[FIXED] Kitchenaid Wine Cooler KUWS246ESS2 thermostat replacement

***fishgutz*** · February 8th, 2010, 04:22 PM

Brand: KitchenAid

My wine cooler had stopped working and I've isolated the problem at the thermostat control, thanks to 2 previous threads that are more than 2 years old. Rather than try to resurrect those threads I've begun a new one. My question relates to the nuts and bolts of replacing the thermostat. There is a long wire coming from the end of the thermostat that is presumably the thermocouple that reads the temperature. The Manufacturer's Number: 4344659 shows a long lead wire that is coiled on the end. On my appliance that coiled wire passes beneath the machine and the end is attached behind all of the insulating foam at the back center of unit. My question is how does one attach a new thermostat and wire without damaging or removing a great deal of the insulation? Shall I just cut out some of the insulation in order to expose the end for removal and then re-foam it with spray insulation? Does that coiled end mount in some sort of receptacle? Or is it possible to take the existing wire and attach it to the inside of the new thermostat? And lastly, is the part number noted above the correct one for this model number? Any advice you can give would be much appreciated.

***Jake*** · February 8th, 2010, 04:52 PM

It should have a channel that the thermocouple runs through, just pull it out from the bottom after you unmount your thermostat.

Here's the cold control thermostat for your model:
Manufacturer's Number: 4344659

4344659

Actually it comes with complete installation instructions.

Jake

***fishgutz*** · February 9th, 2010, 04:20 AM

Wow, what a fast response! Thanks, Jake. I'm ordering the part this morning but have just one more question. The tightly coiled end of the thermocouple is secured inside the foam insulation on the back side of the cooler and doesn't easily pull out. The routing is simple enough and follows along the path of the coolant tank line up towards top. Am I to understand that I can just pull it out through the insulation or shall I cut a path with a razor? My concern is that the thermocouple of the replacement part be placed and shielded properly in order to give proper feedback to the thermostat. Thanks again for the quick response, Jake.

***Jake*** · February 9th, 2010, 09:23 AM

First try to pull it through, if that doesn't get anywhere, then cut a path yes.

Jake

***fishgutz*** · February 9th, 2010, 09:26 AM

Will do. I've ordered the part and should be off to the races, thanks to you.

***Jake*** · February 9th, 2010, 10:13 AM

Sounds good, keep us posted.

Jake

***Econo Appliance*** · February 9th, 2010, 10:54 AM

I agree with Jake - sometime you just have to cut some insulation to get to parts like this. Then seal it up with tube silicone, or spray foam (like you mentioned) would also do the trick.

***fishgutz*** · February 15th, 2010, 04:20 AM

Hey Jake,
The part arrived and installed in no time. The only glitch was having to drill an oversize hole to allow the larger thermocouple end on the replacement thermostat to slip inside the cooler. Now my ice-maker appears to have a small leak so maybe we'll speak again. In the meantime, thanks very much for your advice. You, too, Econo Appliance Guy.

***Jake*** · February 16th, 2010, 03:42 PM

Excellent fishgutz, good job.

Jake

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[FIXED] Kitchenaid Wine Cooler KUWS246ESS2 thermostat replacement

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