Bosch WF1401 washer – drum balance problem

Morning,

Have had the above machine for 7 years, probably averaging 1.5 washes per week (so around 500-600 cycles).

Put in a fairly big load this morning, put it on the usual cycle (40 degree coloured cotton). Machine filled up as normal, but then started doing very short, fast spins in one direction – 3 second spin, pause for 20 seconds, 3 second spin. [Normally once full it turns gently for c 20 seconds, reverses direction, continue till bored]. After 2/3 minutes of the quick spins, we turned the machine off, took out a pair of jeans (thought that it might be too full) and tried again, with same result.

First thoughts were that the drum bearing had gone and it wasn’t spinning uniformly, but put it on short spin to drain drum and it spins fine at speed.

Tried again with a wash cycle and an empty drum – drum fills, machine goes straight to the 3 second quick spins.

Looking at the handbook, I think that probably this is the ‘out of balance’ sensor trying to rebalance the load in the drum:

– does that sound likely ?
– is it fixable ?
– will the fix be economically worthwhile ?

Would like to keep it, it’s been a good machine.

Thanks in advance

mlc