or corroded from heat and lint
- A wire that has broken from heat or flexing where it passes the drum housing
Safe checks before calling for service
- Switch the dryer off at the disconnect and let it cool.
- Clean the lint filter and check the air path.
- Restart a short program to see whether the code returns.
- Do not open the cabinet. Note the code and the program, and call us.
How a technician diagnoses error 087 / open circuit input sensor
- Read the code and confirm it is E 17 in the Selecta II table.
- Follow the Selecta II service manual for the inlet sensor circuit.
- Measure the thermistor resistance at room temperature and look for an open reading.
- Inspect the wiring and connector between the sensor and the program unit.
- Check for a break in the harness.
- Replace the thermistor or repair the wiring after the test.
- The sensor sits in the heated air path, and its wiring runs near heaters.
- Testing the circuit requires disconnecting and probing connectors.
- A reading is meaningful only when compared with the expected resistance for the sensor.
How error 087 / open circuit input sensor differs from similar codes
Code 87 is the open-circuit version of code 73 on the inlet thermistor. Code 88 is the open-circuit version for the outlet thermistor.
Technical reference
- Maker documentation
- Wascomat owner support
- Edition
- 438 9228-61/EN, 2011.08.25
- Models / control
- Compass Control dryer unit (DLCU dryer program unit)
- Section
- Troubleshooting, Error codes from DRYER PROGRAM UNIT, 'Only for WD4130, WD4240' (manual pp. 110, 138-139)
- Checked
- October 2026
We use the maker's document to read the code and do not reproduce it. Always confirm the complete model and control before applying these steps.
Related Wascomat washer error codes
What does open circuit mean?
The sensor circuit is broken, so the program unit gets no usable temperature reading.
Is this the same as code 73?
No. Code 73 is a short on the same inlet sensor, while code 87 is an open circuit.
Can I keep drying at a lower setting?
No. The control stops because it cannot read the inlet air temperature, regardless of setting.
Need help with Wascomat error 087 / open circuit input sensor?
A technician confirms the cause on site and gives you the price in writing before any work starts.