Post by applianceman on Jan 11, 2010 13:57:45 GMT -5
Common Range Problems
OVEN DOESN'T HEAT
Please note that this oven repair section applies to bake and the broil units. First, disconnect power to unit, then look at the element to see if it’s burnt out, if so, replace it. If not pull out your range/oven and remove the back. Once you have the back off, you can see the wire connections. You should inspect for loose or broken wires. If the wires are loose, make necessary repairs. If they aren’t, check the bake unit. To do this, disconnect the wires from the unit. Now take your ohmmeter and check to see if you have continuity between the contacts. If you don’t, the unit is bad and you need to replace it.If you do have continuity, the unit is ok and the problem is elsewhere. If it’s not the unit or the wiring, it’s the controls. Now since every model varies, I can only give you hints. If your oven has an electronic control first check the sensor (I describe how to do this in the next section). If the sensor checks ok replace the control. If your oven has mechanical switches and it has only have one control for bake, broil and temperature replace it. If it’s two, then you have to figure out which one to replace and since every model is wired different, either replace both or call a repairman.
OVEN HEATS SOME BUT NOT ENOUGH
Turn the oven to bake. If only the broil gets hot then follow steps above to check the bake unit. If both get hot but wont reach desired temperature, the problem is most likely in the thermostat. If you do not have a digital clock that controls your oven then replace your thermostat.
If you have an old oven then it may just be out of calibration. To calibrate an oven thermostat first you’ll need a thermometer that you can place inside the oven. Now set the oven to bake at 350 degrees. Wait until the oven is preheated and note the temperature inside the oven. Now take the oven knob off be sure not to rotate the knob when pulling it off. Next look behind the knob there will be an adjustment (provided it is old enough). Adjust the knob so that when you reinstall it, it will be pointed to the actual temperature indicated by the thermometer you placed inside the oven. If done correctly the oven is now calibrated.
If you have an electronic control, your problem is either in the control or the sensor. The sensor is a prong in your oven that tells the control the temperature in the oven. Now to check this first disconnect power to unit. Then get to the back of the range and remove the back cover. You should see two small wires coming from the sensor unplug them. Note that the sensor is a thermistor. This means that it is a variable resistor that varies with temperature. So in before you perform this test be sure the sensor is at room temperature. Now take your ohmmeter and put it between the two wires going to the sensor and it should read around 1000-1100 ohms. If not within range, replace the sensor. If it is in range, replace the control.
OVEN HEATS TOO MUCH
If the oven heats too much, the problem is most likely in the thermostat or the controls. I just covered how to check the thermostat above, so follow those steps to find your problem. It also may be out of calibration, which I describe how to check in the section above.
Won’t Heat at all
IGNITER
If your gas oven is not heating, the igniter is the most likely the cause. This is a simple gas oven repair. To check the igniter, remove the storage drawer and the bottom of the oven (only if you are working on the bake burner). Now turn on the oven and observe, from a distance, the burner that is not heating. In a minute or so the igniter should glow red. If not, unplug power from oven. Then unplug the igniter and using your ohmmeter ,check to see if you have continuity between the two wires going to the igniter. If you don’t have continuity, replace the igniter. If you do have continuity, read the section on gas valve. If you turned on the oven and the igniter did glow red, the igniter still is most likely the problem. You have to have an amp meter to check for sure, but I would not suggest buying an amp meter just to check this because 99% of the time its going to be the igniter. So I suggest just replacing the igniter. For those of you that already have an amp meter, clamp the amp meter on one of the wires going to the igniter then turn on the oven. If your igniter is round, the amp meter should read 2.5 to 3.0. If you have a flat igniter then the amp meter should read 3.4 to 3.6. If the amps are not in this range, the gas valve will not open to release gas to the igniter. To repair this, replace the igniter.
BURNER CLOGGED
This is another simple gas oven repair and it’s one thing you may need to check before you change any parts. The burner has a lot of small holes that connect the flame all the way around the burner. If one of these small holes is stopped up, the burner will not light properly. To repair this, simply use a large needle to clean each hole out. Note that this is not a very common problem but if this does fix your oven, it will save you a lot of money.
GAS VALVE
If your gas oven is not heating, the gas valve may be your problem. If your igniter isn’t bad then the gas valve is the problem. But this is not a simple gas oven repair and it’s best if this is changed by a professional because if the gas valve leaks it can be a major fire hazard and you have to adjust the valve to the kind of gas you are using.
copied from another site
OVEN DOESN'T HEAT
Please note that this oven repair section applies to bake and the broil units. First, disconnect power to unit, then look at the element to see if it’s burnt out, if so, replace it. If not pull out your range/oven and remove the back. Once you have the back off, you can see the wire connections. You should inspect for loose or broken wires. If the wires are loose, make necessary repairs. If they aren’t, check the bake unit. To do this, disconnect the wires from the unit. Now take your ohmmeter and check to see if you have continuity between the contacts. If you don’t, the unit is bad and you need to replace it.If you do have continuity, the unit is ok and the problem is elsewhere. If it’s not the unit or the wiring, it’s the controls. Now since every model varies, I can only give you hints. If your oven has an electronic control first check the sensor (I describe how to do this in the next section). If the sensor checks ok replace the control. If your oven has mechanical switches and it has only have one control for bake, broil and temperature replace it. If it’s two, then you have to figure out which one to replace and since every model is wired different, either replace both or call a repairman.
OVEN HEATS SOME BUT NOT ENOUGH
Turn the oven to bake. If only the broil gets hot then follow steps above to check the bake unit. If both get hot but wont reach desired temperature, the problem is most likely in the thermostat. If you do not have a digital clock that controls your oven then replace your thermostat.
If you have an old oven then it may just be out of calibration. To calibrate an oven thermostat first you’ll need a thermometer that you can place inside the oven. Now set the oven to bake at 350 degrees. Wait until the oven is preheated and note the temperature inside the oven. Now take the oven knob off be sure not to rotate the knob when pulling it off. Next look behind the knob there will be an adjustment (provided it is old enough). Adjust the knob so that when you reinstall it, it will be pointed to the actual temperature indicated by the thermometer you placed inside the oven. If done correctly the oven is now calibrated.
If you have an electronic control, your problem is either in the control or the sensor. The sensor is a prong in your oven that tells the control the temperature in the oven. Now to check this first disconnect power to unit. Then get to the back of the range and remove the back cover. You should see two small wires coming from the sensor unplug them. Note that the sensor is a thermistor. This means that it is a variable resistor that varies with temperature. So in before you perform this test be sure the sensor is at room temperature. Now take your ohmmeter and put it between the two wires going to the sensor and it should read around 1000-1100 ohms. If not within range, replace the sensor. If it is in range, replace the control.
OVEN HEATS TOO MUCH
If the oven heats too much, the problem is most likely in the thermostat or the controls. I just covered how to check the thermostat above, so follow those steps to find your problem. It also may be out of calibration, which I describe how to check in the section above.
Won’t Heat at all
IGNITER
If your gas oven is not heating, the igniter is the most likely the cause. This is a simple gas oven repair. To check the igniter, remove the storage drawer and the bottom of the oven (only if you are working on the bake burner). Now turn on the oven and observe, from a distance, the burner that is not heating. In a minute or so the igniter should glow red. If not, unplug power from oven. Then unplug the igniter and using your ohmmeter ,check to see if you have continuity between the two wires going to the igniter. If you don’t have continuity, replace the igniter. If you do have continuity, read the section on gas valve. If you turned on the oven and the igniter did glow red, the igniter still is most likely the problem. You have to have an amp meter to check for sure, but I would not suggest buying an amp meter just to check this because 99% of the time its going to be the igniter. So I suggest just replacing the igniter. For those of you that already have an amp meter, clamp the amp meter on one of the wires going to the igniter then turn on the oven. If your igniter is round, the amp meter should read 2.5 to 3.0. If you have a flat igniter then the amp meter should read 3.4 to 3.6. If the amps are not in this range, the gas valve will not open to release gas to the igniter. To repair this, replace the igniter.
BURNER CLOGGED
This is another simple gas oven repair and it’s one thing you may need to check before you change any parts. The burner has a lot of small holes that connect the flame all the way around the burner. If one of these small holes is stopped up, the burner will not light properly. To repair this, simply use a large needle to clean each hole out. Note that this is not a very common problem but if this does fix your oven, it will save you a lot of money.
GAS VALVE
If your gas oven is not heating, the gas valve may be your problem. If your igniter isn’t bad then the gas valve is the problem. But this is not a simple gas oven repair and it’s best if this is changed by a professional because if the gas valve leaks it can be a major fire hazard and you have to adjust the valve to the kind of gas you are using.
copied from another site