Cooktop touch controls stop responding after a spill

Turn the cooking surface off using the normal controls if they respond. If you cannot stop heating normally, follow the emergency shutoff instructions in the manual from a safe location and arrange help. Keep clear of hot liquid and glass; do not begin cleaning while the surface is hot or electrically unsafe.

Once the appliance is off and cool, follow the owner manual for ordinary surface cleaning and drying. Record whether the panel shows a lock symbol, an error or no response at all. A control lock is different from a damaged control, but the unlocking sequence must match the model. Do not press random combinations to enter hidden modes.

Tell the technician what spilled, approximately where it went and which controls became unresponsive. Surface dryness does not prove that nothing reached beneath trim or into the appliance. Do not remove the cooktop, apply a heat gun, pour cleaner into seams or repeatedly restore power after an electrical trip. Persistent erratic controls require assessment before regular use resumes.

Useful observations before you call

• Save the message or lock symbol visible on the panel.
• Identify whether all controls fail or one section remains responsive.
• Mention any continued heating, smell, trip or unusual sound associated with the spill.

Model-specific reference: Thermador owner manuals. Features and procedures vary; follow your appliance manual.