The upper oven on my dual oven Caloric electric range has died. The range came new when the house was new in '79. The upper oven failed once roughly twenty years ago and was repaired by a technician. I don’t know what he replaced, but in the process he broke two of the three clock dial shafts and three or more of the plastic knobs on the control panel at the upper left. A good job! I don’t want to have to pay someone else for more of the same and so I’m trying to find out how to tackle this myself (besides, money’s tight these days).
The symptom is I turn on the upper oven and the panel lamp comes on, but the oven element doesn’t heat. With the breaker off, I checked continuity through the selector/thermostat switch and it appears OK (temporarily disconnected the wires, except for one that appears to be a temperature probe that passes below the oven door and up the right side, it isn’t removable). So perhaps the lower element has failed (I never broil)? Or could there be something else causing the problem?
Oh, yes – if I turn the switch all the way to broil, the upper element doesn’t heat either.
I’m attaching photos of the range and hope they’ll help (looked for a label but didn’t spot one). Yeah, it could do with more cleaning. The four rocker switches below the panel are left to right: Timed/Upper/Manual, Upper Oven Lamp, Burner Deck Lamp, Timed/Lower/Manual.
There are two knobs in the upper portion of the clock. One of them should be pushed in while the other one should be popped out. You have to play with them. In order to pop it out you have to turn the dial to the 0 position.
I actually don’t use the timer function (the only user), but I just checked them and both the upper shafts are at zero and re-extend when I push and release them (left shaft STOP, right START). They only stay in if rotated past the zero point (pointer straight up). Also, the leftmost and rightmost rocker switches are both set to “Manual”, not “Timed”.
Sure enough, two Phillips screws and it pulls out. It tests open, and naturally, the rear connector pulled back through the hole following disconnection and so I have to re-feed it. Looks like I need to find a new lower element. I suppose the most likely explanation for no broil is a bad upper element – have to see how to remove it.
[quote=TrevorS;798991]Sure enough, two Phillips screws and it pulls out. It tests open, and naturally, the rear connector pulled back through the hole following disconnection and so I have to re-feed it. Looks like I need to find a new lower element. I suppose the most likely explanation for no broil is a bad upper element – have to see how to remove it.
Dimensions are approx 4" element center-to-center deep by 16-7/8" from screw-mount tabs to right element center. The imprinted info on the top left of the element as best I can make out is "8459 (solder blobs and blank space) RP791 1500W 240V plus there may be a single numeral perhaps 6 or 8 a little further down. The first four characters are shown in the last photo above, the “R” of the second group is a best guess. If anyone can point me to a specific replacement element, that would be really great!
I’d also appreciate a hint on how the upper (broil) element is removed. I don’t see any fasteners on the left side of the oven and pulling towards the right doesn’t seem to accomplish anything. I did notice its terminals behind the control panel are the same style as the lower element. Range_8.jpg Photo by TrevorSt | Photobucket
Thanks and continuing to hope/hunt – Trevor
PS. Although it would be nice if I can locate an exact replacement, I’m perfectly willing to install an element that is merely close enough to do the job. If I have to modify the terminations or whatever, that’s fine. As long as any mods are reasonably doable.
PPS. Also, if anyone can identify either the exact Caloric Model (1979) or range of similar models from my photos, that would also be great.
Thanks very much Gene! Hunted around for a more helpful photo but nada, so took the plunge – it works out or it doesn’t. Whatever I receive, I’ll report on it including a photo. My fingers are crossed!
Now, back to removal of the upper element. Hmm, think I’ll heat some pasta first :)!
Uh, oh! Looking bad, just got this message from the parts dealer:
“I’m sorry but our inventory was incorrect, part CH5870 has been discontinued per the manufacturer Whirlpool and I am no longer able to get from them.”
Seems like the Whirlpool CH5870 is sither out-of-stock or special order. So, I just tried ordering the Chromalox version. Funny thing is, it said “in stock” before I placed the order, and now it says special order. Did I get the last one, or is it another misfire? If so, are they still available? Guess I’ll find out.
However, given no identifiable part number and probably unavailable CH5870 (in addition to RP791) – I’m probably out of luck on repairing this. If there are any other possible alternative solutions, I’m interested in learning about them.
The broil element is damaged on the near side causing distortion, so the neck measurement is from the oven mounting holes.
Distance from contact tip to screw mounting tab is 2" for both elements (bake and broil), but that’s non-critical since the wire terminal behind the control panel is free to move.
Length from the screw mounting tabs to far right element-center is 16-7/8".
Neck width is 1-7/8" from element-center to element-center. (Measured center-to-center of the oven wall mounting holes – hole diameter 1/2", element diameter 1/4".)
Widest width is 6-1/2" element-center to element-center.
(Neck length from screw mounting tab to first bend center is 3". Wide length from second bend center to far right element-center is 12-5/8".)
PS. I don’t know if this is in any way helpful, but I found a site with photos and manufacturer’s part numbers for the two Caloric elements. (Photos and dimensions appear identical to mine – 1" grid.)
Guess I’ll poke around some more. Seems the lower oven elements are still available, just not the upper (Amana models EST3992L, EST3992W, ESS394, ESS397)! Found the original upper bake element was actually Y0064288, so I’ve edited my previous post. Hmm, seems Y0064288 went N/L/A on 09/02/09. No date for the Y0091221 broil.
In case there’s interest, here are the lower oven element part numbers:
Element, Broil (240v-3000w)
Part #:Y0061732 Element, Bake (240v-2500w) (Replaces: Y0059552)
Part #:77001094
I received a replacement bake element today – took about a month from placing the order and never did receive confirmation it was still available, was just told it was back ordered. Here’s a photo:
According to the label it’s an Emerson CH-5870 and is made by Emerson Electric Co’s Wiegand Appliance Division. The label also specifies PCN 45866-0, I’m guessing an internal part number.
I installed it and it heats up fine, though I still have a problem, the temperature doesn’t appear to be regulating – just appears to turn on full voltage even at a setting of 100. Need to find out how the front panel thermostat control is supposed to work.
I’ll be back to you. Need to remove the panel again, dismount the control and report whatever I find. Wish I could take it completely out of there, but disconnecting the temperature sensor wire requires opening the control itself (feeds through the oven lower front trim and up the right side).
(Amana models EST3992L, EST3992W, ESS394, ESS397)! Found the original upper bake element was actually Y0064288, so I’ve edited my previous post. Hmm, seems Y0064288 went N/L/A on 09/02/09. No date for the Y0091221 broil.
