Timothy Murphy wrote:
I have an old Zanussi fridge-freezer (model 19/5),
and the fridge thermostat seems to have developed a problem.
Would I be able to replace this myself?

Yes, assuming you're not a complete dunce when it comes to electrics
(and that the problem is really the thermostat). You can get generic
thermostats designed fit just about everything, except perhaps some of
the latest microprocessor controlled fridges (but yours doesn't sound
like one of those). You may be able to get one in a local repair shop,
but round here they gave me the brush off when I asked, so I got one on
eBay. Just put "fridge thermostat" in the Search box. Some of the
sellers offer a help line.

If the thermostat fails completely while you're waiting, short out its
contacts and run the freezer off a timeswitch with, say, 5 minutes on,
15 minutes off (you'll have to experiment with the aid of a
thermometer).

The thermostat will come with a long tube which you have to thread into
the freezer along the same route as the old one. This can be a bit
tricky, as I found my old one was wrapped around something inside, but
I got it installed in the end.

Chris