KARCHER SC3 STEAM CLEANER REPAIR

An old friend brought in a KARCHER SC3 steam cleaner which had never been used, and he complained that it was it was unable to produces any steam.
When I first plugged the unit in I could feel that the heater unit was warming up, but still no steam.
It turned out the solenoid operated valve was not allowing water to flow from the water tank to the heater element due to a bad connector on the circuit board. One of my viewers mentioned that the solenoid device I mentioned is actually a solenoid pump, and I think he's probably right since I heard it something making fast clicking noises when I powered it up.

[JuMPeRaBG]

Thanks a lot. I fixed the steam cleaner by hitting it near the location with the loose contacts and it started working! Note: I have it for 3 years and used it less than 20 times. The issue occurred while it was in storage.

[mb]

Thanks a lot. I was just about to throw mine away, when I decided to check the YT, and... voila :).
I disconnected the connector you showed, adjusted the pins with a screwdriver and to my astonishment it is working again :). Mine broke while in storage.

[tal]

Thanks, this saved me hours of work. I had the exact same problem. looks like a manufacturing bug. just tightened this loose connector and it's as good as new.

[PaloTT]

Thanks for video.
In my case there was no steam production because of clogged descaling cartridge. Water is flowing out from the tank only through the cartridge. Device was hot with buzzing noise. Now I know it was coming out from solenoid pump without water. I am going to replace the descaling cartridge.
There is mechanical valve in the tank. Inserting cartridge will open the valve. Without the cartridge tank is closed, so no water is going to the solenoid pump. With removed cartridge you can manual open the valve and test steam production by pressing the pin in middle of the hole using screwdriver or pen.
Also there is floating ?magnetic? water level indicator in the bottom of the tank. One of the blue component on the circuit board under the tank should be related sensor.

[genrai]

Thank you for explaining how this things work, really appreciate you informative videos

[elaineschwartz]

Thanks so much for your video! We just bought a similar unit at the Habitat Restore, brand new. We could not figure out why someone would donate a brand new unit until, guess what, no steam!!
We are going through diagnostics now, and your video helps quite a bit!!

[norcal]

Good find Dave! I love tearing odd things apart to see how they work and to hopefully repair them.

[mosesgaegopolwe]

Your vid helped me with a pressure switch problem, thank you 👊🏽

[MakeDoAndMend]

I have just been watching some of your crazy videos. I thought I was the only one when bored. I have recently created a playlist of my crazy stuff from making vaping fluid to smoky joe etc. Cheers from an ex TV man in the UK. 👍👫🇬🇧

[richardgrogan]

I had the problem no steam motor would kick in, I checked the float which was fine, I put a long metal thin screwdriver in the hole where the filter cartridge goes and checked that, emptied water out and left the unit upside down for a while filled wtank up put cartridge back in turned on immediately heard gurgling noise pump kicked in and 30secs steamer produced steam unit back up and running, I don't know if it was clogged or turning it upside down did the trick

[carr]

I've had 2 Karcher pressure washers fail and a steam cleaner. I've come to the conclusion that their stuff is junk trading on what was a good reputation.

[strwlk]

Wow Dave, great job!!!! Very happy you found the issue and fixed it :-)

[dennisqwertyuiop]

good tip, , nnice to see you work on all things, , as i do

[animaolistica]

Thank you! I had the same problem and you got it right!

[mokekita]

Thank you very much for your video. I have the same probleem Kaerchër brand new from Germany made in China no steam and very bad costumer service hier in Holland.

[anarkikrzysiek]

Thank you very much for this video. 5min fixing time :) I was sure that my SC3 is a rubish. :)

[micmac]

Karcher says it all about the company apart from arrogance. Well done 👌

[mibro]

It got mine going too but it was saved from the trash and was used 😮

[micmac]

Hi.
My unit works but the descaler light will not go off.
Rarely used. I have descaled it but still the same 🤷‍♂️ Float switch was stuck but now ok. Any ideas🤔 Possibly the sensor if all is working. Just need to trace it out 👍

[peterjennings]

Hi Dave, I'm thinking that part is more likely to be a solenoid pump .Good informative video as always