Electric Oven Not Heating Up - any advice on how to fix pls?

waterwatereverywhere

Hi,

We have a Zanussi single electric oven with fan.

The last time we used it it seemed to take a long time to heat up and was cooler than usual.

Last night it refused to heat up at all and is also unusually noisy.

The grill element at the top heats up fine and the fan is still working.

Please does anyone have any advice on how to find out what is wrong with this and if it could be repaired economically or must we replace? It is probably around 6-8 years old. We're prepared to have a look at things ourselves if someone can guide us.

Model is a ZBF 865.

Many thx in advance.

PZH

It's possibly the element that has gone. Approx £25 - £30 to buy a replacement ?

The below is a very generic description - so maybe Google to see if there are specific instructions ? (YouTube is a good source for videos showing the various steps)

With fan ovens, then element is "usually" accessed from the inside by removing a cover at the back which exposes the fan surrounded by the element.

MAKE SURE THE ELECTRIC IS OFF BEFORE YOU REMOVE THE COVER

The element is then usually secured by two smallish screws at the bottom. Once undone, pull the element forward slowly to reveal the wires. Note which way round the are and remove (Should be simple spade connectors - make sure that you do not lose the wires back through the hole.)

The element can be tested using an AVO meter to check for continuity - unless it is totally obvious (when I did mine, there was a chunk missing) - You can do this step before you order a replacement just to make sure it is the element that is at fault

If it is the element - then simply swap and refit.

SailorSam

Check out here but there are others you can compare. It's not difficult to fix it yourself.
http://www.ukapplianceparts.com/oven-elements/elements_search.asp?gclid=COOtv8-7v5YCFR8cEAodOSyIyw

waterwatereverywhere

Hello

Thank you very much Phoodless for your detailed reply which is really helpful. Will get the electrics off and open it up now I have a better clue what I should be doing/looking for! It's got to be worth a try to try and avoid having to buy a new oven. Will post back to let you know how we get on.

Thank you SailorSam for the helpful link, will take a look there.

waterwatereverywhere

Hi again,

Sorry, just wanted to also ask is the fact it is very noisy an indication that it is the element or might there be something else wrong?

Just thinking if we go ahead and buy/fit a new element might this be worthless if there is something else also wrong with it? It has always been a little bit noisy but was making a terrible sound when it wouldn't heat up yesterday.

Thanks again.

SailorSam

The element doesn't make a noise, it's exactly the same as the element in the bottom of your electric kettle. The noise would point towards something that was moving, perhaps the fan is loose.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYC3mVlqxmA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOZZo8P1z9M&feature=related

PZH

SailorSam wrote: »

The element doesn't make a noise, it's exactly the same as the element in the bottom of your electric kettle. The noise would point towards something that was moving, perhaps the fan is loose.

The other possibility is that the element has bent or warped and is catching on the fan ??

waterwatereverywhere

Hi

Many thanks SailorSam and Phoodles for your extra replies. We didn't have a chance to look at this yesterday but hope to tackle it today so will post back how we get on.

waterwatereverywhere

Hi,

Following on from above, finally taken the old element out of the oven. The element had sort of "split" in several places (can see the white underneath the black outer coating) so I'm hopeful that it is the element that is causing the oven not to heat up.

Have been trying to get a replacement element but have a problem and would be grateful for further help. The oven is a Zanussi 865X (single electric fan). I've gone to several sites and they all recommend a specific Zanussi recommended "3 turn element, 2000W" but my problem with these is they have completely different "terminals" (end bits where the wires go) to the one I have just removed, so if I get one of these I'm going to have trouble trying to wire it in.

My problem is the old element I took off from the oven actually says "Ariston" written on it and it has only 2 turns and has completely different terminals - just flat metal prongs. I suspect someone inthe past must have fitted an incorrect element to the oven as it is Zanussi and not Ariston (one of the web suppliers also thinks this is the case). But the wiring, as it is, has flattish clips on it which are easy to just slide over the type of flat metal prongs on the element I've removed, so ideally I'd like to replace with like for like as otherwise I haven't a clue how to get the wires to connect to the different terminals.

My questions are, provided I ensure the replacement element is 2000W rated:

1. Does it make any difference whether it is a 3 turn or a 2 turn element.

2. Can I go for the same type of element again - with the flat prongs on the end for easy connection? In other words, do I have to go for the actual Zanussi element which is recommended, because to do so I'd have to change the wiring terminals some how as they are completely different to the flat prong type on the old element.

3. If it is an absolute no-no replacing with the same type of "incorrect" element and I have go buy the specific Zanussi one, how do I change the clips on the wiring so it will connect with the different terminals on the Zanussi element?

Until now the oven has been working OK, albeit it's slow to warm up but suspect this may be because of the element damage - it's split in several places.

Sorry to be so longwinded about it - but not sure how to explain clearly.

Many thx for any help/advice on this.

southernsun

We had the same problem with our oven a few weeks ago (Candy), everything appeared to be working (fan, light, top oven, grill etc) but the main oven would not heat up. Took apart and found element had begun to crumble. Spent ages trying to find replacement online but they were either different size, number of turns or were 2500W instead of 2300W.

In the end I took a photo of the cooker and element and emailed it along with all the dimensions and the codes on the element to Candy and they emailed me back same day with the part I needed and I placed the order (£41).

May be worth sending as much info to the manufacturer direct and see if they can get the right part for you.

PZH

waterwatereverywhere wrote: »

...and has completely different terminals - just flat metal prongs...

I'm a bit confused by this... usually the elements ARE spade connectors...

Are the existing ones not like this...

http://www.espares.co.uk/part/cookers-and-hobs/zanussi/zbf865x/p/1092/332/0/620488/139510/2000-watt-circular-fan-ov.html

I suppose the other question would be would a 3-turn element actually fit beneath the cover in the oven ?