How to Troubleshoot & Replace Whirlpool AP4096820 / 74004105 Bake Element

I had the choice of spending $2K on another double oven stove or $60 on two elements. (I felt more secure about replacing both bake and broil elements just in case the fire had damaged the bake element) It was an easy decision and quick replacement! Power was already off to the stove so I cleaned up the fire retardent mess. I even found easy instructions dismantling the oven door in order to clean the powder residue from between the glass. I then removed the rack and remaining old elements. I taped the ends so they wouldn't slip back into the hole in the back of the stove. Six screws held everything in place. Total time for element replacement 15 minutes! It took me over an hour to clean up the mess the fire extinguisher made. 

Removed old element and put in new one. Used clothes pins to keep wires from slipping into back of oven. 

The lightbulbs were a problem for me as I did not know if they were 12 V or 120 V. But the interactive parts diagram on the website was very helpful and allowed me to order the correct bulbs very rapidly(120V is correct). They were very easy to change out except for the fact that I needed to have my 12-year-old son do part of it since his hands are smaller than mine.(and it is always good for sons to work with dads even on small projects like this.) The cooking element was also amazingly easy to change out and the oven is been working very properly since then. It was very easy to repair my oven with the correct parts. And the correct parts were very easy to order with the interactive diagrams from this website. 

10 Minutes. Removed 2 screws took out old element replaced with new one by clipping the wires to element. Used cloths pins to hold wire in place. 

I ordered all the elements from appliancepartspros because of that double check box that lets you confirm that the parts are compatible with the appliance. I'm about a B fix-it dude so that was huge for me, since I hate sending parts back and wasting time. The parts arrived next day and all worked as advertised. Then, I had another issue on the oven. The tech phoned me back at night and spent 20 minutes with me confirming the next part that I needed and I ordered that part. No better feeling than getting the help you need to be productive. 

Turned off the breaker in the fuse box for the range. With Phillips-head screwdriver, removed two screws. Set screws aside. Pulled out the old element from the back wall of the oven until wire connections are out. Disconnected the wire connector from each side of the element by physically pulling it off. Removed old element. With the new element, put it into the over in the same position as the old element (screw holes are on top). Attach wire connectors to each end of the new element. Push wires and element ends into the holes in the back wall of the oven. Insert screws through tabs on the element and into the oven. Turn breaker switch back on. Turn oven on to test to check that the elements get hot. Turn oven off. 

Removed old one, went on line to find a match. The grid in the parts photo is very helpful getting the right part. Put the new part in. I turned breaker off to stove when removing old element. When putting new one back, I figured if the oven was not on, there would be no power to element wires. WRONG! When putting the second wire on, it touched the back of the stove and welded to it. I had to replace the wire end. Lesson: ALWAYS DISCONNECT POWER WHEN WORKING ON APPLIANCES, no matter how simple the project. 

Ordered a replacement element, out with the old and in with the new, in less than 15 minutes. 

Replaced both bake elements and left front burner 

I'm a woman in my late 60's. I do all of the handy person chores in my house. I replaced both top and bottom heating elements in the top oven. I removed the oven door for easy access. I just had to unscrew the elements from the back; unclipped the wire heads from the elements. (Keeping the wires clipped with paper clamps so they wouldn't retract.) I then removed the old elements and replaced them with the new ones. Pretty easy. Thank you for sending them fast!