Frigidaire FEF326AWL — Common Problems & How to Fix Them

Understanding the Problem

Brief overview: The Frigidaire FEF326AWL is a freestanding electric range. The most common repair issues are: oven not heating (or only broiling), uneven oven temperature, one or more surface burners not heating, and control/display errors. Step-by-step diagnostics and repairs: 1) Oven won't heat at all (no bake or broil): - Check power: Verify range has 240V supply. Reset the breaker(s) for the range and make sure the range is fully plugged in (pull away from wall and inspect cord and connection). A tripped double-pole breaker or loose power cord can cause full loss of heat. - Test bake/broil elements visually: Turn oven on to Bake and Broil separately (short test). With the oven door open and power on, observe if either element glows red/hot. If neither glows but the control shows heat requested, suspect failed elements, a failed control board, or loss of one leg of the 240V supply. - Measure voltage at the terminal block (use a multimeter, 240V between the two hot terminals). If only ~120V present (only one hot leg), call an electrician. If 240V present, proceed. - Check continuity: Unplug range, remove rear access panel or oven bottom to access elements. Use an ohmmeter to test continuity of both bake and broil elements. Open circuit (infinite resistance) = replace that element. - Test oven sensor: If elements test good but oven won't reach temp, test the oven temperature sensor (usually a 2–4kΩ thermistor at room temp). If out of spec, replace sensor. - Check control board/relays: If elements and sensor test good and correct voltage present but no heat, the electronic control or associated relays/contacts may be bad. Inspect board for burned components and test relay outputs for voltage when heating is requested. Replace control board if confirmed bad. 2) Oven heats but temperature is wrong or cycles incorrectly: - Calibrate / check sensor: With oven at 350°F, use an oven thermometer to verify. If oven reads significantly off, test oven sensor resistance and replace if outside spec. If sensor is good, attempt electronic calibration (see owner's manual) then replace control board if calibration fails. - Check door seal and heating element position: Damaged gasket or bent element can cause heat loss or uneven cooking. Replace gasket or reposition/replace element as needed. 3) One or more surface burners not heating or intermittent heating: - Identify burner type (radiant glass top or coil): For a smooth glass cooktop, individual radiant element replacement is common. For coil elements, test element and terminal connection. - Swap test (coil style): If removable coil elements, swap the suspect element with a working one; if problem follows element, replace element. - Test infinite switch (surface burner control): If the element is good but does not get power at certain settings, the infinite switch behind the knob may be faulty. Remove knob and control panel, test continuity of the switch across positions and replace if faulty. - Check wiring and terminal block for burned contacts; repair or replace wiring/terminal block as needed. 4) Control/display problems (touchpad unresponsive or error codes): - Reset the range: Turn off power at the breaker for 30–60 seconds and restore. This often clears temporary lockups. - Inspect touchpad and ribbon cable: Remove top control panel to inspect and reseat the membrane keypad ribbon cable at the control board. - Replace clock/control board or keypad if unresponsive after reseating and resetting. Match part numbers to model tag before ordering. 5) How to replace a common part (example: bake element): - Tools: nut driver/socket set, screwdriver, multimeter, work gloves. - Safety: Turn off power at the breaker and unplug range or disconnect cord. - Access: Open oven door, remove oven racks and the lower access panel or oven bottom to reach element mounting screws. - Disconnect: Unscrew element mounting screws, gently pull element forward, and disconnect the quick-disconnect terminals (note orientation or take a photo). - Install new element: Connect terminals, push element back into bracket, secure mounting screws, reassemble access panel and racks. - Test: Restore power and test oven on Bake and Broil. Safety note: Always disconnect power before opening the back or accessing live terminals. If you are not comfortable testing high voltage (240V) or working on wiring, hire a licensed electrician or appliance technician.

Common Symptoms

Oven does not heat or only broils, oven temperature runs hot or cold, one or more surface burners do not heat, control/display unresponsive or error codes.

Common Causes

• Failed bake or broil heating element
• Faulty oven temperature sensor or infinite switch
• Power supply issue (one leg of 240V missing) or failed control board

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Frequently Asked Questions