Bosch KGU34640GB Fridge/Freezer – worth repairing?

[brightspark]

Hi UKWG people,

Unlike lots of bods here, I am not ripping out a perfectly good kitchen because it’s 5 minutes old, moving house and making a packet out of it, need advice on which of the latest super expensive bits of kit are up there in the kitchen “Jones’s” stakes etc etc.
My current “Beko” fridge freezer is too small and is slowly falling apart.
I am brassic and am sniffing around the second hand market for big upright fridge freezer or even separate fridge and freezer. I have loads of hungry mouths to feed, and buying in bulk and freezing is one of the ways to keep the feeding costs down.
I’d like an opinion on whether a Bosch KGU364640GB “Classix” frost free will be economical to buy cheaply to repair.
The temp control lights aren’t working, but the fridge still works, and the freezer works, but freezes up and needs defrosting after a week or so.
If repairable is it a “handyman” repair or a professional job – and how much do you reckon for the parts/labour.
Any suggestions gratefuly received.
I’m also looking at a big “Baumatik” larder fridge and a “Foster 410” upright freezer – never heard of either of these before – what reputation do these brands have?

Adrian.

[gegsy]

Re: Bosch KGU34640GB Fridge/Freezer – worth repairing?

Hi

The bosch F/F will give you no hassle Im sure. We rarely get calls for bosch,siemens or neff refrigeration. If we do its usually door seals or thermostats. The frost free of any make come at a price when they go west but as far as bosch go they are less troublesome than most.
Spares for Bosch are very competetive and readily available off this site.
Hope that helps.

Greg

[brightspark]

Re: Bosch KGU34640GB Fridge/Freezer – worth repairing?

Thanks for that Gegsy,

The Bosch I’m looking at has a problem, so I was wondering if anyone had an idea about how big a problem it is, and if it makes any sense for me to buy, if the expense of repair is going to be very big. The Freezer freezes up about every two weeks, and non of the temp control lights are operational – does that sound terminal or a big money repair? Fridge seems to work OK.

Regs.

Adrian

[Penguin45]

Re: Bosch KGU34640GB Fridge/Freezer – worth repairing?

The lights are on the digital control board (expensive). Freezing up regularly is usually related to sensor failure, board failure, defrost failure, fan failure………. I suspect that you’re buying a pup.

It is a good appliance, but you will need to consider professional repair costs as part of your budget – these are tricky to get right.

Click the link below if you wish to follow this path.

Rrgards,
Penguin45.

[brightspark]

Re: Bosch KGU34640GB Fridge/Freezer – worth repairing?

Thanks for that Penguin45,
And apologies for this rambling reply. I’d still like to have a crack at repairing this myself, assuming it’s just a parts swap. The F/F is only 18 months old, and the problem happened just outside the 12 month warantee period. The story from the previous owner was that he’d had a couple of engineer visits, and had something replaced on the first visit. The freeze-up problem recurred in exactly the same way, and on the second visit the engineer diagnosed the freezer control board as being faulty, and promised to source and then fit a new one at cost of part only.
Unfortunately that was the last the prev owner heard, eventually he got fed up waiting and got a new seperate fidge and freezer, so now I’m the lucky owner of KGU34640GB.
I don’t think it would be economical for me to get someone in to repair, otherwise I wouldn’t be trawling this site and I’d call in one of you guys. The Bosch site seems to indicate that a replacement control board part is now supplied, assuming that “module-operating” (part no. 494761) is the control board I’m after( I guess it does the job for both fridge and freezer even though just the freezer lights are out). The spares diagram looks pretty comprehensive, but doesn’t indicate how to get access to and remove the control board behind the facia(I could at least then do some very basic tests) . I
can see and have removed a couple of plastic “plugs” just above the upper door that seem to be for retaining the controls/indicators cover, but don’t want to just merrily prise the rest off if there are still more retaining pins/clips etc. or I need to detach eg for the door switch.
So my basic questions are, given that I’m prepared to take a chance on the control board really being the underlying fault (none of the freezer side operating lights work at all but the freezer still freezes) – how do I get access to the control board, and can I order the part via this site?
I know can buy parts off the Bosch site, but would prefer to purchase via UKWG if I can, as I had really excellent parts service and diagnosis from here for my tumble dryer.

[gegsy]

Re: Bosch KGU34640GB Fridge/Freezer – worth repairing?

HI
Module is £45.13 +vat. Its not abad job just fiddly.
2 screws under top fascia and a butter knife to pop it away all along the top from left to right.
After that your on your own. Assess it once you’ve got that far, if you in any doubt check link below for engineer.

Greg

[brightspark]

Re: Bosch KGU34640GB Fridge/Freezer – worth repairing?

Thanks Penguin and Gegsy (and Dave),

The board appeared to be faulty, but I could well have been wrong. Got the replacement control module (not the same part number as the original mind you so the new one might have the much talked about thermistor connection mod). Watch out for the BSH site pricing, as I ordered on the original part number (491921) which was only £15 and tuppence, but found out after I’d was actually been charged £57-73. Still, that price was for the newer replacement part, and that wasn’t too bad really.
Anyhow, with help from you sterling UKWG bods it was a pretty easy swap out, and all the right lights came on, compressor and fan sound liked they had kicked in. Everything seems to have settled down now, temps down and the red light is off, but I mustn’t crow too much because it’s only been on for 2 hours.
I’d be glad to donate something towards the site for the great advice and help – any idea what the best way to do that is?

Anyhow thanks again,

Adrian

[gegsy]

Re: Bosch KGU34640GB Fridge/Freezer – worth repairing?

A donation thats most kind. Try a PM (Personal Message ) to kwatt one of the site admins of the site 😉

Thanks again

Greg

[brightspark]

Re: Bosch KGU34640GB Fridge/Freezer – worth repairing?

Hi again UKWG people,

the F/F has been running for a couple of days now with the new board.
I’ve not had a “new” fridge for a while, and never a frost free so don’t know whats “normal” behaviour these days, but it sounds like the compressor is running as often as it’s not – assuming the sound I’m hearing is the compressor. I can’t be sure. The fan is pretty obvious, but isn’t on very much, usually for a while after the fridge door has been open.
The condensor doesn’t seem to get very warm compared to my old Beko.
I’m getting a freezer thermometer to check that out to see if the temp is OK.

Cheers,

Adrian

[gegsy]

Re: Bosch KGU34640GB Fridge/Freezer – worth repairing?

Hi
If there was a problem the alarm would go off.
A rule of thumb as you can send yourself round the bend with cheap thermometers, If products are cool to the touch in the fridge and nothing going off, its fine. If products are freezing top and bottom solid in freezer it is fine, save yourself money on these thermometers as they all read differently and are basically useless.

Regards

Greg

[brightspark]

Re: Bosch KGU34640GB Fridge/Freezer – worth repairing?

Hi Gegsy,

Too late, I’ve already ordered a couple of supercheap domestics off of eBay. They seemed ok – made by ETI Limited who make industrial and catering thermometers. ETI looked like they were a pukka outfit, from the looks of the website info anyhow…: http://www.etiltd.co.uk/company_information.htm

regs, Adrian

[gegsy]

Re: Bosch KGU34640GB Fridge/Freezer – worth repairing?

Oh well I tried 🙂

Greg

[brightspark]

Re: Bosch KGU34640GB Fridge/Freezer – worth repairing?

Hi again,

Everything still seems to be running well. If anyone wants the original control board to refurbish etc., send me a PM and I’ll post it.

Regs, Adrian

[linrew]

Re: Bosch KGU34640GB Fridge/Freezer – worth repairing?

hi

i know it might be a bit late now but all bosch appliances have a 2 year warrenty from new

ask whoever you got the freezer from for the origonal receipt and if anything does go wrong befor 2 years call bosch out

linrew

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