How to Install Bosch Refrigerator Freezer Door Gasket 00243391 in a Bosch Refrigerator
Quick answer: Warm the new gasket 00243391 in warm water to relax its folds. Open the freezer door, pull the old gasket out of the channel behind the inner panel starting at a top corner, press the new gasket in corner by corner without stretching, then close the door and check it grips a paper strip all around.
The freezer door gasket 00243391 is the magnetic rubber seal that runs around the freezer door of a Bosch side-by-side refrigerator. It presses against the cabinet face to keep warm, moist kitchen air out of the freezer compartment. When the gasket tears, hardens or pulls loose at a corner, you get frost on the inner door, ice building up on the back wall, food that dries out and a compressor that runs almost continuously.
Our fitment data lists this gasket for 11 refrigerator models. The repair needs no tools beyond your hands and a hair dryer, and the door stays on the refrigerator. The manufacturer recommends soaking the gasket in warm water or warming it with a hair dryer on low so the folds from shipping relax and it lies flat in the channel. Plan the job for a time when the freezer is not full, and keep the door open only as long as needed.
See part details and every compatible model: 00243391
- Move frost-sensitive food to a cooler; the freezer door will be open for a while.
- Use the hair dryer on low heat and keep it moving; high heat deforms the gasket and can craze the door liner.
- Do not use metal tools in the channel, which is molded into the plastic liner and cracks easily.
- Unplug the refrigerator if you prefer, though it is not required for this repair since no wiring is involved.
Tools and Parts You Need
- Hair dryer
- Basin or tub of warm water
- Clean towels
- Mild dish soap
- Flat plastic spatula
- Sheet of paper for the seal test
Step-by-Step Installation
- Prepare the new gasket Soak the gasket 00243391 in warm water for several minutes or warm it with the hair dryer on low so the packing folds disappear. Lay it out flat on a towel.
- Inspect the old gasket Open the freezer door and look at how the gasket lip tucks into the channel behind the inner panel edge. Note whether the corners are molded or joined.
- Remove the old gasket Starting at a top corner, grip the gasket and pull its lip out of the channel, working around the door. It comes out without screws on this design.
- Clean the channel Wash the channel and the door edge with warm soapy water, then dry. Old residue and mold keep the new lip from seating.
- Fit the corners first Push the new gasket lip into the channel at all four corners so the seal is positioned squarely on the door.
- Work the sides in Press the lip into the channel along each side with your thumbs or the plastic spatula, moving from corner to corner and keeping the gasket relaxed rather than stretched.
- Smooth and warm Close the door and run the hair dryer on low over any wavy section, then hold the door shut for a minute so the magnet pulls the seal flat.
- Test the seal Close the door on a strip of paper at several points around the frame. It should hold with light drag everywhere; adjust any loose spot by reseating the lip.
- Let it settle Keep the door closed for several hours, then recheck. The gasket relaxes further as it cools.
Fit Checks Before You Call the Job Done
- The gasket lies flat against the cabinet with no gaps or waves at any point.
- A paper strip is gripped at every position around the door.
- The corners are square and the lip is fully in the channel around the whole door.
- The door closes on its own from a small opening angle.
- No frost forms on the door edge after a day of normal use.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Installing the gasket cold A cold gasket keeps its shipping folds and never seals. Warm it first.
Stretching while fitting A stretched gasket ends up short at the last corner. Press it in relaxed, corner by corner.
Using a screwdriver in the channel The channel is soft plastic. A metal tool splits it and the gasket will never hold.
Leaving residue in the channel Dirt under the lip lets the gasket creep out over time. Clean and dry the channel before fitting.
Troubleshooting After Installation
Gap at one corner Pull the lip out for a few inches on each side of the corner, warm it and reseat it square.
Door does not pull closed Check the refrigerator is level and tilted slightly back so the doors swing shut, and confirm the gasket magnet is contacting the cabinet.
Frost still forms on the inner door Repeat the paper test; if the seal is good, check that the door is not being held open by a bin or an ice bucket.
Gasket pops out of the channel The lip is not fully in. Press it deeper with the plastic spatula and warm it so it relaxes into place.
Care Tips After the Repair
- Wipe the gasket with mild soapy water every month and dry it.
- Apply a thin film of food-safe silicone or petroleum jelly to the hinge side yearly to prevent sticking.
- Do not let bags or boxes stick out and lean on the seal.
- Check the paper test every few months.
Compatible Models (Sample)
This part is listed for 11 Bosch models in our fitment data. Always confirm your exact model number on the appliance's rating plate.
Replaces or is replaced by: 00644845, 00671179, 00672972, 00740570, 11034152
Repair Difficulty and Time
Difficulty: Easy. Typical time: 30 to 60 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to remove the freezer door?
No. The gasket lip pulls out of and pushes into the channel with the door in place.
How long should I wait before judging the seal?
Give it several hours with the door closed. The gasket keeps relaxing as it cools and usually looks better the next day.
Can I fix a torn spot instead of replacing?
A small tear can be patched with silicone for a while, but a hardened or shrunken gasket needs replacing to stop frost.
Is this the fresh food door gasket too?
No. Part 00243391 is the freezer side seal. The fresh food door uses a different gasket.
Final Checklist
- New gasket warmed until flat
- Food moved from the freezer door area
- Old gasket pulled from the channel
- Channel cleaned and dried
- New gasket 00243391 seated at all four corners first
- Sides pressed in without stretching
- Paper test passed all around
- Door kept closed for several hours and rechecked