GE Stove rant

Once again, I have to replace the oven igniter in my GE XL44, which makes it number 4 or 5. At $60 a pop, it's approaching the cost of the stove.

And what really makes it worse is because of their stupid engineering, what should be a 10-minute job is a nightmare because I have to disassemble the entire oven. The mounting screws on the igniter bracket are inacessible. If they had only turned the igniter 180 degrees, it would be no problem. Maybe I should just mount the igniter with an easily removable paper clip. And maybe I should keep a shelf full of igniters.

I'm fed up. Suggestions?

Buy a Wolf.

Do they have a 30" model with, perhaps, electronic ignition?

Since posting this, I took a look. They no longer produce home models.

Where did you see that, Larry? Maybe on their commercial site? They produce plenty of ranges and cooktops for home use - although the things are extremely expensive.

Bluestar has a reputation for putting out high quality ranges. I'm pretty sure they have a 30" model. For a lot more on ranges and other home appliances, check out the appliance forum at Gardenweb. Use the search function - you can find plenty of passionate debates on the merits of Viking vs. Wolf vs. Diva de Provence vs. Aga vs.........

Good luck!

Mike

Thanks. I saw that blurb on wolfstoves.com. I'll check out the appliance forum, but unfortunately I'm not Donald Trump.

Thanks. I saw that blurb on wolfstoves.com. I'll check out the appliance forum, but unfortunately I'm not Donald Trump.

Yeah, me too. That's why we're still clunking along on the banged up Tappan electric with one bad burner that came with our house.


Mike

I posted an email to GE. We'll see what they have to say.

Incredible! As I'm typing this, I have the TV on and there's a GE commercial telling me how great they are. Damn. I forgot to wear my stainless steel colander this morning to block any mind control waves.

>whisper< I think I'll mosey down to Appliance Liquidators later today and see what they have in stock.

maybe you need a new service person.

Service people are much more expensive than I am. I repair just about everything around the house.

The problem is not the repair; it's the part. They sell the stove cheap and get you on the ignitors over the life of stove. If only they made ignitors with nichrome or something instead of ceramic; they'd probably last longer. Or, better yet, use electronic ignition.

Actually, I never had this problem with the pilot lights on my old stove. At least you could light things with a match.

Hmm? I just bought one. Wolf is now owned by Subzero.

Here's the 30" model: http://www.subzerowolf.com/wolf/wolf.php?model=19

Looks nice, but I can't find out how much moola it costs.

We've had one GE range, their Profile. Carole cussed them almost from day one. The racks were sorry as hell. It never lived up to its billing. We had it for about a year before we moved and left it behind. We now have a six-burner Viking and have no complaints.

I spied a Bosch. What do you think of their gas ranges?

I don't know anything about them, but Consumer Report's ranks their dual fuel model at the top.

That's good to know. I didn't even know they made ranges, but I happened to see one today.

[Jenise]

I would definitely not buy another igniter. That's a ridiculous investment vs. simply replacing the stove--and you're a good enough cook that you deserve to cook on an appliance that respects you back.

Go shopping!

Seriously. I had been cooking on a Viking. I just put in a Wolf cooktop in the new house. I'm in love.

Larry, have you contacted GE about the problem? It might not do a nickel's worth of good, but it can't hurt. Also, you might want to copy this thread and forward it to them as well. You might even let them know how many hits per day this DG gets. Sure, not every one of them read this thread, but we won't mention that. Robin, might even be able to give you a ballpark number of hits on a single thread like this one. One should not have to throw out one appliance and buy another without giving the maker of the lemon a lot of grief.

[Jenise]

Sure, not every one of them read this thread, but we won't mention that.

But you just did.

So he cuts mine and yours off...it won't hurt much.

So he cuts mine and yours off...it won't hurt much.

Betcha didn't type and post that with a straight face.

I think Jenise already had hers cut off....

[Jenise]

I think Jenise already had hers cut off....

And thank God I believe in organ donation or you'd be singing with the sopranos.

And thank God I believe in organ donation

Snort!