So, you’ve determined that your oven sensor is bad. You did this by getting an error code on the ERC and then looking up the code with a little help from your Master Appliantologist friends at the Samurai Appliance Repair Forums. As a dutiful Apprentice Appliantologist, your next step is to test the sensor resistance using this pearl of appliantological wisdom as your Spirit Guide. You know how to measure resistance with an ohm meter because you’ve read this basic primer on making simple electrical measurements. But now a new problem confronts you: which wires do you put your meter probes on to measure the resistance?
Ahh, grasshoppah, unfurl that brow and unbunch those panties while you swill your flavorite fermented beverage. Then let the Samurai take your trembling hand and gently guide you to Appliance Nirvana®.
First, open the door to your oven and peer intently at the upper left hand and right hand corners of the oven cavity. There, nestled discreetly and out of the main view, ye shall find something looking like unto this picture (click it for a larger view). Behold the sensor! In this picture, it’s shown dangling from its wires because I already removed the two mounting screws. Normally, it’s pointing strait out toward the door. Notice the color and diameter of the two wires attached to the sensor. Notice also how they run back behind the oven cavity. On some models (most Maytags, for example), you can ever-so-gently coax the wires through the hole and a quick release connector will come through, allowing you easy access to the ends of the wires from which you can make your resistance reading and even replace the entire sensor without having to pull the range out from the wall.
On other models, whose engineers were not as thoughtful (notably GE), you’ll need to pull the entire range out from the wall, presenting a significant scratching hazard to your floor and eliciting one or more adult words from your lips. After removing the back panel you’ll see where the sensor wires connect to another pair of larger wires that run up to the ERC in the control panel. The connection will either be a quick connect harness or wires nuts, like the ceramic ones shown here. Either way, simply undo the connection and then you have the free ends of the sensor wires on which to make your resistance measurements (and to replace the sensor).
If you need to buy a new sensor for your oven or range, come git you one ratcheer.
To learn more about your range/stove/oven, or to order parts, click here.
