Your GE oven control panel won’t work because of a lack of power to the panel, the lock control is activated, the control board is malfunctioning, or the ribbon cable is loose or damaged. To fix these issues, ensure your oven is plugged in and turned on, turn off the control lock, change the control board, and check the ribbon cable respectively.
I’ve had a GE oven for over 15 years, and every time I’ve had issues with the control panel, checking the power to the control panel has fixed it for me most times. Other times it was the LOC, and I’ve rarely had to change the board. If the problem persists after following the detailed solution in this guide, call a professional GE technician to look at your unit.
A GE oven control panel is the communication medium between you and the oven. It allows you to use the oven control button or pads to set the temperature and perform other functions, including troubleshooting error codes. If your GE oven control panel isn’t working, you won’t be able to control your oven functions, which can be frustrating and time-wasting.
The following are the 5 most common causes of GE oven control panels not working:
- There’s no power to the control panel.
- The “Lock Controls” feature is activated.
- The electronic control board is malfunctioning.
- Damaged, burnt, or loose ribbon cable.
- The touchpad is faulty.
I’ll tell you what these problems mean when operating your GE oven and how you can quickly resolve them to get your oven back in operation ASAP. Let’s dive in!
Top Reasons Why GE Oven Control Panel Not Working
1. There’s No Power to the Control Panel
All your GE oven components need the power to run. If your GE oven control panel buttons aren’t responsive and the display is blank, you’re probably dealing with a power issue.
Power issues affecting your oven control panel operation include:
- An outlet switch that’s turned off.
- A loosely plugged cable.
- A damaged oven power cord.
- A tripped circuit breaker (a blown fuse)
- A dead wall outlet.
- Insufficient voltage to the range or oven.
2. The “Lock Controls” Feature Is Activated
“Lock Controls” is a feature in GE ovens that allows you to deactivate the control panel in dual-fuel and GE gas ranges.
If you’re not the only person at home using the oven, another user could activate the “Lock Controls” feature. This may cause you to think the control panel is unresponsive when using the oven.
3. The Electronic Control Board Is Malfunctioning
The electronic control board acts as your oven’s brain by storing data and executing the commands sent through the control panel. If it malfunctions, the control panel won’t work, and you can’t run or control the oven functions.
4. Loose or Damaged Ribbon Cable
When you press the control panel’s buttons, signals are sent through various components, including the ribbon cable. The ribbon cable is a set of flat insulated wires that resembles a ribbon.
If you’re having issues with your control panel and the solutions above haven’t worked, the issue may be with your ribbon cable.
Your ribbon cable may be loose or damaged.
5. The Touchpad is Faulty
To test if your touchpad is faulty, press all the buttons to see whether they work. If the buttons respond correctly and are all functioning, then the problem is not with your touchpad.
Note: The electronic control board is a pricey oven component. If you need to check if it’s broken, have a professional GE oven technician check it out for problems before you buy a new one.
Fixes For GE Oven Control Panel Not Working
How To Fix GE Oven Control Panel Power Issues
Address the issues listed above in the following order:
- Ensure the switch to the wall outlet supplying power to your GE range or oven is turned on.
- Check that the oven power cable is plugged into the wall outlet.
- Assess the oven power cord for damage or breakages. Replace the cord if you notice any signs of damage.
- Open the circuit breaker housing and check if the oven switch is tripped. This means it’s turned downwards instead of upwards. If so, turn it back up to restore the power supply to your range. If your home uses a fuse instead of a circuit breaker, ensure the fuse isn’t blown. Call a trained technician to service the circuit breaker if the switch feels hard to turn.
- Plug a different appliance into the wall outlet supplying power to your range or oven to see if it receives power. If it does, your GE oven has a different issue.
- Use a multimeter to assess the wall outlet for voltage. A wall outlet for a GE electric oven should record around 240V, while a GE gas oven should show around 120V. Ask an expert to do this test if you don’t feel up to the task.
How To Fix GE Oven “Lock Controls” Feature
First, check to ensure that you’re dealing with the oven’s “Lock Controls” function. You’ll know this by checking if “LOC” appears on display. If this is the case, deactivate the “Lock Controls” by pressing the “9” and “0” pads simultaneously until the “LOC” message disappears.
See this quick GE video on YouTube for a demonstration of the above: Range LOC message on display.
In some models, pressing the “Control Lockout” pad for 3 seconds will clear the “LOC” message.
How To Fix a Malfunctioning GE Oven Electronic Control Board
First, try resetting the electronic control board by cycling the power (i.e., turning it off and on after a minute). If resetting the board doesn’t work, you must replace the electronic control board. To do so, follow these steps:
- Turn the GE oven off.
- Remove the control panel by unscrewing it at the front and the rear.
- Remove the control panel connection wires.
- Unscrew the control board to release it from the panel.
- Peel off the overlay from the old control board and stick it onto the new one.
- Take the reverse steps to screw back the control board on the panel, replace the connection wires, and screw back the control board panel.
This YouTube video is a quick demonstration of these steps: GE Oven/Range Control Board Replacement
How to Fix a Loose or Damaged Ribbon Cable
As mentioned above, only two things can be wrong with your ribbon cable. It’s either damaged or loose. Here’s how to fix it for both cases:
Loose Ribbon Cable:
- Turn off the oven
- Unscrew the control panel from the front and rear and remove it.
- Push the two black tabs on both ends of the ribbon cable backwards.
- Wiggle the ribbon cable out and check for damage. If not damaged, clip it firmly back in place.
Damaged Ribbon Cable: If the ribbon cable is burned, damaged, or melted, it must be replaced with a new one.
If you find the ribbon cable intact and undamaged after opening your control panel, do not simply close it. Sometimes, the ribbon cable might have its clips and connectors in place but may be loose after extended use. So, unclip the ribbon cable and clip it into place, even if it looks okay.
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