[BellaVista Mama]

Greetings.

The digital display panel to my Magic Chef stove (circa 1998) is dead suddenly, with no warning and no history of error codes. Can I trouble shoot anything before I call a repair person?
The stove burners and the oven light are fine, but the oven does not work.
Also, if I do need to replace a circuit board, is it worth it? Would it be more smart to get a new stove instead--one that's under warranty? since components appear to be fritzing out.
Any input would be great.

With thanks from
BellaVistaMama

[PS Staff - Sheila]

Check the power going to the clock.

If you have 110 volt to the clock and it is not working it will need to be replaced.

If your range is in good condition there is no need to replace the whole unit.

Here is a link to your range model 6498XVB.

[BellaVista Mama]

Sheila,
Thanks for the info.
How do I check the power going to the clock? We do not know how to access the panel. Can you give me a link to instructions for that.
We did unplug and replug the entire range--no change in the dead panel.
An Appliance Doctor repairman did come to look at it, and his response wasn't comforting.
He said he could repair it, but that when he opened the range top the sealed burners were likely to pop out of their places. He said each would have to be resecured with three screws drilled into the burner base. To be fair, the rubber gaskets on the seals do appear to be rotting and cracked.
He also said my oven igniter was probably next to go with this model.
SO, I am not so sure about proceeding with this repair person. I feel like he doesn't have the finesse that this model will need. I don't want to be wiping around screw heads when I clean my range top.
On the other hand, I currently lack an oven.
Any thoughts?
Input would be much appreciated.
Best,
BellaVista Mama (aka Janet)

[PS Staff - Sheila]

I don't know of any instruction that would be available.

The burners do have to be removed and the top lifted to access the clock.

If the gasket are dry they would have to be replaced.

This is a hard call to make where I can't see your stove.

[calltom]

this is obviously to late to help you, but I had the same problem, display would go blank, sometimes oven and timer would shut off and maybe display blank or flashing time. I was able to get display back by pressing on display, sometimes had to press hard, or in different spots. was really strange. removed display and opened to expose circuit board, expecting to find loose solder joint, it's a fold over dual circuit board, used magnifying glass but saw no problems. Put all back together and problem would continue, sometimes it would take weeks for problem to show. decide to live with this since i could get display back, wife was getting up set, decided that obvious problem indicated it was the display circuit board. Replaced board at a cost around $174, I'll be darn if new one did about the same thing, although only had to press very lightly to get display back, it to would last for a week or so. Removed relay board and checked it, saw no problem, but after reinstalling could tape around (sometimes) and get it to act up. today received new relay board and replaced, cost $100, also have heat sensor on order, decided to replace it also just for the heck of it. will have to wait a week or so and see if this fixed the problem. really a strange problem. wife wants to go gas, so decided best to fix this one now, wait a couple of years and replace with gas at the same time we'll replace counter tops. it wasn't terribly hard to replace components, just frustrating that display didn't fix problem at beginning. what did you finally do to resolve your problem? email if you want: tom-linda@comcast.net

[kayakcrzy]

Hey Bella vista mama, replace the board. Is that Bella Vista Arkansas? I am only 35 minutes from you, and I service your area. You can reach me on my web site at ApplianceEducator.com Tom

[calltom]

Follow up on no display, I had replaced the clock display boards, as mentioned before by me, I have received and installed the relay board and heat sensor about 2 weeks ago. Problem has not reoccurred. Question is: Was it a combination problem of both clock control and relay board? Remember new clock control had similar problem but not as bad. Weird, but repairs corrected my problem. Relay board no big deal to replace, use needle nose pliers to compress stand offs then pull gently on relay board at each point to remove, pay attention to where the wires go, pretty much can transfer wire by wire once new board installed. good luck.

[kayakcrzy]

Usually there is no combination problem, it usually is one or the other, and the oven sensor is replaced for maintaince reasons, when you usually replace the clock control. That is what I do, because if the customer is going to the expense of replacing the clock control, it is just smart to replace the sensor to, because if the clock control is not sending out the proper voltage to the sensor, it could damage it too. So rather then make another trip out to the customers house in 6 months, and charge them for Labor, and service call, it's cheaper to do at that time. Tom ApplianceEducator.com

[denman]

There is a good chance that your problem was actually in the wiring harness.

The relay board also is the power supply for the clock PCB
You could have a poor connection to one of the pins in the connector, probably on the clock end.

Also could just have some corrosion on a pin, usually is a tan colored coating.
Can be cleaned off with a toothbrush and some electronic contact cleaner.

Just a note in case the problem shows up again

[calltom]

Thanks, yeah, I'd checked connectors last summer, also took the clock assy apart and checked with mag. glass all solder connections. Everything looked fine, the confusing part was the pressing on the display and everything came back, as time went on had to press much harder and in different places. Thought for sure new clock assy. would fix problem, boy was I ticked when wife yell to me that it went out again. But only had to press very lightly to get back, weird? Anyway replace the relay board and sensor, problem hasn't reoccurred for two weeks now, oven also cooks faster now, most likely the new sensor getting over temp to correct settings. Other old one was probably not allowing over to reach proper temp. At least it works now, I'd love to put old clock assy back on and see what happens, but I'm from the school of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".. thanks again for your input.