[ryanbabs]

We have a Maytag model MEC4430 electric cooktop and it stopped working in the middle of cooking. None of the four burners will warm up and the indicator light will not light up. Nothing has spilled into the unit and I made sure each coil element was plugged in properly.

I checked the circuit breaker and it was not tripped. I reset it a couple of times to no avail. Also, my wife noticed that the indicator light would momentarily light up when I reset the breaker for a second and turn back off.

I have not taken it apart and put my multimeter on it yet, but does this unit have fuses somewhere? Also, what other problems should I look for or what could it be?

[denman]

Here are the parts
Replacement parts for MEC4430AAB models | AppliancePartsPros.com
I do not see a fuse/breaker any where in the unit.

It sounds to me like a power problem.
Since you see a light flash, my guess would be a bad breaker at least that is the end I would start at.

Unless you have experience working with electrical you may want to get an electrician in.
240 volts is lethal !!!

[kayakcrzy]

Ryan, before you call Mr. Electrician, Cut the breaker off, and pull all the burners off, and the drip pans and lift the top up on the cooktop. Sometimes it will lift right up, and sometimes there are 4 screws that hold it down. Two on the topside, and two on the bottom side. Once you get the top up, look for some burn't wires. It could very well be one of the power wires coming in. It will be real easy for you to view all the wires. Let me know what you find. Tom ********************************************

[ryanbabs]

Okay, I removed the unit and inspected the wiring, and everything looks great. No loose wires, burnt wires, etc. I closed the breaker and measured about 4 VAC at the indicator light and basically no power at the incoming leads.

I also noticed that when I turn on the power WITHOUT any of the cooking coils plugged in, the indicator light will light up with a high pulsating flicker. When I apply a coil, the power dissapates out and the light goes out. I'm thinking that this is capacitance built up in the wiring.

The only thing I can think of is that the circuit breaker is bad. Everything else seems fine. How common is it for a breaker to fail?

[denman]

How common is it for a breaker to fail?
Cannot say that it is a common problem but at the same time it is not totally uncommon.
That is why I felt that it was the first place to check.
A breaker is a mechanical device and like anything mechanical it can fail.

[RoboJoe Industries]

I am reasonably convinced that you have a weak breaker.

Uh, ...yup! Dat's what I tink.