Frigidaire Oven Not Heating — Bake Element, Temperature Sensor & Relay Board Fix

Common Symptoms

• Oven does not heat at all when bake is selected
• Oven heats slowly or never reaches the set temperature
• Bake element glows orange at one spot only, then trips the breaker
• Oven works on broil but not bake (or vice versa)
• F10 or F30/F31 error code appearing alongside no-heat symptom
• Self-clean cycle runs but oven won't heat for normal baking
• Gas oven igniter glows but gas does not ignite

Most Likely Causes

1. 1

   Burned or Cracked Bake Element (Most Common — Electric)

   The bake element is a coiled resistance heater mounted at the bottom of the oven cavity on electric Frigidaire ranges. It heats the oven for bake cycles and provides the majority of heat during self-clean. When the element fails, it typically shows a visible burn spot, a crack, or a hole where the coil has blown. A failed element breaks the circuit — the oven will turn on and the control board will activate, but no heat is produced. Part 318255006 is a common Frigidaire bake element (~$30). Test with a multimeter: a good element reads 20–40 ohms; an open (failed) element reads OL.

2. 2

   Failed Oven Temperature Sensor (RTD Probe)

   The oven temperature sensor (RTD — Resistance Temperature Detector) is a thin metal probe mounted inside the oven cavity near the top rear. It measures oven temperature and sends that reading to the control board, which adjusts the bake or broil element cycling. A failed sensor causes the control board to misread the temperature — the oven may not heat (board thinks it's already at set temperature), heat continuously without shutoff (F10 runaway), or display F30/F31 error codes. The sensor should read approximately 1,080–1,100 ohms at room temperature (70°F). Part 316490000 (~$20) is the replacement RTD sensor for many Frigidaire electric ranges.

3. 3

   Burned or Failed Broil Element (Broil Failure Only)

   The broil element is mounted at the top of the oven cavity. On most Frigidaire electric ranges, the broil element also assists during the preheat phase of bake cycles. A failed broil element may cause the oven to heat slowly or fail entirely on broil. Inspect the element for visible burn spots or cracks. Test with a multimeter for continuity — a working broil element reads 10–30 ohms; OL indicates failure.

4. 4

   Relay Board or Control Board Failure

   The relay board controls power to the bake and broil elements based on signals from the main control board. Burned relay contacts on the relay board can prevent the element from receiving power even though the control board is sending the correct signal. Visible burn marks, melted plastic, or a carbon smell on the relay board indicate failure. A failed main control board is less common but possible — typically diagnosed after all elements and the sensor test good.

5. 5

   Thermal Limiter (Thermal Fuse) Blown

   Frigidaire ovens include one or more thermal limiters (thermal fuses) that cut power to the heating circuit if the oven overheats — typically during self-clean cycles. A blown thermal limiter interrupts the circuit permanently and prevents the oven from heating until replaced. Test with a multimeter for continuity — a blown limiter reads OL. Thermal limiters are non-resettable and must be replaced after a self-clean overheat event.

6. 6

   Gas Oven Igniter Failure (Gas Models Only)

   On gas Frigidaire ranges, the bake igniter is a silicon carbide or silicon nitride element that glows to ignite the gas burner and simultaneously acts as a safety valve — it draws enough current when hot to hold the gas valve open. A weak or partially failed igniter may glow red but not draw enough current (3.2–3.6 amps) to open the gas valve, so the burner never lights. Listen and watch: if the igniter glows for more than 90 seconds without the burner igniting, the igniter is weak and should be replaced.

Quick DIY Checks

1. 1Perform a visual inspection of the bake element first — takes 2 minutes and often reveals the failure immediately. Open the oven door and look at the bake element at the bottom of the cavity. Look for a visible hole, burn mark, crack, or dark spot anywhere along the coil. If you see a break or burn area, the element has failed and needs replacement. A good element is uniform in color and shape with no breaks. If it looks intact, proceed to the resistance test.
2. 2Test bake element resistance with a multimeter. Turn the circuit breaker OFF for the range. Remove the two Phillips screws securing the bake element mounting bracket to the oven back wall. Pull the element forward slightly and disconnect the two wire connectors (press the tab and pull). Set a multimeter to ohms (Ω). Touch the probes to the two element terminals. A working bake element reads 20–40 ohms. An OL (open/infinite) reading confirms the element has failed. Frigidaire part 318255006 (~$30) fits many Frigidaire and Electrolux-platform ranges — verify with your full model number.
3. 3Test the oven temperature sensor (RTD probe). With the circuit breaker OFF, locate the RTD sensor — a thin metal rod mounted inside the oven at the upper rear, attached with 2 screws. Unplug the sensor connector at the back of the oven wall. Set a multimeter to ohms. Probe the two sensor terminals. At room temperature (68–75°F), the reading should be 1,080–1,100 ohms. A reading below 500 ohms or OL (open circuit) indicates a failed sensor. Part 316490000 (~$20) is the replacement RTD probe for many Frigidaire electric ranges.

1. 4Inspect the broil element for visible damage. Look at the top element inside the oven cavity. Dark spots, visible breaks, or blistering indicate failure. If the oven heats on bake but not broil, or heats very slowly on preheat, the broil element is suspect. Test with a multimeter (10–30 ohms expected; OL = failed). Disconnect power before testing — the broil element terminals are also accessible from inside the oven cavity with 2 mounting screws.
2. 5Check for a blown thermal limiter after a self-clean cycle failure. If the oven stopped heating after running a self-clean cycle, a thermal limiter likely blew due to overheating. The thermal limiter(s) on Frigidaire ranges are typically located on or near the exhaust duct inside the rear access panel. With the breaker OFF and the rear panel removed, locate the thermal limiter (a small oval or rectangular device with two wires). Test with a multimeter — continuity (beep) is good; OL (no beep) means it's blown and must be replaced. A blown thermal limiter always has an underlying cause — check that the oven door sealed properly during self-clean and that the oven cavity was empty before the cycle.
3. 6Test the gas igniter on gas models. Set the oven to bake at 350°F and watch the igniter through the oven window or from the front of the oven cavity (remove the bottom panel). The igniter should begin glowing orange within 30–45 seconds. If it glows but the gas burner does not ignite within 60–90 seconds, the igniter is drawing insufficient current to open the gas valve — it needs replacement. If the igniter does not glow at all, check for power at the igniter connector with a multimeter (should read 120VAC during the bake cycle). A dead igniter with confirmed power at the connector = failed igniter.
4. 7Inspect the relay board (if elements and sensor test good). With the circuit breaker OFF, remove the rear access panel. The relay board is typically mounted near the main control board and contains 3–5 heavy-duty relays with visible contacts. Look for burned relay contacts, melted plastic, or a carbon (burned) smell. If you see burn marks on the relay board, replace it before replacing the control board — relay boards are significantly less expensive ($40–$80) than the main control board ($150–$300) and are the more common failure point for element power delivery issues.

Repair vs Replace

Recommended Tools & Parts

• Frigidaire Bake Element — Part 318255006 (~$30)

  OEM-compatible bake heating element for Frigidaire and Electrolux-platform electric ranges and wall ovens. Fixes oven not heating, baking unevenly, or element with visible burn/crack. 2400W, 240V. Includes mounting hardware. Verify compatibility with your model number before ordering.

  $25–$40

  Buy on Amazon →

• Frigidaire Oven Temperature Sensor RTD — Part 316490000 (~$20)

  Replacement oven temperature sensor (RTD probe) for Frigidaire electric ranges and wall ovens. Fixes F10, F30, F31 error codes and oven not reaching set temperature. Should read 1,080–1,100 ohms at room temperature. Replaces part 316490000.

  $15–$30

  Buy on Amazon →

• Frigidaire Oven Thermal Limiter (Thermal Fuse)

  Replacement thermal limiter/thermal fuse for Frigidaire electric ranges. Non-resettable safety device that blows if the oven overheats during self-clean. Must be replaced after a self-clean overheat event. Verify compatibility with your model number.

  $15–$25

  Buy on Amazon →

• Frigidaire Oven Relay Board

  Replacement relay board (power control board) for Frigidaire electric ranges. Controls power delivery to bake and broil elements. Inspect for burned relay contacts before replacing the more expensive main control board.

  $40–$80

  Buy on Amazon →

• Digital Multimeter

  Essential for testing bake element resistance (20–40Ω), RTD sensor resistance (~1100Ω), and thermal limiter continuity. Required for accurate diagnosis before purchasing replacement parts.

  $15–$35

  Buy on Amazon →

Links are Amazon affiliate links (tag: fixitfastai-20). Prices are estimates.

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