Maytag Oven F3-E0: Temperature Sensor Open Circuit

F3-E0 means the ERC board reads infinite resistance from the oven temperature sensor (RTD probe). The sensor circuit is broken — either the sensor element itself, the wiring between sensor and board, or the connector.

What the Temperature Sensor Does

The RTD sensor is a thin metal probe mounted in the upper-rear wall of the oven cavity, typically held by one or two screws and connected via a two-wire harness that exits through the rear oven wall to the ERC board. The board sends a small current through the sensor and measures the voltage drop to calculate resistance (and therefore temperature).

F3-E0 (open) means zero current flows — the circuit is broken somewhere. The board cannot determine oven temperature and will not activate the heating elements.

Diagnostic Sequence

1. Measure Sensor Resistance

Unplug the oven. Access the sensor connector at the rear of the oven (pull the oven out from the wall; the connector is typically behind a small access panel or exposed on the rear wall near the top).

Disconnect the sensor connector. Measure across the two sensor leads:

• Expected at room temperature: ~1,080 ohms
• Open/infinite (OL): Sensor element is broken — confirmed F3-E0

2. If Sensor Tests Good at Connector

Measure from each sensor pin through the harness to the ERC board connector (pin-to-pin continuity). If the sensor itself reads 1,080 ohms but the board end reads open, one wire in the harness has broken.

Common break location: Where the harness passes through the oven rear wall. Thermal cycling at this penetration point fatigues the wire. Also check where the harness routes near the broil element — radiant heat can damage insulation and eventually the conductor.

3. If Everything Tests Good

If sensor and harness test good but F3-E0 persists, the ERC board's ADC input circuit for the temperature sensor has failed. Board replacement required.

Sensor Replacement Procedure

1. Unplug oven. Pull away from wall for rear access.
2. Remove the 1-2 screws holding the sensor probe inside the oven cavity (access from inside the oven).
3. Gently pull the probe out through the rear wall.
4. Disconnect the wire connector at the rear.
5. Connect the new sensor (WPW10181986, $15-30). Thread the probe through the rear wall into the cavity. Secure with screws.

Caution: Do not bend the sensor probe sharply. The RTD element inside is fragile. A bent probe may test fine at room temperature but fail at operating temperature when the metal expands.

Sensor Location Inside the Oven

The temperature sensor is in the upper-rear of the oven cavity, usually the left or right rear corner. It looks like a thin metal rod (4-6 inches long) protruding horizontally from the back wall. Do not confuse it with the igniter (gas ovens) or the broil element supports (electric ovens).

Post-Replacement Calibration

After sensor replacement, run a test bake at 350 degrees F with an oven thermometer centered in the cavity. New sensors are factory-calibrated but the oven may need its calibration offset adjusted:

• If the oven reads within 25 degrees of target, it is within Maytag's specification.
• If off by more than 25 degrees, adjust the calibration (typically: Bake + Temp Up/Down to offset).

Cost

Sensor: $15-30 DIY. Professional replacement: $100-170. This is among the simplest and cheapest oven repairs.

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Maytag oven not heating with F3-E0? Temperature sensor replacement is a 15-minute repair. Book today.