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Help me fix my oven (not a heating element issue)... pics!

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Maverick2002

Diamond Member
Hi,

So I'm not quite the handyman I thought. I'm trying to fix the top heating element in my oven. It's an older Frigidaire and the top element went out. I did some research and it was suggested that I replace the element, so I got this one:

Broil Element for Frigidaire, Tappan 316203200
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...A1HUY6RGVG6XIE

After installing it, the problem persists. The bottom coil gets red hot while the top does nothing. It gets slightly warm, but whereas the bottom coil would set paper on fire, the top coil is only warm if you put your fingers on it and hold them there for a few seconds ... which could be that it's not working at all, but rather just absorbing some radiant heat from the bottom coil. I don't know.

I removed the back panels to look at the circuitry and I don't see any burn marks or anything that would visually indicate damage. However, I'm not an electrician so I don't know what else to look for or do.

Does anyone have any suggestions or things I should look for? Is the whole thing shot?

Here are some images that might help:

Bottom heating element wiring:
http://imgur.com/dKmKQBZ

Wiring diagram:
http://imgur.com/aMI0tRW

All the wiring together:
http://imgur.com/jrbwhR4

Circled lead is for the top heating element (other lead is the blue one on the left side) :
http://imgur.com/KkmM7TD

Top left wiring:
http://imgur.com/aJgbl5j

Top right wiring:
http://imgur.com/xPIxASz

Top middle wiring (circled lead is the entry point for top heating element) :
http://imgur.com/VH7aumZ

I appreciate any help. TIA!
 
The top element usually only gets hot when the oven is set to "broil." At least that's my experience with the gas and electric ovens I've used in the past.
 
drebo said:
The top element usually only gets hot when the oven is set to "broil." At least that's my experience with the gas and electric ovens I've used in the past.
Click to expand...

Correct but, if it's not getting hot when set to broil and the wiring appears ok, it's the control unit.
 
drebo said:
The top element usually only gets hot when the oven is set to "broil." At least that's my experience with the gas and electric ovens I've used in the past.
Click to expand...

Ok, I feel dumb. That DOES work. But it seems in the past the top element has heated up, or maybe I'm just mistaken. This whole thing started because all my food (pizza, biscuits, etc) would burn on the bottom. Pizza would be BLACK on the bottom while the cheese on top wouldn't even be melted, regardless of how high/low I placed it, directly on the rack or on a tray, etc. That's really the issue I'm trying to figure out. Shouldn't the top element be on at least a bit or am I missing something?

For the record, this started happening somewhat recently (past few months). Maybe the calibration is off or??
 
Maverick2002 said:
Ok, I feel dumb. That DOES work. But it seems in the past the top element has heated up, or maybe I'm just mistaken. This whole thing started because all my food (pizza, biscuits, etc) would burn on the bottom. Pizza would be BLACK on the bottom while the cheese on top wouldn't even be melted, regardless of how high/low I placed it, directly on the rack or on a tray, etc. That's really the issue I'm trying to figure out. Shouldn't the top element be on at least a bit or am I missing something?

For the record, this started happening somewhat recently (past few months). Maybe the calibration is off or??
Click to expand...

Top element is only for broiling in every oven I've ever had (electric or gas).

If your food is burning on the bottom (1) it should be generally be set upon a baking sheet, (2) make sure the oven was fully warmed up or the bottom will burn as the oven tries to heat up to the temperature setting and (3) don't set near bottom, use top rack.

Fern
 
Last edited:
Maverick2002 said:
Ok, I feel dumb. That DOES work. But it seems in the past the top element has heated up, or maybe I'm just mistaken. This whole thing started because all my food (pizza, biscuits, etc) would burn on the bottom. Pizza would be BLACK on the bottom while the cheese on top wouldn't even be melted, regardless of how high/low I placed it, directly on the rack or on a tray, etc. That's really the issue I'm trying to figure out. Shouldn't the top element be on at least a bit or am I missing something?

For the record, this started happening somewhat recently (past few months). Maybe the calibration is off or??
Click to expand...

Yeah...no. The top element should ONLY come on when you're broiling stuff. NOT for baking.

If the bottom of stuff burns, either you have the pan too close to the bottom of the oven, or your thermostat is shot. Try an oven thermometer to check the thermostat.
 
Maverick2002 said:
Ok, I feel dumb. That DOES work. But it seems in the past the top element has heated up, or maybe I'm just mistaken. This whole thing started because all my food (pizza, biscuits, etc) would burn on the bottom. Pizza would be BLACK on the bottom while the cheese on top wouldn't even be melted, regardless of how high/low I placed it, directly on the rack or on a tray, etc. That's really the issue I'm trying to figure out. Shouldn't the top element be on at least a bit or am I missing something?

For the record, this started happening somewhat recently (past few months). Maybe the calibration is off or??
Click to expand...

Ok, this is another thing to slap your parents for, for allowing you to leave home without knowing how an oven works. 🙄
 
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