What the F3 Error Code Means on a GE Gas Range

Is your GE gas range displaying the error code F3? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. This is a troubleshooting problem that you can fix yourself without the need for a costly service call, and we’re here to help!

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 information in this article may not apply to your specific appliance model. We recommend consulting your manufacturer’s documentation or contact us with any questions.

What does the error code mean?

Pro tip- Stored error codes can be recalled by pressing “KITCHEN TIMER ON/OFF”, “CLOCK”, and “9” simultaneously. While the error code is displayed, pressing 8 and 6 together will clear it.

F3 open sensor code

• Indicates the electrical resistance through the oven sensor circuit is too high.
• Typically appears when the wiring to the oven sensor is damaged, or disconnected, or the sensor itself has failed to open internally.
• Results in the electronic range control (ERC) received no usable temperature measurement data from the sensor.

Essentially, the control board (ERC) is not getting accurate temperature readings from the sensor and displays an error code to alert you to the problem.

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.

Troubleshooting steps for F3

When confronting an F3 open sensor failure code, apply this troubleshooting approach:

Step 1: Diagnose sensor wiring

Since faulty wiring is the most common cause of intermittent, open sensor circuits, you should start diagnosis here:

• Visually inspect the wiring harness between the oven sensor and the ERC control board for any damage. Look for pinch points, melted insulation, or exposed copper that could cause an open circuit.
• Check that the sensor connector is fully seated in the receptacle on the ERC. Extract the harness and reseat it firmly.
• Utilize a multimeter on the continuity setting to check for openings through the sensor wiring. Place probes on pins at each end of the harness and test for continuity.
• If any wiring damage is found, or continuity is open, the sensor harness will need full replacement.

Step 2: Test the oven sensor resistance

After verifying wiring integrity, move on to testing the sensor itself:

• Unplug the sensor wiring harness from the ERC to completely isolate it.
• Set your multimeter to the Ohms setting. Touch the test probes to the pins on the sensor end of the harness.
• Consult your model’s technical sheet for the acceptable resistance range of the sensor based on ambient oven temperature.
• If the sensor resistance measures are very high, the internal circuitry has likely failed to open and the entire sensor requires replacement.

Step 3: Replace faulty components

Once you’ve pinpointed the open circuit cause:

• If both the sensor wiring and sensor unit test faulty, replace both components to ensure a complete and reliable repair.
• After installation, clear any residual F3 error codes from the ERC’s memory.
• Thoroughly test oven operation through several cycles to verify the F3 code does not reappear before returning the range to the customer.

When to replace the electronic range control

If you’ve verified the oven sensor wiring has good continuity, the connections are sound, and the sensor resistance checks out accurately to spec, the electronic range control (ERC) likely needs replacement due to internal faults:

• The circuitry processing temperature sensor input within the ERC may be deteriorating and corrupting the signal.
• In rare cases, replacing the ERC is necessary if you’ve ruled out all other possible causes for the sensor failure code.
• Take extreme precautions when removing and installing a new ERC to avoid damaging any other oven components.

More information

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