Electric Frigidaire range bake element won’t heat: A troubleshooting guide

Baked potatoes not baking? Cake not rising? If the bake element in your electric Frigidaire oven isn’t heating, you can work your way through a few DIY troubleshooting steps to fix it. This could be caused by a couple of different things including the bake element itself, the control for that element, a wiring issue or incorrect voltage.

Let’s tackle this issue together so you can enjoy perfectly baked dishes again in no time.

If you need a replacement bake element for your Frigidaire range, just enter your model number at AppliancePartsPros.com or visit this page. Most orders arrive in just two business days, and we have thousands of guides to show you how to install your new parts.

Disclaimer: The troubleshooting information provided in this article is based on general service manuals and may not apply to your specific appliance model. While we strive to offer helpful advice for DIY appliance repairs, variations in models and configurations can lead to differences in troubleshooting steps, error codes and part replacements. For the most accurate guidance, we strongly recommend consulting the technical sheet for your specific appliance model.

What you need

• Multimeter
• 1/4-inch nut driver

Safety precautions

When working on any appliance, remember to keep safety first. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

• Always power off and unplug your range or switch off the circuit breaker before you attempt any maintenance or replacement work. This keeps you safe by preventing any risk of electric shock.
• If the range has recently been used, give it plenty of time to cool down before working on it.
• Take your time while working to prevent accidents and personal injuries. Rushing is the enemy of precision.
• Work in a well-lit area so you can clearly see and access range parts.
• Keep your workspace free of clutter and other obstacles. Keep children and pets away from the work area.
• Never work on internal parts with wet hands. Make sure the work area is completely dry.
• Check the user manual to see if there are specific installation or safety instructions related to your range or replacement part.
• Be gentle when handling or removing parts. Excessive force might damage the range or cause personal injury.
• Wear insulated work gloves to protect your hands from sharp metal parts and debris.
• When working with wires, avoid touching any exposed wires or terminals. If you need to touch a wire, use a non-conductive tool or wear insulating gloves to prevent electrical shock.
• Don’t test live voltage with a multimeter if you’re unfamiliar with how to prevent short-circuiting.
• Consider wearing safety glasses and/or a dust mask when working with chemicals, dust or a large amount of debris to prevent irritation or injury.

Troubleshooting steps

Step 1 – Access the parts

To check the voltage supply for 240 Volts AC on the back of the control in the console:

1. Remove all the 1/4-inch screws in the upper rear panel.
2. Set the panel off to the side.

Step 2 – Test for voltage

LIVE POWER WARNING: For this test, the range needs to be connected to power. Please take extreme care here to protect yourself from electric shock, which has the potential to cause serious injuries. Don’t ever test live voltage if you’re uncomfortable using a multimeter.

1. Plug the range in and turn it on.
2. Set the multimeter to the Volts AC setting.
3. Place one meter lead on L1 on the board and the other on L2 in. The L1 wire is black and the L2 in is red.
4. Check the meter reading. It should read 240 Volts AC.
5. Leave one probe on the L1 and move the other to the J1 pin 4 white wire. Your meter should read 120 Volts AC at this point.
6. Leave the meter probe in the white wire and move the other probe to the L2 in the terminal. You should also get a reading of 120 Volts AC here.

If the voltage readings were good on the meter, that means your power source is good and you can move on to the next step to continue testing.

If the voltage readings on L1 to L2 were 0 or 120 Volts AC, then that means there’s a problem with the breaker, outlet, or power cord.

Step 3 – Test the element

If you got good voltage earlier, you can do two tests at the element. First we’ll check the voltage supply from the control board to the bake element. Then we’ll check the resistance of the element.

1. Make sure the range is unplugged from the power source.
2. Gain access to the element by removing the rest of the screws on the back panel and setting the lower back panel off to the side.
3. If the cord has to be removed to get the back panel off, make sure you unplug it before removing it from the terminal block. You’ll need to reconnect the cord to the terminal block for this test. Make sure the cord is plugged in.
4. Set the multimeter to the Volts AC setting.
5. Remove one wire from the bake element.
6. Put one of the meter probes in the wire and position it where it won’t touch any metal surfaces.
7. Put the other meter probe on the bake element on the side where the wire is still attached.
8. Plug the range back in and select a bake cycle on the control panel.
9. Keep the multimeter on the Volts AC setting. You should get a reading of 240 Volts AC at this point.
10. Unplug the unit.
11.  Set the multimeter to resistance, which looks like an upside-down horseshoe.
12. Leave the one wire disconnected and the unit unplugged, and place each meter probe on the bake element terminals.
13. Check the meter reading, which should be around 22 ohms for the element. If the reading shows an OL (open line/circuit) or unacceptable resistance (check your user manual for the specifications), you’ll need to replace it.

More information

Thank you for reading! We hope this guide helped you get your Frigidaire range working again.

If you have any other appliance repair needs or projects, don’t hesitate to explore our other troubleshooting guides and videos.

If you need replacement parts or some extra help with ordering them, grab your model number and head over to AppliancePartsPros.com, where you can chat with a pro, read our DIY blog and more. We can also help you troubleshoot common range problems here.

Be sure to subscribe to us on YouTube and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!