Troubleshooting Ranges or Ovens with Electronic Oven Controls (EOC)

When an oven with an electronic control fails, it usually signals the failure with an "F" code. These "F" codes are considered by many people to be an indicator as to positively which part in the circuit has failed ("F1" a defective control, "F3" a defective oven probe/sensor, and so on). To the embarrassment of many servicemen who have believed this, they have installed the indicated part only to find it did not correct the problem.

To troubleshoot an oven with an electronic oven control that is not operating:

  1. Make sure electrical power is being supply to the control.

  2. Remove electrical power.

  3. Go to the back of the control and disconnect the multi-pin plug.

  4. Check the wiring diagram to determine which two pins in the plug (not on the EOC) are connected to the oven sensor.

  5. With an Ohmmeter check the resistance between the two pins in the plug that are connected to the of sensor. At room temperature:

    • If the meter reads below 900 Ohms or above 1200 Ohms, remove the sensor from the oven an check it for resistance.

        - If the resistance of the sensor is the same as reading at the plug, the sensor is defective.

        - If the resistance of the sensor reads between 900 & 1200, the wiring between the control and the sensor is defective.

    • If the meter reads between 900 Ohms & 1200 Ohms check the resistance between one of the pins going to the sensor and chassis. If the meter reads infinity go to step 3. If the meter shows continuity, remove the sensor and check from one of its pins to the case of the sensor. If the meter reads continuity, the sensor is defective. If the meter reads infinity, the wiring between the control and the sensor is shorted to chassis of the range.

    • From the wiring diagram, determine which 3 wires if automatic lock or which 2 wires if manual lock, in the plug is from the door lock switch or switches. From the diagram determine which of the switches are open or closed when the door in the unlocked position. With an Ohmmeter check to see if the switch that is shown open is open and the switch that is shown closed is closed by checking the proper pins in the plug.

  6. If the above checks test good and the relay on the board for the selected function is not closing replacing the control may be necessary.

IMPORTANT: If the oven problem is intermittent you must do the above tests when the oven is malfunctioning.

NOTE: On some makes and models a problem in the electronic control's keypad can cause either of those errors. In such a case it is sometimes possible to disconnect the keypad from the control to see if the error returns. If it does, it would usually rule out the keypad as a possibility leaving the electronic control itself as suspect (assuming the sensor and its wiring checkout Ok).