Sub Zero 700 bf Control Panel Inoperative...But Unit works fine????

[etbrown4]

Sub Zero 700 bf Control Panel Inoperative...But Unit works fine????

Go figure. This unit is running and cooling perfectly however, none of the buttons operate. Heck, you can'r even turn it off!

Ocassionally it will turn itself on or off without warning. Sometimes it will do the same with the icemaker.

Anybody had this experience with A Sub Zero?

[jeff1]

Have you called SZ to check on the display part yet?

http://www.applianceblog.com/mainfor...orks-fine.html

jeff.

[etbrown4]

One Sub Zero tech suspects the main board, and another Sub Zero tech suspects the control panel.

Anyone out there ever experienced SZ buttons that seem frozen - as in seemingly due to ice building up under the button surface - to the point that the on/off button won't click.

After defrosting, the button will click, but still won;t turn the unit off. Icemaker light seems to switch on and off, on its own.

[jeff1]

as in seemingly due to ice building up under the button surface - to the point that the on/off button won't click.

Interesting problem...if no water is leaking in that area gotta consider an air leak with warm and cold air meeting causing moisture/condensation which is freezing.

One Sub Zero tech suspects the main board, and another Sub Zero tech suspects the control panel.

Sometimes you have to take an "educated guess" and try something...esp with products that are not overly common.

jeff.

[etbrown4]

So far none of 3 SZ techs contacted, have ever heard of ice build up under the contact buttons on a SZ two drawer freezer!

I have seen lots of water sitting on top of this control panel, with the unit found mysteriously off. You have to figure that resulted from a freezer that became warm after shutting down on its own - perhaps a number of times - accidentally. I have seen it re-start on it's own, too.

Upon re-freezing, I've felt the ice, and watched the water stream from the contact button area upon defrosting. (You have to believe that the SZ control panel is supposed to be impervious to ice or condensation)

(it is possible, though not yet proven, that the ice building up in those button contacts could even be causing the unit to turn itself off. The ice raises the contact noticeably) Hard to tell if this is the chicken or the egg!

Likewise, though not proven, it is possible that there is a problem with the main board which is shutting the unit off, and then back on.

Either way we'll start with the $258 control board. If that does not work, we'll have to follow with the $205 main board.

Though unlikely, it is possible that there could be problems with both, or even something unrelated. Time will tell, and either $250 later or $455 later, we hopefully have an answer - or a lot of new parts!

The only consultation is that this small 2 drawer unit retails for $5000, and if successful, we'll come out at about 10% of the new cost. Still a lot of money...but no guarantees.

[jeff1]

I found this, might help...

http://www.*****************/pdf/700-series.pdf

jeff.