Kenmore Oven Won't Turn Off? Here's the Fix

Cut the power first#

With the element stuck on, the safest move is to shut off the breaker (or unplug the range) before anything else; on a gas Kenmore, close the gas supply valve as well. Leave it off — this isn't a symptom to wait and see on, and restoring power just re-energizes a stuck element.

Know which board is in your Kenmore#

Kenmore ovens are built by different makers, and the board decides your parts. A 790-series Kenmore is Frigidaire-made and carries a Frigidaire board, while a 665-series is Whirlpool-made with a Whirlpool board. Read the model number on the serial plate (inside the door frame, on the rear panel, or under the lid) before ordering anything.

The three things that cause it#

• A welded control-board relay (most common). A power surge fuses the relay contacts shut, so the element gets continuous power no matter what the controls say. The board is replaced.
• A shorted temperature sensor. A sensor that shorts reads 0 ohms, which the board reads as freezing, so it commands maximum heat indefinitely. Measured with power off, near-0 ohms confirms it.
• A stuck touchpad key. Moisture behind the membrane can hold a key down, sending a nonstop heat command. It's a common failure on older panels.

What you can check safely#

With power off, note any error code that was on the display, then measure the temperature sensor's resistance — near 0 ohms means a short, so replace it before restoring power. If nothing's obviously wrong, or you smell burning, see sparking, or the range is hardwired, leave it for a technician rather than powering it back up.

Keep it healthy before heavy use#

A little upkeep heads off failures: wipe up spills before they carbonize, check oven-temperature accuracy every 6 months with an oven thermometer and recalibrate if it's off by more than 25 degrees F, and inspect the door gasket once a year. It's worth doing before the oven takes on heavy holiday baking. A single component failure on a Kenmore under 8 to 10 years old is usually well worth repairing — book a visit and don't run the oven until it's fixed.