Range Stove Oven Combo Troubleshooting Tips
A range stove oven appliance is a great kitchen essential, but you may encounter some problems during your ownership. A range stove over combo might experience issues with the spark model, burner component, control board, fans, switches, coil elements, or gas valve assembly that cause it to malfunction.
There are a lot of delicate components, and you’re likely to experience one or more of these problems during your stove’s lifetime. The rest of this article will address the most recurring issues and what causes them.
Common Range Stove Oven Troubleshooting Repair
Range Burners Igniter Spark All the Time
Range burner sparking is an alarming problem that may need your attention. Generally, this issue is due to a faulty igniter switch and harness, which provides voltage to the spark module.
When the module is powered, the electrical contacts in the switch close, turning off the switch. If the switch fails, it will constantly send voltage to the spark module, causing the sparking you see.
This usually occurs when liquid from boiling pans enters the burner housing or spray cleaners have been used too aggressively. To troubleshoot, unplug your stove and check the switches. You’ll need to replace any stuck, shorted, or wet to solve the problem.
The spark module is another area to investigate if your range is sparking. If the module is not working properly, it may continuously feed voltage to the electrodes, causing unwanted sparking.
Only remove this part after checking that all the switches are in working order, and ideally, you should use the manual as a guide or call a professional.
Range Burner Flames Too High
If the flames on your range are burning too high, it could be down to a malfunctioning pressure regulator, burner component, or orifice.
The pressure regulator is a component that regulates the pressure in an oven. If the regulator isn’t working properly or has been adjusted incorrectly, then it can cause the flames to be too high, affecting all the burners when used.
You’ll likely need to contact a technician to adjust and replace the regulator to rectify this issue.
The next cause may be your burner component. More specifically, the air shutter that helps vary the air-gas mixture in the burner can be improperly adjusted.
Improper adjustment can cause the air shutter not to provide enough air, allowing the flames to lick higher than they should. Your best bet with an improperly adjusted air shutter is to have a technician repair it.
Lastly, the orifice in the burner must be the correct size for the right heat and flame. If installed incorrectly, it can cause the burner flames to be too high.
Range Display Board Not Working
A range has a lot of electronic components that provide instructions for the oven and stovetop. One problem that can occur is when the display board starts to malfunction. Often, this is down to issues with the oven control board, the display board, or the main board.
With the first two, connectivity issues can cause the display not to receive the power or relay instructions properly, causing the stove to be inoperable.
If that’s the case, your display may appear dim, missing digits, or not responding to any inputs. For problems with a bad display board, you’ll want to have it replaced by a technician.
There may be times when it’s not the display malfunctioning but the main board itself. The board provides power to all-electric systems in the oven, making it a vital component.
Once your technician checks that there’s no issue with the display board, they will investigate whether the control board is working properly. If not, it should be replaced.
Range Making a Loud Noise
If the range makes a loud noise, it could be down to several issues. On a gas range, it might be caused by the Cooktop Lock feature being turned on, while on an electric range, cooking on a high-temperature setting can cause it to make noise.
More often than not, though, this issue indicates a malfunction in the fan. The fan blade could be damaged, causing it to rub against the housing. Similarly, if the fan motor isn’t working properly, then the fan won’t turn properly and may generate odd noises.
Lastly, the convection motor drives the fan, circling air in the oven. If the motor malfunctions, the fan can wobble and hit the housing. In any of these cases, your best bet is to replace the malfunctioning part with a qualified technician.
Glass Top Electric Stove Not Working
If your burners aren’t working, your issue may be with the switch or a faulty sensor. A power supply fuse or a damaged wire can also cause this major malfunction.
The most likely culprit is the surface element board, the veritable control panel for your cooktop.
If the power from the element board fails to relay, then one or more of your burners can stop working. If multiple burners fail at once, then it’s likely that the entire surface element board will need replacing.
The power from this board comes from the switch, which gets voltage from the surface element control switch. Replacing the switch should solve the burner issue if the switch has gone bad.
In other cases, you may find a power supply issue with the burner, causing the element to not get the voltage needed to heat it.
In that event, a technician will usually look at the board to see what’s happening with the electrical system. Something as simple as a burnt or loose wire can cause connectivity issues that affect one or multiple burners.
Stove Burner Won’t Light
When your burner won’t light, it’s generally down to the spark module or spark ignition switch. If your stove smells like gas, it could be an issue with the gas valve assembly.
The spark module is the first place to check since it gives all the burner spark electrodes power. A burner that won’t light may be down to a problematic spark module not sending the right voltage.
The spark ignition switch and harness may be responsible since a defective switch won’t power the burner. If your oven problems are isolated to one burner, your issue is likely a broken switch.
Another common problem that can cause your burners not to light is improperly adjusting your gas valve. The valve serves the all-important job of regulating each burner’s right amount of gas.
A range of issues can arise with the gas valve, but the most common is that it needs adjusting to allow the right air-gas mix.
Other issues include a failure of the valve to close properly, poor connectivity, and burnt wiring. The solution, as always, is to identify and replace the defective part. Doing so should allow the burners to get the gas they need and the spark to heat up the burner.
Stove Turns Off on Its Own
A stove isn’t much good if it decides to turn itself off. Most of the time, problems with a stove turning itself off are due to an electronic issue, such as a loose power cord, a failing wire connector, a main board malfunction, or an issue with the relay board.
Start by checking behind your stove oven to see whether the power cord is properly plugged into your wall socket. It’s a simple fix, but it could be that the cord has wiggled loose over time.
If the wires have poor connectivity, it can cause the stove not to stay on when it performs certain operations. As mentioned before, if the main board is acting up, it can cause the entire system to be rendered inert.
Lastly, if the relay board isn’t working properly, it might not be supplying the right voltage to the essential components of the stove oven, causing it to turn itself off.
In rare cases, a stove will turn itself off when it overheats, so your technician may also check that there are no issues with the cooling system, such as a blocked ventilation shaft or debris in the fan blades.
Oven Not Heating
If your range stove oven is not heating properly, you should first check the temperature control thermostat. In most cases, you will only need a screwdriver and a multimeter to test the thermostat. With a few simple steps, you can fix the problem yourself or call a repair technician to diagnose and fix the problem.
Final Thoughts
Several issues can arise with a stove-oven combo over time, but most are related to properly mixing gas and air or the electrical systems that operate the oven and provide instructions.
Even a heating element or a faulty oven door can cause the whole oven not to work properly. Thankfully, a local technician is adept at identifying and repairing any components needing replacement.