Ge Oven: not working

Professional Repair Guide

What is this symptom?

Is your GE oven not working? You may notice it fails to turn on, heat up, or respond at all. Common issues include power supply problems, faulty heating elements, or control panel settings. Identify the root cause to get your oven back in action.

Urgency: Medium

Important Tips for Ge Models

  • Some GE ovens include a Sabbath Mode that can disable normal operation; ensure it is turned off
  • Error codes like F2, F3, F4 on GE ovens can indicate specific sensor or temperature problems

Possible Causes

Power supply issue (breaker/fuse/tripped or loose connection)

How to Identify: Oven has no lights, no response on controls, circuit breaker tripped or loose plug

Part: Home circuit breaker / power cord / outlet

Control panel not set or Sabbath mode active

How to Identify: Display is on but oven does not start heating even after function and temperature set; special mode symbol appears (Sabbath mode

Part: Control panel / settings

Burnt or faulty bake element (electric models)

How to Identify: Oven powers on but does not heat; visual cracks or blisters on element; element does not glow when heating

Part: Bake heating element

Faulty igniter (gas models)

How to Identify: Gas oven powers on but flame does not ignite; weak or no glow from igniter

Part: Igniter

Malfunctioning control board or electronics

How to Identify: Unresponsive controls, error codes, intermittent operation, display anomalies

Part: Control board / electronic oven control

Temperature sensor failure

How to Identify: Oven powers on but overheats or refuses to heat due to incorrect temperature reading

Part: Temperature sensor

DIY Solutions

Check power supply and reset breakers

Easy 5-10 minutes
Tools Needed: none
  1. Ensure oven is firmly plugged into power outlet.
  2. Check home breaker panel for tripped breaker or blown fuse and reset if necessary.
  3. Unplug oven for 1 minute then plug back in to reset electronic controls.
⚠️ Safety First: Do not work on electrical components with wet hands

Verify control settings and disable Sabbath Mode

Easy 3-5 minutes
Tools Needed: owner's manual
  1. Confirm correct function (Bake/Broil) and temperature are selected.
  2. Press Start (for electronic models).
  3. If oven is in Sabbath Mode (indicated by symbol), follow manual to deactivate it.
⚠️ Safety First: Refer to manual to avoid incorrect mode changes

Inspect heating element visually (electric)

Moderate 10-20 minutes
Tools Needed: flashlight
  1. Ensure oven is powered off and cool.
  2. Open oven and inspect bake element for cracks, blisters, or breaks.
  3. If visible damage is present, element likely needs replacement.
⚠️ Safety First: Power off completely before inspecting element

Professional Repairs

Replace faulty bake element (electric oven)

Estimated Cost: $50 - $150

Replace igniter (gas oven)

Estimated Cost: $80 - $200

Control board replacement

Estimated Cost: $150 - $400

Temperature sensor replacement

Estimated Cost: $40 - $120

When to Call a Professional

Oven shows signs of electrical fault (sparks, burning smell)
Gas oven fails to ignite with potential gas odor
Element/igniter replacement involves complex wiring
Control board or sensor replacement beyond basic checks

Preventive Maintenance

  • Regular cleaning of oven interior and elements: Buildup that can affect heating performance
    Frequency: monthly
  • Check and tighten power cord connections: Loose connections that lead to power issues
    Frequency: annually

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my GE Oven not working?
Common causes include power supply issues, a faulty igniter for gas models, or a burnt bake element in electric models.
How do I fix GE Oven not working myself?
Start by checking the power supply, resetting breakers, and verifying control settings. Inspect the heating element for visible damage.
How much does it cost to fix not working?
Costs vary: replacing a bake element ($50-$150), igniter ($80-$200), or control board ($150-$400).
When should I call a technician for not working?
If basic troubleshooting fails or if the issue involves complex components like the control board or igniter, contact a technician.

References & Sources

Community Analytical Insights

Analysis based on real user discussions from appliance repair communities

Can I Fix This Myself?

50%
DIY Success Rate Difficulty: Professional

Common Issues Reported by Users

  • Control board issues after lightbulb change (1 mentions)

User Suggested Solutions

  1. Inspect the control board for blown traces and repair if necessary.

    Success rate: 50.0%
Analysis based on 2 community discussions
View Sources

Data compiled from real discussions on r/appliancerepair and r/Appliances:

  1. GE Appliances Disaster!
  2. GE Range Display

Community Discussions

Electrical display and controls not working after changing oven lightbulb

Inspect the control board for blown traces and repair if necessary.

DIY View on Reddit →

Source: Reddit r/appliancerepair

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