[GuruDude]

Extremely upset with Kenmore 790.96614407 elec range only 18 months old. Based on other forums, this F10 is common EXPENSIVE failure. Previous GE range lasted 25+ years!
Question: Kenmore part # 316418702 (Frigidaire #AP3772075) Electronic Oven Control (Clock/Timer) IS IT EASY TO INSTALL? Any tricky procedure or as simple as it appears? Step by step outline greatly appreciated.
Main concern, is it worth pumping $$ into repairing this range given the fact another failure will send the costs above the price of a new NON-KENMORE replacement. I plan on avoiding Frigidaire in the future.
Any thoughts on the BEST/most reliable brand in modern elec ranges? thanks.

[PS Staff - Sheila]

The clock is simple to replace.

Be for you replace the clock check the temperature sensor.

At room temperature 75 degrees you should get an ohms reading of 1091 ohms plus or minus 5.3 ohms.

Here is the part number for the sensor PS977497.

[GuruDude]

Thanks Sheila.
The broiler element comes on full blast without any programming or switch. (This seems to be a common occurrence when reading others comments about their failures) Does this give you further insight? Your advice is greatly appreciated.

[PS Staff - Sheila]

If the element is coming on with out programing you will have to replace the clock control.

PartSelect part number is PS977995.

[whataburn]

I have a Sears Self-Cleaning Range (serial number beginning with a 790) purchased in 2002. Up until 2 weeks ago, it was fine. Then, an infamous F1 code appeared at the same time my oven (that was set to 350 degress) fired up so hot that I swear the temperature reached over 600 degress! Smoke filled my house very quickly. My pork chop was charred black, and it had only been in the oven for 20 minutes when the F1 code appeared. I was able to shut the oven off by pressing the Bake Button to OFF. Over the next 2 days, we used the oven a couple of times and the only problem I noticed was that the Preheat and Oven lights were out of sync. Well... 3 days after the original F1 code, I was baking a pizza when within 15 minutes, I could smell something burning. I opened the oven to extreme heat, smoke, and charred pizza! I tried to shut the element off, but the main controls on the panel did not work. We had to go down the cellar and flip the circuit breaker. A few hours later we decided to flip the breaker just to see what would happen and as soon as the circuit was flipped, the oven element fired up red hot all on its own. The control panel lights were NOT ILLUMINATED, but the element was out of control! Pressing the Bake Button in attempt to shut the element off did not work. We needed to shut the circuit breaker OFF to turn the oven OFF. I now refuse to repair the range because I do not trust it. Sears has really been NO HELP and denies any problems with the range. Everyone experiencing such a dangerous problem with their Kenmore range needs to contact the Consumer Product Safety Administration so that they can investigate and determine if a recall is needed:

Consumer Product Safety Commission
Washington, DC 20207
Toll free:800-638-2772
E-mail: info@cpsc.gov
Fax: 301-504-0051

[GuruDude]

ABSOLUTELY. THIS IS A DEADLY DEVICE.

CONTACT THE CPSC and fill out this EASY on-line form:

https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/incident.aspx

I received an immediate mailing for more info for investigation.

Refer to this DEFECT as RUNAWAY TEMPERATURE which is an ADMITTED DEFECT but deviously located ONLY in the data sheet on the BACK POCKET of the range.
Even then, the shutdown procedure FAILS TO WORK. Only disconnecting the unit at the 220 V wall or hitting circuit breaker will shut it off.

Good luck to children at home alone. Good luck to anyone trying to HANDLE THE SCORCHING HOT UNIT to get to the back panel "warning instructions" hidden in the back pocket.
Good luck to SENIORS not strong enough move the range to get to the info sheet particularly if anti-tipping brackets have been installed properly.

THIS IS A DISASTER JUST WAITING TO HAPPEN.

SEARS/KENMORE/FRIGIDAIRE/ELETROLUX ALL MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS DEADLY DEVICE.

It's not a matter of IF....BUT WHEN homes and lives will be lost (if it hasn't ALREADY happened!)

[whataburn]

Dear GuruDude,
Thanks for the quick reply. I have contacted the CPSC. They did a phone interview with me a couple of days ago. I told them that many online appliance blogs are replete with very similar complaints about the Kenmore oven. Like you, I am also VERY WORRIED about the clear potential for a fatality to occur. You are absolutely correct about children home alone not knowing how to address this problem when it occurs. I was lucky that my teens were not home alone when the element was burning out of control. I am not convinced my teens would have known what to do. They do now.... but I am getting rid of the range. Some blogs have described repairs that seemed to solve the problem, but the problem eventually returned. VERY FRIGHTENING!!!! I wish you the best if you decide to repair this deadly device.

[Maxwell10]

Our Kenmore stove was only 13 months old and the heating
> element burnt out, we replaced it thru Sears (at a cost
> of over $70) and the oven still would not heat up. My
> husband discovered when it burnt out it burnt up the
> control panel up top (the digital system for timer/clock,
> etc.) So we ordered that part from Sears at a cost of
> $140 back in December. Replaced it and oven worked fine.
> However, beginning a few months after we replaced it, we
> keep getting an F10 flashing and a beaping that continues
> until we hit stop on it. This happens after I have used
> the oven, it also can happen in the middle of the night
> for no apparent reason. I finally have had enough! I called Sears Parts last night and got ransferred 7 TIMES! still no one could help me. I am so disappointed in this product. I had a GE that was 10 years old when we sold our other home we left it there - NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT!

Can someone help us no what this code means? Sears says the technicians cannot talk to us on the phone says it is "illegal in our area" to give this advice over the phone of course they want to send them out so we can pay them! NOT!