GE Oven F3: Temperature Sensor Open — The $15 Ten-Minute Fix

F3 is the most rewarding GE oven repair you will encounter. The oven temperature sensor has an open circuit — the internal platinum wire broke. The part costs $12-$25, installs in 10-15 minutes, and requires only a Phillips screwdriver.

GE's Universal Sensor Design

GE uses the same standard RTD probe (WB20X10109) across most of its oven lineup — Standard through Monogram. This one part number covers decades of production. The sensor resistance increases linearly with temperature: approximately 1,100 ohms at room temperature, 1,500 ohms at 350F, 1,650 ohms at 450F.

Testing Takes 5 Minutes

1. Power off at breaker
2. Find the sensor connector at the rear of the oven (behind a trim cover or rear panel)
3. Disconnect the 2-pin plug
4. Measure resistance with any multimeter: 1,080-1,100 ohms at room temperature
5. OL (infinity) confirms the sensor is broken. Order WB20X10109
6. Normal reading means the wire harness between sensor and ERC has a break — check continuity along the wire run

Why Sensors Fail

Self-clean is the primary killer. At 880-930F, thermal cycling stress fatigues the platinum element. Most F3 codes appear right after a self-clean cycle — the sensor lasted to its fatigue limit. Physical damage from bumping the probe with heavy pans also contributes.

The 10-Minute Replacement

1. Power off at breaker
2. Inside the oven: remove the single mounting screw at the sensor bracket (rear wall)
3. Pull the sensor out through the rear wall
4. At the back: disconnect the wire connector
5. Connect the new sensor wire
6. Thread the new sensor through the rear wall, secure with the mounting screw
7. Power on — F3 auto-clears when the board reads valid resistance. No calibration needed

Parts and Pricing

Professional repair: $125-$250. The $80-$120 diagnostic fee is the bulk of the cost — the part and labor are trivial.

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F3 sensor issue on your GE oven? A $15 part and 10 minutes. Our techs carry them. Sacramento area. Book service.