Troubleshooting a Whirlpool electric range oven that will not heat

Experiencing a Whirlpool electric range oven that refuses to heat up can be a frustrating problem for any home cook. Fortunately, there are some common troubleshooting steps you can take to diagnose and fix an electric oven that won’t heat properly.

If you find out that you need any replacement parts for your appliance while you’re troubleshooting, you can enter your model number at AppliancePartsPros.com to order them. Most orders arrive in just two business days, and we have thousands of free guides to show you how to install your new parts.

The part replacement information provided in this article 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.

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 appliance or switch off the circuit breaker before attempting any maintenance or replacement work. This keeps you safe by preventing any risk of injury from electric shock.
• Wear insulated work gloves to protect your hands from sharp metal parts, pinching hazards and debris.
• Take your time and don’t rush while working to prevent accidents and personal injuries.
• Work in a well-lit area so you can clearly see and access the interior parts.
• Clear your workspace of clutter and other obstacles. Keep children and pets away from the work area.
• Never work on internal parts with bare wet hands. Make sure the work area is completely dry.
• Check your user manual to see if there are specific installation or safety instructions for your part or appliance. 
• Be gentle when handling or removing parts. Excessive force might damage the appliance or cause injury.
• Wear safety glasses when working with chemicals, dust or cleaning large debris to prevent injury. 
• If the appliance has recently been used, give it plenty of time for any heating parts to cool down before working on it. 
• Take pictures or make a note of wiring terminals or other connections before disconnecting to prevent any problems with reassembly.
• 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.

Tools and materials needed

• Multimeter
• Phillips head screwdriver

The specific tools required may vary depending on the model of your appliance and the type of fasteners used on it. Always consult the user manual or refer to any specific instructions provided by the manufacturer for the recommended tools for your appliance model.

Troubleshooting steps

LIVE VOLTAGE WARNING: For this test, the appliance needs to be plugged in and powered on. Please be very careful 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.

Checking for voltage at the terminal block:

1. Remove the rear terminal block cover.
2. Plug the range back in or turn the breaker back on.
3. Set your multimeter to VAC.
4. Check for 120 VAC between the white and black terminals.
5. Check for 120 VAC between the red and white terminals.
6. Check for 240 VAC between the red and black terminals.
7. If you don’t see these voltage readings, the issue is with the house wiring, not the range.
8. Inspect the power cord and wiring at the terminal block for any burn marks or broken wires.

Bake element testing:

1. Remove the terminal block cover.
2. Inspect the wiring at the terminal block, power cord, and bake element.
3. Set the multimeter to AC voltage.
4. Turn the oven on to bake.
5. Test across the bake element terminals – you should see 240 VAC.
6. If you have 240V but the element doesn’t heat, replace the bake element.
7. Unplug the range or turn off the breaker.
8. Remove one wire from the bake element.
9. Set the multimeter to measure resistance (Ohms).
10. Test from one element terminal to the other – you should see 20-25 Ohms.
11. If the reading is outside this range, replace the bake element.

Oven control testing:

1. Unplug the range or turn off the breaker.
2. Remove the rear console cover.
3. Locate the bake terminal (P2-7) and double break relay terminal (P1-2) on the control board.
4. Plug the range back in or turn the breaker on.
5. Set the oven to bake.
6. Set the multimeter to VAC and check across P2-7 and P1-2.
7. You should see 240V. If not, the control board is defective and needs to be replaced.
8. If the voltage is correct but the element didn’t heat, check the wiring between the control board and element.

Oven temperature sensor testing:

1. Unplug the range or turn off the breaker.
2. Remove the rear panel to access the oven sensor connection.
3. Disconnect the sensor plug.
4. Set the multimeter to measure resistance (Ohms).
5. Check the resistance across the two sensor pins – it should be around 1080 Ohms at room temperature.
6. If the reading is way off, replace the oven temperature sensor.

Additional information

Thank you for reading! We hope this guide helped you get your Whirlpool 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.

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Keep Reading:

6 safety tips for using an electric range

Electric Range Heating Coil Cleaning & Upkeep 

Range Burner Receptacle Replacement: A Step-by-Step Guide