Oven Won’t Heat? Bake/Broil Element Testing, Troubleshooting

Oven won’t heat, won’t bake evenly or won’t turn off or on? This video demonstrates how to test a bake element and/or a broil element on an electric oven. The bake element and the broil element are the most commonly replaced parts for an electric oven that is not working, won't heat or not baking properly.

Other commonly replaced parts for an electric oven that is not working properly are:

Oven main control board
Oven thermostat

Click here to purchase a replacement oven heating element:

Click here to purchase the multimeter used in this part testing video:

How to disassemble your oven:

For more DIY videos including part replacement and help finding your model visit the repair help section of our website:

All of the information provided in this part testing video is applicable to the following brands:
Frigidaire, GE, Jenn Air, Kenmore, KitchenAid, Magic Chef, Maytag, Thermador, Whirlpool

RepairClinic has millions of replacement parts for appliances, lawn equipment, power tools, and heating & cooling equipment including washers, dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators, lawn mowers, snowblowers, furnaces, and air conditioners. Our customer care team is available to help by phone or live chat, seven days a week: 1-800-269-2609. We guarantee the fastest shipping possible—all in-stock parts ship the same business day. Return any part for any reason with our generous 365-day return policy.

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[acsmooth]

Great video!!!! Very helpful but what do you So when the wires go back in the panel. I disconnected the bad heating element but the connecting wires went back in the panel.

[josephebanks]

Really good video. Helped me out testing these heating elements. Thanks.

[JamesGodish]

Hi. Is it ok to test the elements while still in the stove? I can access the ends of the elements from the back of the stove. Thanks for your help.

[repairclinic]

Really it's going to be hard to diagnose what is going on without taking anything out. Use the repair help section of our website, input your model number, pick your symptoms and use that as a guide for what to test first. Let me know if you have any more questions!

[repairclinic]

It would probably be helpful to watch the electric range video that is linked in this video's description. It will give you an understanding of how the range works and will help you troubleshoot your problem.

[repairclinic]

Lily Jameson, If neither the broil or bake elements heat up then the oven control may have been damaged when the broil element shorted out. We would start with replacing the element that you saw fail and retest.

[lilyjameson]

My broiler element sparked, and I even saw flames for a few seconds the other day. It freaked me out. ;) Now when I tried to use it again, neither the light nor the broiler element work. The oven element still seems to be working fine, as well as the stove top. Do you have any idea why this would've happened? Do you think it's safe to just replace it? I'm worried that it could happen again, and that I won't see the flames right away the next time. And what about the light? Thanks!

[toinettemuller]

Thank you for explaining it in such easy way.

[mottledbrain]

1:25 -- That's what I wanted to know. Someone, or some video, (or my imagination??) suggested that elements can be tested from the back of the range without removing them. After checking for faulty wiring at the back I'll move on to removing the elements.
It's rough keeping an old stove going ...
- Reg

[dartca]

My element only shows 16-17 ohms, while the other element and another new one I tried both show 24-25. The problem I'm having is low heating of the bake element; most of the heat seems to be coming from the upper element.
LG convection oven from 2012. This has been an intermittent problem for years, this being the first time I have noticed a low resistance in that element (I have tested it before).

[wayneinfl]

I have an old Kenmore range.  Broil works fine but when I try to bake the lower element won't get hot until I turn the temp knob to around 425 degrees and it stays on.  In other words, it acts like its "broiling".  What would this indicate?  Thanks

[gattamom]

How do you remove the element from the oven? I removed the screws from the plate holding the element to the wall of my GE oven, but when I pull it comes out a bit but is still attached behind some sort of insulation or batting.

[brendastevens]

We had an electric problem and had to replace our electric boxes outside.When our electric flickered one morning the oven and clock quit working on our stove, not sure what it is.This electric kenmore stove is about a year old.Any suggestions?

[ElijahFoster]

Clear and directly to the point. thank you sir

[stevendavid]

Hi my oven stays on till i turn the temp dial. Once turned, it will heat up the element for 5 mins n trip the whole hse. I have tested for both top n bottom elements n it happens for both elements. So is it the dial? I have checked for continuity for the elemtnts n there is reading for both elements. Pls advice its a brandt oven.

[pablogomez]

I have a dbl oven. the bottom works well but the top doesn't. I set to the temp and it doesn't glow even on broil the top element doesn't turn on. if one is bad will the other turn on or no???

[repairclinic]

If the wire connectors burnt off your old element than you can replace them with our item #240984.

[happycarrot]

One of the wire terminals burned off the light bulb wire (someone didn't turn off the breaker after i told them to!) I have a 16 gauge terminal, but it looks like the light wire actually has a 22 gauge. The terminal fits but the wire doesn't look as snug. Also the terminals look like a different color, not sure if the old terminal color due to oxidation. Does the new terminal have to be a special type, or are any terminals okay?

[rickeykeeton]

Can a faulty broil element cause the bake element not to heat?
Bake element shows continuity. Oven quit after a loud pop.
Asking for someone else. Told him to check broiler also.

[bowdown]

Kenmore Electric Dual Oven/Broiler. ( Small Broiler works, Small oven element does not) + Big Oven AND Bib Broiler don't work. Is this a control panel issue in back of stove? Separate switches for each? Agree still need to remove elements and test for continuity.