Bosch KGU3201 freezer problems

[PugWash]

Hi there,

I have a Bosch KGU3201GB/07… which I have seen mentioned a few times on here. The freezer temperature reading (digital display) seems to increase on some hot days during the summer as if the freezer is struggling to get cold enough even though the compressor seems to be running fine. It doesn’t seem to help when I put it on “super” mode. I’ve checked the door seals and I cannot find any problems.

Does anyone have any ideas of what I can try next?

I’ve felt the black cooling piping matrix on the back, but it seems to be hardly warm. However, I’m wondering whether this is only used for the fridge part and not the freezer. Is this correct?

I’ve also seen some mention of a method to access the computer settings mode for the unit… can this be used to help me find out what the problem could be?

As the compressor sounds as if it is running most of the time but not making the frezer much colder, I’m wondering whether it could have lost some coolant, and have nothing to pump around. Could this be the case, and if so can it be topped up?

Many thanks in advance…

[Del]

Re: Bosch KGU3201 freezer problems

Hi Pugwash,
First of all is your appliance the frost free type or the conventional ?
If it is the conventional type it may well be loss of refrigerant/weak compressor Which is a job for an expert or if it is frost free it could be that the evaporator is totally chocked with ice.

I sometimes wish that manufacturers of frost free fridge freezers had never put fast freeze switches on.
It seems to me that loads of people fall into the trap of thinking that switching on the fast freeze button will sort the problem out, when nine times out of ten it just makes things worse.

The other big lie that they managed to sell, is the term ‘frost free’ When what they should have called it was ‘hidden frost’, as without frost, things simply do not get cold.

What happens is that the Evaporator ( i.e. the frost generating component for want of a better term) section which is hidden behind the rear of the internal wall of the freezer compartment, with over use of the fast freeze switch/button becomes totally blocked with ice. and as it relies on air being forced through and over it’s fins by a fan, to send supper chilled air onto the food to keep it frozen. The air cannot then blow through the fins as they have become blocked with ice

I’m sorry if my explanation is not very easy to understand but it is not very easy to explan in a post.

Suffice to say that the best course of action is to remove the food to alternative safe storage and totally defrost the appliance which may very well mean switching it off and leaving the doors open for a full 24 hrs.
With a few towels put down on the floor to soak up any excess defrost water. When you turn the appliance back on do not use the fast freeze buton just allow it to reach it’s normal operating tempreture automatically.

This may very well sort the problem out. If that does not work then it is a job for an expert i’m affraid and your first port of call should be Repairs@ link on the front page of this site.

HTH

Del

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