Bosch Tumble Dryer Woes - More Info

Many years ago I replaced one Hotpoint W/D with another, the new one kept cutting out, they sent a repair bod, he replaced the PCB, but he also added a plastic shround, apparently water drops could for and drip onto the PCB without it ...

Steam? Hmm, that does rather indicate that it’s failing in a fairly significant fashion!

Is this a model with a heat pump/refrigeration system or just a basic condenser that uses the room temperature air to condense the water vapour in a heat exchanger?

Tim

Can you give us the model number? Usually accessible from the front, inside the door. Bosch call it the E.Nr.

Thanks Bob

The number is WTE84309GB.

Looks like it's out of production - around 12 years old

Phil

Thanks Tim

Can't say with certainty, but looking at the prices of the heat pump type I'm pretty sure it will use room temp air for condensing operation.

Phil

Not unlike ours.

Have you cleaned the heat exchanger front, behind the flap at bottom left?

Exploded diagram here:

Thanks Bob

Yes, I've cleaned as far as I can reach, including the pump sump under the clip down cover (right at arms length).

How much air comes out of the vent when it’s running? Probably hard to remember but is it blowing air out as vigorously as alway did? Have you checked the air intake to the fan and the fan impeller? (Apologies if you have but thread has got quite long).

Tim

Yes, I remember that. I couldn't get one clip back on as my hand was too big, so my son did it!

Mine had a solid plastic panel in front of the heat exchanger, and a 'cut line' moulded into it. You had to move that with a knife, clean, and then fit a sealing cover over it (from the spares people). Only had to do that twice in ten years (once for the sump).

Years ago I had a Hotpoint w/d and the PCB was at the bottom of the machine and yes water dripped on to the PCB. I read about this problem and on checking my machine there was evidence of water having been on the PCB i stuck a plastic bag over the pcb so that water would hit the bag and drip on the floor. The main problem with that machine was the rate of wear of the motor brushes and during its lifetime had good number of new sets. Luckily that was a fairly easy DIY job.

Does it cut out when you run it free standing? That is, pulled out from under the work top?

This might help with two things:

(1) Is it over heating because of the confined space?

(2) Can you see in more detail where any steam is emerging?

Cheers

Dave R

Thanks David

Yes I pulled the machine out and ran it on pretty dry towels.

This didn't show where steam might have been originating, but did confirm that it failed even outside of its usual cubby hole. Total shutdown after about 10 mins.

Having worked fine in that location for 12 years, there must be something else at play somewhere.

Having checked the fan and housing are clear I reckon I'm going to throw in the towel and just replace.

Phil

Thanks Tim

I've checked the fan and housing are clear and reckon I'm going to throw in the towel and just replace.

At 12 years old I guess it doesn't owe us too much.

Phil

A youngster! Our gas tumble dryer lasted over 30 years. ;-)

Tim

That of course depends on what you paid for it

Test Only