How to replace the bake element in your Kenmore electric wall oven
- Electric ovens typically have 2 house fuses or a double breaker, one for each 120-volt leg of the 240-volt power. To prevent electrical shock and damage to the control board, remove both fuses or shut off both breakers (if a clip connects the double breakers, shutting off one should shut off both).
- Remove the oven racks. If the bake element is hidden under a bottom panel, remove the thumb screws that hold the panel in place. If a screw is stuck, use a slot screwdriver to free it. Lift the back of the panel slightly and push back to release the bottom oven panel from the retaining lip. Push down on a front corner of the bottom panel so it tips enough that you can grasp it. Work the bottom oven panel up and out of the oven.
- To detach the bake element, use a 1/4-inch nut driver to remove 2 screws in the bottom base of the oven and 2 screws at the very back of the oven. Carefully pull the bake element forward until you can reach the wires attached to the back of it. Use needle-nose pliers to disconnect the wires, taking care not to let the wires slip through the holes at the back of the oven. If the wires slip through the holes, you must pull the oven out of the cabinet to retrieve them. Remove the element from the oven and set it aside for disposal.
- Connect the wires to the back of the new bake element. Push the female spade connectors onto the spades on the new bake element. Push the female spade connectors until they are seated properly and fully connected. Carefully push the leads of the bake element into the holes at the back of the oven. Position the mounting brackets so the screw holes line up. Insert and firmly tighten the mounting screws. Reinstall the bottom panel if necessary and slide the oven racks back into the oven cavity.
- Reset the house circuit breakers for the oven to restore electrical power.
Troubleshooting your Kenmore electric wall oven when its oven door won't unlock
If the door won't open when the oven cools down after self-cleaning, or when you try to disable child lock mode or control lock mode, the problem could be with the oven door lock assembly or the electronic control board. First, shut off power to the oven for 2 minutes and then restore power to reboot the control board. Try disabling the control lock or set and then cancel a self-clean cycle to unlock the oven.
If the oven door won't unlock, shut off power and then check the wiring between the electronic control board and the oven door lock assembly. If the wiring is okay, replace the oven door lock assembly. If that doesn't fix the problem, you might need to replace the electronic control board as well.