Broken oven - Thermostat or element. How do I tell?
Discussion
usually the element if its going through the motions but not heating, assume its a fan oven, right? If you set a temperature, a "pilot light" (the light that normally goes out when the correct temperature is reached) should glow on the panel, if that is on as normal then its defo the element. Let me know make and model to advise further, some you can change from inside the oven, others are a from the back job.
Kermit power said:
Thanks! 
It's a Smeg DUC08CSS.
Got the exact same oven, and had the same problem. Turned out it was the element.It's a Smeg DUC08CSS.
Take it apart, remove the element, and you will see a break or crack type mark part way round the element. Got a new element from a local appliance parts shop. Just checked, not too expensive, even from the official site http://www.servevastdirect.co.uk/index.php?dispatc...
I did have guidance from f-i-l who used to fix appliances for a living, but if I'd known what to look for, I reckon I could've got the element out on my own. Only a case of taking the inside surfaces of the oven out and unscrewing the element. Replacement is the opposite of removal.
Go for it, and let us know how you get on, or if you need any advice.
Its not always obvious that an element has blown, especially if the trip in house has tripped off at the point it fails, test with a meter for a circuit across the terminals is the only way.
Trouble with that model is that the old one is fitted with studs while the new one will have just holes and you will need screws to ft it (ususlly supplied with the new element). Long and short is that the oven will need to come out of the housing and these are not light. Use a black and decker workmate which should be about the correct height to slide it on to. Power off before doing anything, remove back of oven and the inside back cover in the oven itself. Will need a 7mm nut spinner for the nuts and have to rig up an earth point as the new element wont have one, dont just leave the wire dangling! I have these in stock £30 delivered genuine spare. email me if interested.
Trouble with that model is that the old one is fitted with studs while the new one will have just holes and you will need screws to ft it (ususlly supplied with the new element). Long and short is that the oven will need to come out of the housing and these are not light. Use a black and decker workmate which should be about the correct height to slide it on to. Power off before doing anything, remove back of oven and the inside back cover in the oven itself. Will need a 7mm nut spinner for the nuts and have to rig up an earth point as the new element wont have one, dont just leave the wire dangling! I have these in stock £30 delivered genuine spare. email me if interested.
Kermit power said:
eastlmark said:
I have these in stock £30 delivered genuine spare. email me if interested.
Oh bugger. Should've checked back into the thread before ordering elsewhere. You would've been cheaper too. 
Email on its way.eastlmark said:
Its not always obvious that an element has blown, especially if the trip in house has tripped off at the point it fails, test with a meter for a circuit across the terminals is the only way.
Trouble with that model is that the old one is fitted with studs while the new one will have just holes and you will need screws to ft it (ususlly supplied with the new element). Long and short is that the oven will need to come out of the housing and these are not light. Use a black and decker workmate which should be about the correct height to slide it on to. Power off before doing anything, remove back of oven and the inside back cover in the oven itself. Will need a 7mm nut spinner for the nuts and have to rig up an earth point as the new element wont have one, dont just leave the wire dangling! I have these in stock £30 delivered genuine spare. email me if interested.
Hi, Trouble with that model is that the old one is fitted with studs while the new one will have just holes and you will need screws to ft it (ususlly supplied with the new element). Long and short is that the oven will need to come out of the housing and these are not light. Use a black and decker workmate which should be about the correct height to slide it on to. Power off before doing anything, remove back of oven and the inside back cover in the oven itself. Will need a 7mm nut spinner for the nuts and have to rig up an earth point as the new element wont have one, dont just leave the wire dangling! I have these in stock £30 delivered genuine spare. email me if interested.
You're thinking of the D08CSS, which is the built in model, the OP has a DUCO8CSS, which is the built under version of the oven, so I doubt the workmates option will help him!
OP, I'd also suggest that you check the White label that's on the side of the door or cavity for the exact model no / serial number. As eastlmark correctly says, there have been a number of different model produced of this oven. It might be worth checking exactly which one you have and which version of the element you might need? Also these ovens are "true fan" with the element built around the circular fan at the back of the oven.
Lastly, and obvious I know, but please disconnect 100% from the power supply before you start, especially if your new to working on ovens!
Griff Boy said:
Hi,
You're thinking of the D08CSS, which is the built in model, the OP has a DUCO8CSS, which is the built under version of the oven, so I doubt the workmates option will help him!
ooops, I did mis read that at the time, but the elements are the same.You're thinking of the D08CSS, which is the built in model, the OP has a DUCO8CSS, which is the built under version of the oven, so I doubt the workmates option will help him!
You a smeg agent Griff Boy?
Well, I've finally got around to getting the back off the oven to fit the new element. All looks simple enough, but the insulation in the back of the oven is rather blackened. Apologies for the crapness of the pic!
Is this normal in a 6yr old oven, or is it something to worry about? It's sticky, and seems more likely to be grease that's escaping from the back of the actual ovens when it's in use rather than burning due to excess heat.
Needless to say, I'm fairly keen not to burn the house down!
Is this normal in a 6yr old oven, or is it something to worry about? It's sticky, and seems more likely to be grease that's escaping from the back of the actual ovens when it's in use rather than burning due to excess heat.
Needless to say, I'm fairly keen not to burn the house down!
Kermit power said:
Well, I've finally got around to getting the back off the oven to fit the new element. All looks simple enough, but the insulation in the back of the oven is rather blackened. Apologies for the crapness of the pic!
Is this normal in a 6yr old oven, or is it something to worry about? It's sticky, and seems more likely to be grease that's escaping from the back of the actual ovens when it's in use rather than burning due to excess heat.
Needless to say, I'm fairly keen not to burn the house down!
Can confirm that grease build up does happen round the back.Is this normal in a 6yr old oven, or is it something to worry about? It's sticky, and seems more likely to be grease that's escaping from the back of the actual ovens when it's in use rather than burning due to excess heat.
Needless to say, I'm fairly keen not to burn the house down!
Ours started squeaking incessantly. Turned out the fan unit at the top of your picture, the black box, which blows air round the controls to keep them cool enough to touch, had got a bit sticky with grease.
Might be worth giving this a clean while you've got it all opened up.
Kermit power said:
Well, Is this normal in a 6yr old oven, or is it something to worry about? It's sticky, and seems more likely to be grease that's escaping from the back of the actual ovens when it's in use rather than burning due to excess heat.
Needless to say, I'm fairly keen not to burn the house down!
Looks like every other well used oven wtih its back off. Its not burning as such, just convected grease being deposited on the white insulation. Recommend not touching that stuff if at all possible.Needless to say, I'm fairly keen not to burn the house down!
The fan motor (the oven, not cooling one I mean) looks a bit suspect though, just check it is spinning up nicely once you have got the job done.
Edited by eastlmark on Sunday 18th September 08:39
Since posting on this thread, I've had to take the back off to replace the main oven element again (second time in five years).
Went to do some major christmas dinner surgery yesterday, utilising the extra capacity of the small grill/oven.
Fished the oil out I was heating for roast potatoes, and met with clouds of billowing smoke.
Looks a lot like the oven was not switching off when reaching desired temperature, so assume thermostat has gone.
Don't worry (I can tell you were on the edge of your seat) the christmas dinner was a resounding success due entirely to my resourcefulness and determined nature.
Went to do some major christmas dinner surgery yesterday, utilising the extra capacity of the small grill/oven.
Fished the oil out I was heating for roast potatoes, and met with clouds of billowing smoke.
Looks a lot like the oven was not switching off when reaching desired temperature, so assume thermostat has gone.
Don't worry (I can tell you were on the edge of your seat) the christmas dinner was a resounding success due entirely to my resourcefulness and determined nature.
To finish off the thread from my perspective, it turned out that the thermostat had seemingly blown as well as the element, but rather than failing to heat up at all, it had been failing to stop heating until some sort of emergency cut-off had been activating and switching the entire oven off to cool down. I imagine this is what had blown the element in the first place.
Having had a Smeg dishwasher fail three times in 5 years, a Smeg extractor hood fail after 4 and then a Smeg oven effectively on its third failure in 5 years as well, I decided it simply wasn't worth fixing the heap of junk again, only for it to fail once more probably within a year or two!
It therefore got replaced by a De Dietrich oven with pyrolitic cleaning cycle which is absolutely outstanding! Of course, I have to keep the faith that it will run longer than Smeg rubbish without breaking, but it surely can't be worse!
Having had a Smeg dishwasher fail three times in 5 years, a Smeg extractor hood fail after 4 and then a Smeg oven effectively on its third failure in 5 years as well, I decided it simply wasn't worth fixing the heap of junk again, only for it to fail once more probably within a year or two!
It therefore got replaced by a De Dietrich oven with pyrolitic cleaning cycle which is absolutely outstanding! Of course, I have to keep the faith that it will run longer than Smeg rubbish without breaking, but it surely can't be worse!
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