Thermador Downdraft Opinion Please

For about a year now, we have lived with the up/down using the on/off to catch it at the top and she has worked fine. Last week the blower stopped so I visited this most excellent forum and downloaded the service manual.

I opened up the on/off fan control area and vacuumed and cleaned and we have it back to fan running and up/down - no stopping however, it keeps cycling.

So feeling a bit bold I bit the bullet and took the J-box cover off side panel and got to where I can see “the front view” from the service manual.

Now the 64 dollar question - when watching the unit go up/down - there is a decisive bump when its all the way down in the retract cycle almost like the gear motor arm is not on the unit all the way. However, if that was the case, why would it go up and down but not lock in place?

It looks like all I have to do is remove the four mounting screws and gear motor arm screw and the unit should pull away which I can turn it around in place and get at the “rear view” so I have access to look at the gear motor switches and how the mounting arm is connected to the motor shaft etc.

The kicker is - the cook top is in a custom built island - so I do not have the option to access this from the rear and in that case my best option is to put it back together and simply live with it.

Sorry for monster post, figure more info is better.

Its Sunday, its all torn up on the kitchen - so hopefully someone can pitch a shove back either way.

Thanks in advance.

Of course the fan runs fine when apart - put back together and still up/down without fan running.

Time for a few beers and some more research. Suddenly, the 130 bucks an hour for service is looking good.

There are two limit switches - top and bottom. They shown on the diagram as #46. Most likely they are out of alignment.

Gene.

One of the limit switches had worked itself loose (2 screws) backed themselves out.

Downloaded repair manual and after 2 hours we were back in business.

Note: when you pull the motor housing look how it comes out/goes back in as you end up with a handful of pieces.

Thanks.

You are welcome. I’m glad you were able to fix it.

Gene.