36 inch wall oven, rarer than hen's teeth

[Brad Johnson]

Your mission, should you choose to accept it...

Parental Units have a 36" in-wall oven, KitchenAid model KEBC167MSS01. The control board has flaked out and the display has gone unreadably dim. Circuit Board Medics were unable to revive it and replacement parts are no longer available. I don't trust used parts as it's a problem endemic to the series. Used parts would likely have the same issue. Oven is 18 years old so it's not exactly a current model, but it's still new enough I figured we could get parts. A little miffed about that.

Figured the next step was looking at replacement. Here's where it all falls apart. Their oven is a 36". I figured since it was made by a common appliance manufacturer that it would, in turn, be a common size. I was wrong. Very, very wrong. In an hour of searching I found no current 36" in-wall models that weren't super high dollar commercial units or some kind of oddball designer piece. Even then I could count the number I found on one hand with fingers left over. So, we're stuck. We either pay through the nose (like four or five grand) for a slide-in replacement, or have someone modify their cabinets to hold a 30" unit (also spendy as their cabinets are custom, too).

Ugh.

Brad

[Kingcreek]

I would mod the cabinets. A good carpenter might be as hard to find as 36” wall ovens.

[HankB]

I would mod the cabinets. A good carpenter might be as hard to find as 36” wall ovens.

My thinking too - but if it's not DIY, you don't need a carpenter, you need a cabinetmaker. There's a difference.

30" wall ovens are common - with an extra 6" to work with, a hidden "secret" compartment might be an option.

[BobR]

My thinking too - but if it's not DIY, you don't need a carpenter, you need a cabinetmaker. There's a difference.

30" wall ovens are common - with an extra 6" to work with, a hidden "secret" compartment might be an option.

That sounds like a pretty good option. Put in a 30", modify the cabinet so you can have a long place to store those flat cookie sheets.

bob

[HankB]

That sounds like a pretty good option. Put in a 30", modify the cabinet so you can have a long place to store those flat cookie sheets.

bob

A simple slot or box, wood, open to the front with the exposed edges stained or painted to match the cabinets - I bet a regular carpenter COULD do that, and make it look good. Heck, I could manage that much!

Brad, I think we have a solution. 

[K Frame]

Parents ran into the same problem remodeling the bathroom years ago. There was just enough room to fit the washer and dryer into the bathroom.

Worked great, FAR more logical than having the washer and dryer downstairs off the kitchen.

Then the washer went out....

And when Mom and Dad tried to replace it, they discovered that the 24" washer that they had was obsolete, and the only replacements they could find were 27" (or something like that).

Washer and dryer back downstairs.

[Jim147]

18 year old parts NLA? They are doing that on 5 year old stuff now.

I would go with the 30".

[Brad Johnson]

A simple slot or box, wood, open to the front with the exposed edges stained or painted to match the cabinets - I bet a regular carpenter COULD do that, and make it look good. Heck, I could manage that much!

If the cabinets weren't faced in old barnwood, I'd be right there with you. Unfortunately, the wood not used in making the cabinets went into other rooms as accent trim. Lots of older wood around the ranch, though, so finding something we could distress and treat as wide trim might work. Also, Mom would never put up with offsetting the oven. It's in a location where its centering is part of the aesthetic.

The control board had the combined problems of dim readout and cooking too hot by 30 or 40 degrees. CBM said they were able to address the setpoint issue but not the dim display. Board has been shipped back and I'm headed to parent's house on Thurs to reinstall. If the oven does nothing more than come on and hold temp, it's at least usable. A little miffed they're out $220 for half a repair, but I guess it beats the alternative.

Brad

[HankB]

. . . Mom would never put up with offsetting the oven . . .

Put in a tall, skinny (3" wide) open shelf on each side of the oven. That will keep it centered and still allow a couple of inches for cookie sheet or cutting board storage. You'll only need enough distressed wood to put a facing - almost a veneer - on the front exposed edges to match the rest.

[Pb]

We had a narrow dishwasher in our cabinets when we moved in.  It had to be replaced, and we had the cabinets modified for normal dishwasher.  It wasn't too much money and he did a good job- of course, this was about 16 years ago.  I don't believe it was a cabinet maker who did it either.

I would definitely look into that option.

[Kingcreek]

We had to replace a fridge that was a size different from anything new and cabinets were built around it. We hired an old carpenter friend (great traditional finish carpenter) who looked it over and redesigned the whole kitchen. Amish made hickory cabinets are still beautiful and will last generations and we didn’t want to replace them. We lost only one small cabinet. Wife was wanting new sink and countertops anyway and it was the perfect time to do all that.
The range oven and dishwasher and sinks were not relocated. The fridge went from the north wall to the east. This is a big walk thru kitchen with a pantry and breakfast table. 28’ of countertop iirc.

[JTHunter]

Brad - you have my sympathy.
Back in '04, we had just moved into this house when we discovered that the wall oven (not 36") was shorting out under the bottom center at the front of the oven.  This was a smaller width (26 - 30"??) and my brother and I were able to replace it with no cabinet mods.
Brother was doing that kind of work back then.

[Jim147]

I just had a regular 30" freestanding range yesterday that the up temp button doesn't work. It turns on at 350 but you can only turn it down not up. The part is NLA but my supplier has 1. Be about $400 if they want to fix it. I could pull the board and replace the up button but what will go out next?

We used to send clocks and oven controls out to places for repair if the customer had one of the extended warranties. We had less than a 50% success rate.

[Brad Johnson]

Control board reinstalled. Display still dim, of course, but at least it holds temp now. Very well, in fact. Checking against an oven thermometer show it's dead on and only ranges a couple of degrees as it cycles.

Now, for my next trick, I'll be trying to get the baked on guck off the window. Cursory testing with a razor blade gave moderate success. I can get it clean but it will be an exercise in patience. The "EZ-Off and let it soak" method will be a lot simpler. I'll take a few extra supplies when we go for Christmas.

A lot surprised at Dad's reply when I told him about the 36" vs 30" availability situation. Apparently, the builder told them the 36" was an uncommon size and they should really consider going with a 30" for both cost and future-proofing reasons. Mom was the one dead-set on the larger size so Dad relented. He didn't bat an eye at the possibility of going back with a 30".

Brad

[zxcvbob]

Control board reinstalled. Display still dim, of course, but at least it holds temp now. Very well, in fact. Checking against an oven thermometer show it's dead on and only ranges a couple of degrees as it cycles.

Now, for my next trick, I'll be trying to get all the baked on guck off the window. Did some cursory testing with a razor blade. Moderate success. I can get it clean but it will be an exercise in patience. The "EZ-Off and let it soak" method will be a lot simpler. I'll take a few extra supplies when we go for Christmas.

Brad

EZ-Off might etch the glass if it's the formula made with lye.  First try the other kind; I think it's "fume free" or somesuch, or just apply a paper towel and ammonia and let it soak.  Then try the razor blade thing.

[RocketMan]

Are the displays old school separate eight-segment LED units?  Or is it an integrated all in one LED unit?

[Brad Johnson]

Segmented with multiple panels. They're all dim, some more than others.

Brad

[RocketMan]

LED displays from that era had an annoying habit of dimming over time.  Newer units don't have that problem.  If each number is its own separate eight-segment display (or 7 segment), it could conceivably be replaced.  If the display is a one-piece unit composed of several LED numbers, then it would be tougher to repair because that monolithic unit may not be available any longer.
FYI: Segments refer to how many little LED bars are in a display to generate a single character. 

Here is a link to a picture of a single typical 8-segment display.  https://cdn3.botland.store/95411-pdt_540/eight-segment-display-x1-14mm-green-8-mcd-.jpg

[Brad Johnson]

Unfortunately it's all integrated into a single unified panel. No way to take it apart with out destroying it.



Brad

[RocketMan]

That's unfortunate.  Is it potted in places on the back side?

[Brad Johnson]

That's unfortunate.  Is it potted in places on the back side?

Sealed under some kind of seam-welded membrane.

With all sections more or less similarly affected, I'm presuming it's something on the power side of the LED driver. It's holding temp so it's usable. I'm going to leave well enough alone for now.

Brad