Whirlpool rangeMy range locked up and would not allow me to turn it off. I recieved an error message F3 or E3. The top of the range would not stop glowing and I could not activate or de-activate the locking mechanism. Help.....
Hello, and thank you for using this service. I'll be helping you with your problem today.F3 means that your oven is getting too hot which makes since if the top broiler wouldn't stop glowing and the oven was getting too hot. Unfortunately you'll need to turn the circuit breaker off to the oven to stop the oven from from heating. The relay got stuck on the control board and kept sending power to the element when it shouldn't so you need to order and replace the relay control board to fix this issue.Your family member may have been correct on his/her particular issue, but for you---the scenario doesn't fit. The sensor can go bad and cause and F3 error, but if that were the case, the oven really wouldn't overheat like you were seeing. Your oven really was overheating which is why it locked shut (for safety reasons) and sounded the F3 alarm telling you the oven is too hot and it's not safe.All I ask of you is to please rate me with one of the top 3 ratings. If there is anything else I can help you with today just let me know. You can continue asking questions for as long as you like even after you rate me. Click the continue conversation link if you would like to continue this conversation. If you are done and rate a 1 or 2 star please consider using the "continue conversation" link and telling me what more I can do or what more you would have liked that was within my power so that I possibly give you that information or help me improve my customer satisfaction rating.
Is it difficult to replace the control board? What is a reasonable price to pay for a control board?
The oven had to be forced open by sliding the locking mechanism to the left as there was food in the oven when the malfunction occurred.
Thanks,
It depends on your exact model, but replacing the control board is all plug and play so it's never that difficult. The part is generally about $200-300 for the part itself.it's OK that the oven has been forced open, we as technicians must do that sometimes. Once the issue is fixed, you should be able to hold the door light/switch in so that it thinks the oven door is shut. Then when you turn power on the latch will revert back to the open position.
Thanks. Is it possible to shield the temperature sensor with some type of insulation to allow the oven to be used?
unfortunately not. You can plug the oven back in and see if the broiler turns on again (if the relay is still stuck it will begin to overheat as soon as you plug the oven back in. But even if it doesn't, you need to keep an eye on the oven and not leave the power going to it when you're not using it because the relay could stick at any time again and cause a major issue if you don't realize it.