Steam knob is stuck in "open" position

Rig wand! you mean steam wand?
Take lid off and see if the knob clib connection to the steam valve is come out. Otherwise, possibly the steam valve's portioning washer is hardened and stuck. BUt sound slike shaft is broken or lost connection to the valve

I had the same thing happen. Your guess is close - stripping. What's going on is that there is a magnetic switch (which also serves as a stop - terrrible design, I think) that is attached to the steam valve. It has a set screw that holds it (the stop) in place on the valve shaft. If you open the valve too much it causes the stop to strip until it just spins. If you're a bit mechanical, you should be able to fix this pretty easily and the solution will seem fairly obvious. Just make sure that your machine is cool and unplugged before you open it up and remember this may void any warrenty on the machine. Here's the step by step:

Take the top off the machine (someplace like whole latte love can give you the details for this part, but it's basically 5 screws: 1 under the steam knob, 2 under the water reservior, and 2 on the underside of the top (where the brewhead goes). One screw in each corner toward the front of the manchine (look around you'll see them). Carefully lift the top off because there are two wires that have to be removed that go from the keypad (on the top) to the motherboard inside the machine (at least my baby twin has these two). When you've got it off, you'll see the steam value assembly as I described. You may have to reove on more little sensor (a small screw) the see the whole valve an how it should work. You'll need a very small allen wrench to losen the set screw. With the valve closed snugly - shaft turned all the way to counterclockwise (it has reverse threads), rotate the stop till it just touches the left side of the housing. Retighten the set crew and try to make it tight. You'll probably be able to see wehre it was stripping; there will be scoring on the brass shaft. Turn the value clockwise to open it. If you have it positioned correctly, the tiny magnet will line up with the "pickup" (sensor that tell the machine that the valve is open and to turn on the pump) BEFORE the stop hits the far side of the housing. In the future make sure to be very gently when opening (and closing) this valve (the steam knob) because if you open it too far it will strip again. Like I said, poor design. Good Luck.

Gregg

This is hard to picture. The only way water can come out the brew spout is if the brewing mechanism inside in the position to make coffee. The only way to get that mechanism into that position is to either select one of the three coffee buttons (you'd hear the grinder run, then you'd hear the motor putting the brew mechanism into place and then the pump start and water would then come out the brew spout. OR to select preground coffee and then select one of the three coffee sizes - in that case you wouldn't hear the grinder but you'd still hear the motor turn the brew mechanism into brewing position and then start the pump.
When you simply select hot water and then open the steam valve - I can't imagine any possible way for water to come out the brew spout.
Now if you mean that you don't see any water come out but water is leaking inside the cabinet and ending up in the drip tray - then that would mean a leak inside the machine. It could be the valve that the brew group locks into when it goes into brew position (you see this valve in a little recess behind the brew mechanism when you take the brew group out to clean it). Or it could be a leaking steam valve or hose inside.
You might try getting a flashlight and a cleaning brush - take out the brew mechanism and then clean around that little nozzle/valve that is in the recess just the left of center behind where the brew mechanism was. That valve should shut when you are not in brew position and not allow any water out - but it may be gummed up with coffee grounds.
If you are feeling brave - you would need a deep socket and a lot of patience with a small breaker bar (a ratchet head is too big to fit in there) and you can remove that nozzle/valve and then clean it or replace it. But it is very slow going to remove it (there must be some special tool they use at the factory). I had just the right size deep socket (like what you'd use for a spark plug in a car) but there wasn't room for a ratchet so I had to use a small breaker bar and I could only turn the valve about 1/4 turn at a time then I'd have to reposition the socket to do another 1/4 turn. It took 5-10 minutes to remove it - then it was easy to clean. I think you could clean it in place with a stiff bristle brush and some q-tips.
I don't know if that valve is the problem - but that's the only thing I can think of that would have your hot water and steam running into your drip tray instead of out the steam wand.

The buttons mike be damaged.

The vent valve is the problem it is stuck in the open position. If you remove the top panel you will find the valve.

try pulling the knob off and turning the shaft with pliars, or your knob is broken on the inside.

Phil - I have the same problem. Can't see how to dismantle it at all. Did you ever get a solution?

Thanks
Chris

I have solved this problem many times...
First remove steam knob by depressing small clip on shaft of knob and pulling the knob out...gently. Note where the dials in the bean tank are set to, you will have to position these knobs to the same position upon reassembly.
Remove the 2 bean tank screws and remove the bean tank.
Remove the 2 screws holding on the top cover.
Lift the top cover off enough to get to the circuit board.
Unplug one of the 3 wire connectors along the top of the circuit board, turn the machine on and it will start to turn the splined shaft.
At the 180 degree point turn the machine off.
If it does not cycle through to 180 degrees then try the other 3 wire plug... one of them will be the right one.
Put the brew group back into the machine and reassemble.
This repair will take you less than 10 mins. from start to finish.

Try this from another post. It should help.

The steam wand began to seriously leak but a call to Starbucks Customer Service line and I was talked through how to adjust it so that the leaking stopped. It requires taking off the top/back panel of the machine (6 philips screws) then using a small allen key (1.5 mm I believe) to loosen and adjust a plastic oblong donut-shaped thing (a "cam" actually) on the shaft of the steam knob... no more drips.
The key to prevent dripping is to open the steam knob without putting pressure on it when it gets to the full-open stop position. Cranking it too hard when it comes to a stop in the full-open position will slowly move the cam out of position. Then the shaft doesn't fully seat inside the machine anymore and won't fully shut off the water to the steam wand. Then, no matter how hard you crank the knob in the shut-off position it will still drip. The purpose of the cam is to stop the knob from complete unscrewing and it also turns the pump on and off for the steam wand. The cam adjustment is very small but completely solves the dripping problem. Seeing inside the machine made me realize how easy it would be to repair problems as long as I can get the parts from Starbucks or perhaps Saeco.

i havent heard of this issue , it could posibly be the bent steam wand , but the nozle is made to be that way, because the pavoni eurpicola doesnt produce enough steam pressure , it enables you to create better froth