[Stevem]

I have a 12 year old Jenn-Air Model SVE47500 that displays intermittent "F-", "FC" and F-5" error codes, accompanied by the usual error "beep." The failure is intermittent, but seems to be at least partly temperature-specific. For example, the oven will usually operate for a longer time prior to failure at a setting of 250F than if it is working at 450F.

I've checked and cleaned the contacts of the wiring harnesses on the clock assembly board. Reading other posts in this forum, I suspected that the communications failure may be occurring on the relay board. In some circumstances, I can hear the relay "fluttering" after the failure code has been displayed. On occasion, the oven light and fans will cycle on and off as the range cools down. Stove top operation remains normal, except the vent fan will stop when the error codes appear.

Upon removing the back plate, I noted that a square of insulation was almost totally dislodged from where the convection fan would be in a model 47600. The relay board does not show any physical signs of damage. The vent fan's control board does have some discoloration around diodes Z1 & Z3 and resister R12. But, the fan operates normally when the range is not in error mode.

Running the oven at 500F with the back plate off for an hour did not produce a failure of any kind. I can hear the heat element relay cycling on and off normally. Is it possible that the relay board was being over-temped by the dislodged insulation? Logically, I can see how the computer chip would throw off a communication error code if it got too hot. Its the occasional F-5 codes that have me wondering if I'm chasing multiple problems, or if the oven element relay is also being affected by excess heat, or the control circuitry is sending it an "off" signal when it shouldn't.

Any words of wisdom?

-Steve

[csanford]

Did you get any help with this? My oven does the same things and can go into locked cleaning mode while I'm cooking.
Thanks,
Carolyn

[Stevem]

Hi Carolyn.

I never received a reply from this post, but I did end up devising a repair on my own. I added spacers behind the back plate of the stove so that there is now a 1/2 inch air gap all the way around it. (Enough to improve ventilation and air flow, but not a big enough opening to expose any energized conductors or hot surfaces.)

I also installed a very quiet fan that directly cools the relay board. I picked it up at the local Radio Shack store from their computer supply inventory. I powered the fan by piggybacking onto the circuit that runs the factory-installed cooling fan that ventilates below the cook top. That way, both fans come on when the oven reaches 220 degrees. So far, this repair has been working very well, even when we're pushing the oven temps up around 500. No more error codes, flashing oven light, or unwanted locking of the oven door. (It takes all of the suspense out of roasting a turkey.)

Of course, I could have just spent the $250 or so for a replacement relay board. But I suspect that the problems would eventually return after the new board had been "cooked" a bit. A design that has electronics in a hot environment doesn't strike me as being that well thought out. The cooling fan seems to do the trick. But, I wouldn't attempt such a repair unless you're comfortable working with electric circuits and know all the standard safety rules. Also, my stove is reasonably old, so I didn't have to worry about voiding any manufacturer's warranty.

Good luck!

-Steve