Changing the direction of opening the refrigerator door is often a necessary procedure when remodeling a kitchen or purchasing new appliances that should fit into a niche with a non-standard configuration. For owners of modern equipment Hotpoint Aristonequipped with electronic controls and a display, this process seems more complicated than in older models due to the presence of wired connections. However, with a minimum set of tools and being careful, you can complete the task yourself in 30-40 minutes.
The main difficulty you will encounter is carefully working with the display cable that passes through the top loop. Careless handling of contacts can lead to failure of the control panel or lack of temperature display. In this article, we will analyze in detail each stage of dismantling and installing hinges, paying special attention to the nuances of connecting electronics in models with the system. It is important to understand that the design of the hinges may vary slightly depending on the specific series of the refrigerator, be it a line No Frost.
Before starting work, it is necessary to clear the space around the unit and prepare a flat surface for storing removed parts. It is important to understand that the design of the hinges may vary slightly depending on the specific series of the refrigerator, be it a line Ariston MBA or more modern series Hotpoint. Therefore, visual inspection of connections before disconnecting them is a prerequisite for successful repair.
⚠️ Attention: Before starting any work on re-hanging the door, be sure to disconnect the refrigerator from the electrical network. Working with live electrical wiring is strictly prohibited and can lead to electric shock or short circuit.
Necessary tools and preparation of the workplace
To perform re-hanging efficiently, you will need a standard home craftsman's kit, supplemented by several specific items. First of all, take care to protect the floor covering, since the refrigerator will have to tilt or remove heavy doors from it. Using thick cardboard or an old blanket will prevent scratches on the floor and the equipment itself.
The basic set of tools includes open-end wrenches or sockets measuring 8 mm and 10 mm, which are most often used in fasteners Hotpoint Ariston. You will also need a flathead and Phillips screwdriver to work with the plastic plugs and control panel screws. It will not be superfluous to have the help of a second person who will hold the heavy door while unscrewing the hinges in order to avoid injuries and damage to the body.
Pay special attention to the organization of the workspace. It is better to put all removed screws and small parts in a magnetic tray or labeled containers so as not to confuse the fastenings of the upper and lower hinges. Some models may require the use of hexagons, so check the packaging of your device or have a universal set of keys on hand.
- 🛠️ Open-end wrenches or 8 mm and 10 mm sockets for hinge bolts.
- 🪛 Set of screwdrivers (flat and Phillips) for removing plastic.
- 🧤 Work gloves to protect your hands from sharp metal edges.
- 📦 A container for sorting fasteners of different sizes.
Removing the top panel and accessing the electronics
The process begins with removing the top cover of the refrigerator, which often hides the fastenings of the top loops and fits into the display connector. In most models Hotpoint Ariston the cover is fixed with screws located on the front or sides, which can be closed with decorative plugs. Carefully pry up the plastic with a screwdriver, being careful not to damage the fastening tabs, and unscrew the visible screws.
After removing the cover, you will have access to the top hinge and the wiring harness going to the display. Here lies key point the whole operation: you need to disconnect the wiring connector. Depending on the modification, this may be a wide cable or several separate connectors. Act slowly, fixing the position of the chips so that when assembling on the new side there will be no problems with the length of the wires.
Nuances of Hotpoint connectors
In some models, the connectors have latches that need to be pressed with a finger or a thin screwdriver. Do not pull the wires by force - this may lead to breakage of the contacts inside the insulation. If the connector does not fit, check for the presence of a locking mechanism.
Having disconnected the electrics, you can begin dismantling the loop itself. The mounting bolts are usually located on the top and sometimes on the side. After unscrewing them, the hinge is removed along with the axis on which the door rests. The upper part of the door is now free and can be carefully tilted for further disconnection.
⚠️ Attention: The design of connectors in Hotpoint Ariston refrigerators may vary depending on the year of manufacture. If you cannot find the type of connection described in the manual, carefully inspect the area under the top cover - the engineers may have changed the cable route.
Removing the door and rearranging the handles
When the top hinge is released, the door is held in place only by the bottom hinge. To remove the door, you need to carefully lift it up, moving the axis out of the bottom hole. This action is best performed by two people, since the door with a magnetic seal and glass shelves has significant weight. Place the removed door on a prepared soft surface with the outer side up.
The next step is to rearrange the handle. On many models Hotpoint the handles are symmetrical or have hidden fastenings on the reverse side. You will need to remove the caps from the holes where the handle will be moved and tighten the screws on the new side. The old holes on the front of the door are closed with the complete plastic plugs that come with the refrigerator.
In parallel with the refrigerator door, you must also turn over the freezer door if the model is two-chamber. The procedure is similar: removal from the bottom hinge, rearrangement of the handle and plugs. It is important not to confuse the upper and lower doors, as they may differ in size and weight, which will affect the operation of the hinges.
☑️ Control of door removal
Features of working with display wiring
The most delicate part of working with refrigerators equipped with a display is laying the cable to a new one side. In the factory version, the wire is often laid in special channels or secured with clips. When rehanging, you will have to release the wire and lay it along a new path corresponding to the new opening side.
Sometimes the length of the standard wiring harness is limited, and when moving to the other side, careful laying may be required to avoid tension. Wire tension is unacceptable, since when the door is opened, the contact may be broken and the display will go out. Make sure that the wire lies freely, is not pinched by the plastic elements of the case and does not come into contact with the moving parts of the loop.
In some cases, it may be necessary to rearrange the display module itself or resolder it if the design does not provide for a symmetrical connection. However, in most modern models Ariston it is enough to simply switch the connector to the mating part provided on the other side of the top panel.
| Element | Action | Risk of error |
|---|---|---|
| Display connector | Disconnect, remember the position | Breakage of contacts when jerking |
| Cable channel | Release and re-lay | Pinched wire in a loop |
| Upper cover | Remove, turn over or rearrange | Breakage of plastic latches |
| Hinge | Move to the other side | Insufficient tightening of bolts |
Installation of the bottom hinge and installation of doors
After preparing the doors and moving the handles, it is necessary to dismantle the bottom hinge. It is usually attached with two or three bolts to the refrigerator body. After removing the hinge, move it to the opposite side using the holes provided by the factory. It is advisable to treat threaded connections with a thread locker to prevent spontaneous unscrewing due to vibration of the compressor.
Installation of doors begins with the installation of the bottom door (freezer compartment, if it is at the bottom). Insert the hinge pin into the corresponding hole on the door and lower it into place. Once you are sure that the door is sitting level, you can begin installing the top door. Here it is important to align the holes for the top hinge and carefully thread the display connector through the technological hole.
The final stage of installation is fixing the top hinge and connecting the electrical. Insert the plug into the connector until you hear a characteristic click, place the wire in the channel and screw the loop into place. Do not tighten the bolts completely before checking the operation of the doors - they should close tightly, without distortion.
Adjusting gaps and checking tightness
After assembly, it is necessary to carefully adjust the position of the doors. A properly installed door should close tightly around its entire perimeter, ensuring the chamber is sealed. If you notice a skew or loose fit of the seal in one of the corners, you will need to adjust the height of the hinges or the tilt of the door.
In models Hotpoint Ariston adjustment is often carried out using screws on the hinge itself or by changing the position of the refrigerator's support legs. If the door is skewed to the side, you can loosen the top hinge and move it in the desired direction. It is convenient to check the tightness using a sheet of paper: clamp it between the door and the body - it should be pulled out with force along the entire perimeter.
Do not forget to check the operation of the display after turning on the refrigerator. The indication should light up immediately, and when the door is opened, a signal should sound (if provided by the model). The lack of display response indicates poor contact in the connector, which was disconnected at the beginning of work.
⚠️ Attention: Complete restoration of the temperature regime and stable operation of the compressor may take several hours. Do not load the refrigerator with food immediately after re-hanging, let it go into operating cycle.
Frequent errors and troubleshooting
One of the common mistakes is insufficient tightening of fasteners, which over time leads to sagging of the door and poor sealing. Also, users often forget to remove the shipping locks or packing tape from the internal mechanisms, which blocks normal opening. Carefully inspect all components before final assembly.
If the door does not close tightly after installation, check to see if there is anything obstructing the seal, such as the edge of a shelf or food packaging. The reason may also be the incorrect level of the refrigerator: if it is tilted back, the door will open on its own, if forward, it will not close completely with a magnet.
If the display does not work, double-check the cable connection. Sometimes you may need to remove the connector completely and reinsert it, making sure the connector key is oriented correctly. If the problem persists, the wire may have been damaged during dismantling and the harness will need to be replaced.
Questions and answers (FAQ)
Do I need to defrost the refrigerator before rehanging it? doors?
Yes, this is highly recommended. Defrosting will make it easy to remove all shelves and drawers that may fall out when tilting or removing the door, and will also reduce the weight of the unit and the risk of water leakage when changing position.
What to do if there is not enough wire length for the display?
In the standard configuration, the length of the wire is usually designed to be overweight. If the wire is missing, check that you have laid it correctly in the channels. As a last resort, you can carefully remove the insulation from the section of the harness and straighten it, but extending the wire yourself without soldering skills is not recommended.
Is it possible to hang the door by one person?
Technically possible, but extremely undesirable due to the large weight of the doors and the risk of dropping them on the floor or feet. The door of the Hotpoint Ariston refrigerator weighs a significant number of kilograms, and holding it with one hand while unscrewing the hinges is very difficult.
Why does the door not close completely after rehanging?
Most likely, the angle of the refrigerator is broken. To close properly, the door must have a slight roll back. Adjust the front support legs by unscrewing them to lift the front part of the refrigerator.