The most common reason for a malfunctioning GE oven broiler is a weak igniter, a lack of power supply, or incorrect settings on the oven’s controls. To resolve these issues, ensure that the oven is correctly plugged into a functioning power outlet and set to the ‘broil’ setting.
It’s important to check the power supply and ensure that the oven is receiving the necessary power. Additionally, if the oven is not set to ‘broil,’ the broiler function will not work properly. To avoid these issues, double-check the oven’s settings and power supply before attempting to use the broiler function.
In this article, you will see more reasons why your GE oven broiler seems to be broken or defective. You will also find in this article some easy steps that you can definitely take by yourself to solve the issue you are currently facing.
Reasons Your GE Oven’s Broiler is Not Working
If your GE oven broiler is malfunctioning, check for these three things first:
- No source of power
- The oven’s temperature controls are off
- There was a problem with the broiler
- Burned-out broil element
- Defective control board
- A delayed or weak igniter
- Loose or burned wires connected to the burner
Every factor mentioned above is discussed in detail in the next part of the article. If your oven’s broiler is malfunctioning, you’ll also find several possible solutions in this article.
No Power Supply
The most common reason why your oven broiler is not working is that it is not receiving any power. If you suspect that this is the reason, the first thing that you will need to do is determine why the power is not flowing into your oven.
A wall oven or range may not receive power due to any of these issues:
- Disconnect the wall plugs.
- The oven’s power cord is either unplugged or wasn’t properly plugged in.
- A tripped circuit breaker or blown fuse
- A faulty power cord for the stove or oven in the wall
- Unused wall plug.
- An electrical socket that operates at a low voltage.
How to Fix It
You’ll have to do one of the following, related to the nature of the power problem:
- The wall switch must be turned on.
- Check that the plug for the range is securely in place.
- If a fuse has blown or a breaker has tripped, replace it.
- Rewire the stove if the power cord is damaged.
- Verify that the wall is supplying the correct voltage. For electric ranges and ovens, the voltage reading at the wall switch should be 240 volts, whereas gas ranges and ovens should read 120 volts. To learn how to check if an electrical outlet is live, watch this AMRE Supplies video on YouTube:
The Oven Controls are Incorrectly Set
In order to start a broil cycle, the controls must be set to the broil setting. By doing so, you are signaling the element to begin heating. If you incorrectly set your oven settings, you will surely encounter a problem.
How to Fix It
To activate the broil feature:
- You must choose ‘broil’ from the menu options.
- For HI Broil, press the Broil pad once; for LO Broil, press it twice.
- To begin broiling, press the Start button.
If the broil element still doesn’t work after trying these, you can try to reset the electrical control by following these steps:
- Turn off the circuit breaker or remove the fuse for the range or wall oven and wait for it to cool down.
- Turn off the power and wait one minute before re-igniting the range or wall oven.
- To set a broil cycle, simply repeat steps 2 and 3.
The Broil Element Has Failed
A broken broiler element creates an open circuit, which will not allow any heat to be generated. The most direct result is that the element becomes shorted.
Broil elements that have splits or blisters indicate a short circuit and should be replaced. Sometimes a failed broil element will look fine when you first look at it. Either way, the part must still be changed.
How to Fix It
If you need to replace the broil element in your GE oven, here’s how to do it:
- Shut off the stove.
- Remove the racks from the oven.
- Look on the top of your oven, near the vent, for the broil element.
- To turn the element away from you, unscrew its mounting screws.
- Disconnect the broiling element’s power cord and unscrew it.
- Connect the replacement element’s wires and tighten the component’s screws.
- Reattach the element bracket to the back wall using the screws.
- Switch over the old oven racks for new ones.
- To see if the broiler is working, try turning on the oven.
Call a GE oven service professional if you have any doubts about your ability to complete these instructions. You might find it helpful to watch this video by GE Appliances on YouTube:
Burned out Broil Element
A burned-out broil element is a common reason why your oven broiler is not working. This metal element on top of the oven’s interior generates heat when connected to the electrical circuit. If the broil element is working properly, it will radiate heat evenly and glow a uniform red color.
How to Fix It
However, the broil element can burn out after extensive use, leading to the broiler failing to heat up properly. Follow these steps to see if your broiler element has melted.
- Check if the broil element is dead requires that the oven be turned off and allowed to cool completely.
- Do not forget to take the oven racks out of the oven.
- The oven’s broiler should be found at the uppermost rack (it will look like a coil of wire).
- Check for visible evidence of damage or wear by looking at it closely.
The element will need to be replaced by an expert if there is any visible damage. Although this is a complex repair that requires training and experience, we advise against attempting to replace the broil element on your own.
Defective control board
If your control board is defective, you can experience multiple problems since it is often used to send voltage to the igniter of your broiler. If you suspect that this is the reason why your oven broiler is not working, try to check your wiring schematic using a multimeter to check for voltage at the broil element or igniter. As the control board shorts out, the oven will essentially start experiencing a lot of issues.
How to Check and Fix a Faulty Control Board
If you need to test or replace the control board of your oven, it is important to turn off the appliance first before doing so.
- If it is attached to the wall, you will need to remove it from the wall first.
- You should be able to access the back of the control panel by removing the screws holding it in place.
- You can disconnect the wires and take out the control board by unscrewing its mounting screws.
To replace the control board, you might have to remove the screen overlay first. A fresh control board with a brand-spanking-new display overlay would be ideal, but this is not always the case.
If you’re replacing a control board, this is a good time to clean out the space where it will go. Over time, a substantial amount of debris might accumulate there.
A Weak or Delayed Igniter
If you are using a gas oven, then you might consider checking your igniter. A weak, faulty, or dirty igniter can also prohibit your oven broiler from working. The gas flame won’t start if your igniter cannot provide enough heat.
The oven’s igniter can be found towards the cavity’s base and emits a bright red flame when it’s doing its job. During prolonged use, the igniter’s strength declines, and its light output decreases. This is the reason why you must clean and check your oven’s igniter regularly. Igniters can cause a fire, so if you think this is the problem, it is recommended to call for professional help.
However, if you have experience with this kind of project, you might check this video from Repair Clinic to test if your igniter is producing enough heat to make your oven broiler work.
Loose or Burned Wires Connected to The Burner
Unfortunately, loose or burned wires are typical issues with broiler ovens. It’s possible that the broil element or burner igniter is not working because of a faulty wire. The heating element is usually near these wires, causing these cables to easily catch fire. If you suspect this is happening, you must check the connections at the element or igniter to see if any wires have melted. A burned-out wire will typically appear black and charred.
What You Can Do About It
If you suspect a burnt or loose wire is the source of your nonfunctioning oven, it is better to have a professional take a look at it. Considering we’re dealing with live wires here, even the slightest slip-up might prove fatal.
The Gas Oven is Not Heating, but The Broiler is Working
Since the temperature sensor is responsible for your oven reaching your desired temperature, it might be the reason why your gas oven is not heating, but your broiler is working perfectly fine. In this case, your temperature sensor must be replaced immediately since it is the one that maintains and regulates your oven’s heating cycles.
How to Check and Fix a Defective Temperature Sensor
If you suspect that your temperature sensor is malfunctioning, you can check it by following these steps:
- Using a multimeter, set its range dial to its lowest ohms setting.
- Remove your oven’s sensor and disconnect it from any wire or panels.
- Connect the sensor by touching one of the probe tips to a terminal and the other tip to the other terminal.
- There should be a resistance reading of 1,000 to 1,100 ohms to show that they are working properly.
To replace a defective oven temperature sensor, you can follow these steps:
- Turn off your appliance by removing its power cord from the outlet.
- Pull the range away from the wall (if your oven is attached to the wall) so you can access the back panel where the sensor is located.
- Unscrew some brackets as you remove the access panel’s screws.
- Once removed, you can now see the two wires connecting the temperature sensor.
- To remove the old sensor, unscrew the screws holding it to the panel.
In case you are not sure what to do, you can always contact your manufacturer or an experienced technician to avoid any unnecessary accidents happening at home.
Conclusion
If you want to know whether your GE oven is working just fine, the broil element must be glowing. However, one way or another, you may experience some errors and issues with your GE oven. A malfunctioning broiler is a potential problem.
There are several reasons why your GE oven is not working the way you want it to. But first things first, you must always check if the outlet is producing any or enough electricity to make your oven work. You may also notice that your oven temperature controls are off.
However, if you think you can manage to fix it or figure out the reason why you are having trouble with your GE oven broiler, then you don’t have to contact anyone to help you solve it. But it is still highly recommended that you contact your manufacturer or any experienced repairman to help you with your oven issues.
