April 19, 2023

Range: Why is my range's oven temperature wrong?

If the oven isn't heating to the baking temperature you set — it's too hot or not hot enough — the oven temperature sensor could be malfunctioning. Or the problem could be with the electronic oven control board, which controls oven functions.

You can test the oven temperature sensor probe by unplugging the range and measuring sensor probe resistance using a multimeter. It should measure about 1,080 ohms of resistance through most probes at room temperature.

Refer to the tech sheet for the probe's resistance specification for your range. You can likely find the tech sheet in the control console or taped to the back of the range. Replace the oven temperature sensor probe if the multimeter doesn't measure the correct resistance through the probe. If the probe is okay, you might need to replace the electronic oven control board.

Here are other likely causes:

  • If your oven uses a control thermostat instead of an electronic control board to control oven temperature, the oven control thermostat may have failed.

  • In a gas range, a weak oven igniter may intermittently fail to ignite the oven burner, preventing the oven from reaching the set temperature.

  • If food isn't browning, the broiler element or burner might be at fault; many ovens activate broiling briefly to brown the top of baked dishes.

  • The oven won't bake properly if the oven door doesn't shut fully. A problem with the door hinges can prevent the oven door from shutting properly. Adjust the oven door hinges or replace them if damaged.

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THESE REPAIRS MAY HELP SOLVE YOUR RANGE PROBLEM

JC-RA-Replace-the-range-oven-temperature-sensor-probe

Replace the range oven temperature sensor probe

The oven temperature sensor probe detects the actual temperature in the oven cavity. Replace it if it's not detecting the temperature properly, in which case the oven doesn't maintain the temperature you set. A complete failure, in which the sensor probe doesn't detect any temperature at all, usually triggers an error code on the electronic oven control board.

Range oven temperature sensor probe

Find the required part specific to your product.

RG-RA-WOVN-how-to-replace-an-oven-temperature-sensor-on-a-gas-range-intro
June 01, 2015

How to replace an oven temperature sensor on a gas range

If your oven's temperature isn't hot enough, or if it's too hot, the gas oven sensor could be at fault. Use our DIY repair guide and video to replace the gas oven temperature sensor.

Repair difficulty
Time required
 15 minutes or less

RG-RA-Replace-Range-Temperature-Sensor-Intro-Image
June 20, 2015

How to replace an oven temperature sensor on an electric range

When an oven's temperature is too hot or isn't hot enough, the problem could be the temperature sensor. This DIY repair guide and video show how to replace the oven temperature sensor in 6 easy steps.

Repair difficulty
Time required
 15 minutes or less
JC-RA-Replace-the-range-bake-or-broil-element

Replace the range bake or broil element

In an electric oven, the bake element at the bottom of the oven and the broil element at the top of the oven provide the heat for baking and broiling. Replace them if they're broken or if the oven isn't heating properly.

Range bake or broil element

Find the required part specific to your product.

RG-RA-Replace-Range-Electric-Oven-Broil-Element-Intro-Image
June 20, 2015

How to replace the oven broil element on an electric range

Is your oven broil element on your stove not heating? This DIY repair guide shows how to replace a faulty oven broil element on a range in 4 quick steps.

Repair difficulty
Time required
 15 minutes or less

RG-RA-Replace-Range-Bake-Element-Intro-Image
June 20, 2015

How to replace a range hidden bake element

An oven bake element not heating could mean there's a break in the element, even if you see no damage. This DIY repair guide and video show how to replace the hidden bake element on a range in 30 minutes or less.

Repair difficulty
Time required
 30 minutes or less
JC-RA-Replace-the-range-oven-igniter

Replace the range oven igniter

Most gas ovens have a glow-bar oven igniter and a safety gas valve. Those components are connected in a series-type electrical circuit. When the glow-bar oven igniter is hot enough to safely ignite the gas, the safety gas valve opens. Replace the oven igniter if doesn't glow, or if it glows but doesn't get hot enough to open the gas valve. Some ovens have a separate igniter for the bake burner and the broiler burner, which operate on the same principle.

Range oven igniter

Find the required part specific to your product.

RG-RA-Replace-Range-Oven-Igniter-Intro-Image
June 20, 2015

How to replace a gas range oven igniter

If the oven burner isn't lighting on your range, the igniter might not be getting hot enough to open the gas valve and light the gas. Our DIY repair guide and video give step-by-step instructions for replacing the stove's igniter.

Repair difficulty
Time required
 45 minutes or less
JC-RA-Replace-the-range-electronic-oven-control-board

Replace the range electronic oven control board

The electronic oven control (EOC) board governs the timing and execution of oven functions such as baking and broiling. It's usually in the control console and often has a digital clock on the front of its housing. Replace the electronic control board if it doesn't light up when it's supplied with electrical power, if it doesn't operate properly or doesn't properly send voltage to the bake or broil element (in an electric oven) or burner (in a gas oven).

Range electronic oven control board

Find the required part specific to your product.

RG-RA-Replace-Range-Oven-Control-Board-Intro-Image
February 01, 2015

How to replace a gas range oven control board

If the control panel on a gas range is blank or the oven won't heat, it could be a faulty oven control board. This repair guide and video show how to replace the range oven control board in 30 minutes or less.

Repair difficulty
Time required
 15 minutes or less

RG-RA-Replace-Range-Oven-Control-Board-Intro-Image
February 20, 2015

How to replace an electric range oven control board

If the range control panel is blank, the oven control board could be the problem—the oven might not heat either. This DIY repair guide and video show how to replace the range oven control board easily, in 30 minutes or less.

Repair difficulty
Time required
 15 minutes or less
JC-RA-Replace-the-range-oven-control-thermostat

Replace the range oven control thermostat

The oven thermostat is a temperature-controlled switch that controls heating inside the oven. Replace the thermostat if it doesn't maintain the oven temperature incorrectly, if it fails to turn on to the oven burner to heat the oven, or if it fails to turn off the burner when the oven is at the set temperature.

Range oven control thermostat

Find the required part specific to your product.

JC-RA-Replace-the-range-oven-door-hinge

Replace the range oven door hinge

Replace the oven door hinges if the oven door won't close properly or won't stay closed because a hinge is damaged or bent. Replace both hinges even if just one is damaged, to ensure even tension on both sides of the door.

Range oven door hinge

Find the required part specific to your product.

RG-RA-gas-range-oven-door-hinge-intro
June 01, 2015

How to replace oven door hinges on a gas range

If your gas range oven door won't close or if it won't stay closed, the oven door hinges are most likely at fault. We show you how to replace the oven door hinges yourself.

Repair difficulty
Time required
 15 minutes or less

RG-RA-Replace-Range-Door-Hinges-Intro-Image
June 01, 2015

How to replace oven door hinges on an electric range

If a range oven door won't close or if it won't stay closed, the oven door hinges are most likely at fault. This DIY repair guide and video give step-by-step instructions for replacing the oven door hinges on an electric range, and in 30 minutes or less.

Repair difficulty
Time required
 15 minutes or less

Most common symptoms to help you fix your ranges

Choose a symptom to see related range repairs.

Main causes: broken oven door lock assembly, wiring failure, electronic control board problem…

Main causes: bad bake element, broken burner igniter, control system failure, blown thermal fuse, faulty temperature sen…

Main causes: food splatters, spilling food on the oven door, allowing liquid to drip through oven door vent when cleanin…

Main causes: faulty temperature sensor, electronic control board problem, control thermostat failure, weak burner ignite…

Main causes: broken broiler element, weak or broken broil burner igniter, control system failure, faulty temperature sen…

Main causes: power supply problem, control thermostat or electronic control board failure, broken element, bad burner ig…

Main causes: power supply failure, blown thermal fuse, bad relay control board, damaged terminal block, wiring failure…

Most common repair guides to help fix your ranges

These step-by-step repair guides will help you safely fix what’s broken on your range.

How to replace a range oven door switch

How to replace a range oven door switch

The oven door switch detects whether the oven door is closed and helps control the oven light. Replace the switch if it …

Repair difficulty
Time required
 30 minutes or less
How to replace a range oven door lock assembly

How to replace a range oven door lock assembly

Oven door not locking? You can replace the lock assembly in less than 30 minutes. Here's how.…

Repair difficulty
Time required
 15 minutes or less

Effective articles & videos to help repair your ranges

Use the advice and tips in these articles and videos to get the most out of your range.

How to clean and maintain your stove

How to clean and maintain your stove

Learn how to clean and maintain your stove to keep it in top shape.…

Oven door won't open: troubleshooting door lock problems on a range video

Oven door won't open: troubleshooting door lock problems on a range video

Troubleshoot and repair problems with your range when your oven door locks shut and you can't get it open.…

How to use a multimeter to test electrical parts video

How to use a multimeter to test electrical parts video

Learn how to use a multimeter to check for wiring problems in an appliance that's not working…