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Original poster

Any tips for replacing bulb in Neff oven?

34 replies

TimeForLunch · 15/06/2011 15:15

The bulb in our oven needs replacing, but the lamp cover won't come off! It is literally baked on, I think. I bought a removing tool specific for this purpose from Neff but it still won't budge. If anyone else has had the same problem and overcome it I would love to hear how you did it!

OP posts:
bestbefore · 15/06/2011 19:12

don't know about that but be careful if you ever get in there with a new bulb...i had one explode everywhere when my head was in the oven (changing the bulb), it was amazing I didn't get cut
is it a glass kind of ramekin shape thing? Could you try giving it a scrub with some washing up liquid somehow?

Original poster
TimeForLunch · 16/06/2011 19:57

Wow, that sounds scary, glad you weren't hurt. Yes it does look a bit like a ramekin but unfortunately I can't get to the screw bit to clean it. Thanks anyway.

OP posts:
Littleover · 17/06/2011 17:03

My Neff oven light is the same, we inherited the oven when we moved and the bulb went around Christmas. Tried to get it off myself, did the washing up liquid trick but it wouldn't budge. The element needed replacing last month and the repair guy ( with his special tool no less ) couldn't remove the bulb cover either. He said it would probably come off when the oven was warm but it would shatter and be a bugger to get out. The oven is about 30 years old and I love it, even if it is dark in there......

Original poster
TimeForLunch · 26/06/2011 19:49

Thanks Littleover, have only just seen your response. Sounds like a very similar situation. I am now getting used to peering into the dark! Time to accept that is going to be the case forever more, I think. Please do let me know if you ever manage to change yours, though!

OP posts:
powerv · 06/11/2013 14:37

Did Anybody remove the glass covering around the bulb in an Neff oven.
I need to poi in a new bulb but I cannot remove the covering

10Ocr · 11/12/2014 17:52

Same problem in the main oven with a 1 year old NEF U15M52 Double Oven.

Found advice on another site:
Hold a bit of wood against one of the ridges on the glass cover and tap the other end of the wood with a hammer.

Took a few taps bit it did start moving and came off okay.
It wasn't dirty at all so it must just be the design.

WorriedMan · 07/12/2015 13:00

Turn the oven off at the mains and then unscrew the glass case, it's a safety device.

Bertiewooster1 · 24/07/2016 16:27

Thanks for the tip. My bulb needed replacing 4 years ago, but had the same problem as everyone else. Today I used a handheld steam cleaner around the bulb casing to loosen it, then switched it off at the mains (as advised in this blog). And hey presto it unscrewed and now I have light in my oven. So a BIG THANK YOU to you. PS if you have a hand steamer use it to clean the oven its great, 1st time takes ages due to the grime, but after that its a joy not a chore

plmokn62 · 11/12/2017 16:29

Managed to remove the oven light cover using this tool by applying extra torque using a lever inserted into the slot of the top of the tool.
Would have been stuck without this tool which I purchased via Amazon at very good price. The bulb was then easy to remove and replace with one I bought from our local hardware shop.

krishibo1 · 22/12/2017 11:47

Really struggled with this. The special tool I got with the bulb kept slipping. Read everything above and got my Karcher steam thing on it to get it hot. Tapped it with a bit of wood and a mallet. Eventually it sprung loose with all of the above! We now have a brightly lit oven again! Thanks

BishopRod · 20/10/2018 10:38

I tried the plastic tool neff sent, didnt work . Neff engineer called out and he got the glass cover off by using a 18 inch plumbers wrench. Factory fitting too tight!
6 months later the bulb blew again, (supplied by Neff). this time I got the glass off easily as it had been loosened before. bulb broken at top and near metal screw thread. managed to replace bulb with a Philips bulb £3.59p but after 3 attempts it wouldn't light up despite the fan working.
Top Tip! I discovered that you have to reset the clock first and then the bulb works. It's a shame that Neff don't tell you that in their manual.
I

Jop7712savey · 10/01/2020 18:10

Hi, I just wanted to post this information in case it helps anyone who may be having difficulties like me. Firstly the Neff main oven bulb blows quite often. The glass light cover is always difficult to budge but today I found it was impossible. I have spanners and other tools as well as the plastic tool sold on Neff to help you grip the glass cover. Nothing working. I got a torch and mirror and noticed while I turned the glass cover that the steel rim was also moving, so nothing was going to unscrew. I got some WD40 (lubricant) and used the red straw supplied with it to directly spray the glass and steel rim. I didnt use a lot. The glass cover came off immediately. I then cleaned the glass cover and surrounding area. I took the blown bulb out and noticed "as usual" that a small part was screwed onto the blown bulb. This part (I googled) is so that a smaller bulb can fit into a larger hole. Previously I had just transferred the small part to the new bulb but i decided to place it back into the oven light housing. Got mirror and torch and looked to see how it would fit. It was a bit tricky to put it back in but did it. This part cannot be bought (I looked) so a whole new light housing would need to be bought and fitted (£200.00?) The part is easily missed on the blown bulb and a new bulb will not screw in at all (its too small). Once the small part is fitted back in the housing you will be able to screw in the new bulb (make sure it is 300 heat resistant) E14 40w for my oven specifically. My door comes off so that made the job easier. I did call Neff to see if I would be charged for these problems and I was told it would be £90.00, thats for the bulb cover, as for the small part (if I had lost it) no doubt much more. My oven cost me £1,000, its a double oven. It looks good, not bad for keeping clean and cooks well. But this bulb problem is very annoying. Without light in the oven you cant see how the food is doing. Neff will not admit that there is a problem with changing the light in the oven. To have to use WD40 is not ideal. Someone suggested steam which is a good idea but I dont have a steam machine.

gingergiraffe · 10/01/2020 21:34

A couple of years ago I tried to remove the glass ramekin cover in order to change the bulb. First time I had had to put in a new bulb. I kept turning the cover, not realising that in fact the cover had stuck to the metal washer thing between the cover and oven itself. There was a huge bang and the electric supply cut out. Foolishly I had not initially switched off the main switch!

I then had to call out a repair man. He had to pull out the oven, a built in one, take off the back and discovered I had twisted all the wires. Luckily he was able to put that right and remove the glass cover for me. An expensive and potentially dangerous mistake.

I now ensure I never screw the cover on tightly and regularly clean the oven. Yes, a steamer does make the job easier. I also make sure I keep a couple of spares of the covers as they often crack when I remove to clean. Purchased from Amazon.

I supposedly was the first to submit a review of this Neff oven on the Neff website, but it was never actually printed. Since I outlined the problem with the bulb covers I am not surprised.

Jop7712savey · 11/01/2020 08:15

Hi, just wanted to add to my previous post that my oven is spotless so it isnt burnt on grease that is causing the problem. For others out there it might be, again loosen the gunk (somehow) - but check the steel rim isnt moving when you turn the glass cover. Neff have contacted me to ask for my ENR number on another platform but I am out of warranty. I bought my double oven in 2014 but it is rarely used, once every 2-3 weeks. My main door comes off completely so easier to get to light bulb area. If you have the same problem and have to navigate the door as well I think it will be back breaking. Neff will charge £90.00 plus parts (no doubt) to fix a stuck glass cover. Even if you changed the first bulb out of warranty. Someone else has posted so it does show that these types of problems are very annoying and time wasters. You cant use an oven without a working bulb, in a nutshell.

goingtotown · 16/01/2020 23:28

Warm the oven & use a rubber glove to remove the cover.

CRA2015 · 18/02/2020 11:13

I and a family member have both also had issues removing the bulb cover in order to change the light bulb. Special tool didn’t do the trick ( why is there a requirement for a special took anyway?!) Surely this in itself indicates there’s a problem with the design. Family member has had numerous visits by Neff technician to remove bulb cover and wasn’t charged! Neff are refusing to send a technician out to me because I stated I wouldn’t pay £99 in order to be able to change my oven bulb.
How do they get away with this?
Hopefully they won’t!

CRA2015 · 18/02/2020 11:15

This doesn’t work in most cases! People wouldn’t be complaining if it was that easy to do!

Tess551 · 03/06/2020 07:34

I am having the same problem and there is no special tool for my oven. Neff advise using white vinegar and heating the oven slightly. Have tried this and all of the above. Do not want to pay Someone upwards of £100 to change a lightbulb!

gingergiraffe · 03/06/2020 13:12

If you look on amazon for a new bulb cover, which no doubt you will need at some time, they come with one of those tools to help you remove the cover. Just check before you order.

Tess551 · 03/06/2020 15:22

Thank you....will remember for next time. But we just managed to get the cover off using a mole grip with a rubber glove over the grips!

HunkyDory69 · 23/06/2020 01:24

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Removaldaddy · 07/07/2020 11:14

WD40 and brut force did it for me but I do like the idea of the steam cleaner. its been doing my head in for 2 hours

PinkDaydreams · 08/07/2020 08:21

I tried for days trying to get the baked glass cover off but gave up. Anyway, a year later I got googling and found some advice that was so simple that I thought no it can’t work, but it did.........turn it off at the wall! The glass cover came off really easily and I could change the bulb. Apparently it’s a safety feature. Hope this helps someone :)

Brendarella · 13/08/2020 21:52

Spent hours trying to get our glass cover off, already had tool because although oven is only 6 years old bulb in main oven has been replaced at least once before. Tried cleaning with degreasing agent although cover and area around it wasn't dirty, WD40, warming oven, mole grips, wrench, in fact everything previously suggested except steam cleaner - no joy, tool kept slipping off. As a last resort husband put a rubber band around the glass cover, put the tool over it and twisted using a wrench - bingo! Poor design, light is in a really difficult spot to access.

lidoshuffle · 13/09/2020 14:39

To add my twopenneth worth to the ongoing saga, I tried all the above and have the tool, to no avail.

I did try a little WD40, which may be a coincidence, but I tried twisting the other way and it came off no trouble! The instructions say 'anticlockwise' but it came off after twisting clockwise and screws back anticlockwise (unless I was looking at it upside down or something?).

Left cleft, right tight!