my oven won't shut off. help please.

[Syrinx]

I've got a pretty old, cheap electric range from Sears, sold under the Capri brand name. And it won't shut down. Even with the oven control set on "off" it stays really hot. I had to turn it off at the breaker panel.

The oven has been acting pretty crazy for awhile. It seems that no matter what temperature I set the oven to, it would get about 150 to 200 degrees hotter. That's been going on for about a year or so, and was really annoying, but manageable -- I would just set it to 200 if I really wanted 350. And it was great for making pizza, because if I set it to 500, it would get really, really hot. It made a fine pie :)

But now, it won't go off at all. That's not so manageable.

I'm guessing (just guessing) that either the thermostat itself, or maybe the temperature sensor in the oven cavity, has conked out.

Anyone have any advice on this? If worse goes to worst, I guess I can call a professional to fix it, but I would much prefer to avoid the expense.

The past few nights, I've either been eating sandwiches for supper, or cooking on an old hotplate I dug out of the closet. The stovetop works fine, but if I use them that means the oven is super-heating in this 100 degree weather. And frankly, I'm scared I'm going to end up burning the whole place down. :(

Thanks to you!

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

1. OK, yer problem is simple .

Yer switch went out. Two things can happen with those stoves, the burners go or the switch.

If it's a older stove you no doubt have four switch's -one for each burner ,than two switch's for the over /broiler-total six right? Or if it has electronics it all goes through a module.

OK,so since it is clear both of your heating elements work in the stove,it's yer switch.

OK, first of all, find the make/model number /serial number. Should be on a plate /the oven door inside or the side. find that. Write down the serial number and the model number the make too.
With those numbers in hand, you call a appliance parts store. (Phone book. ) you don't need to call Sears.

You can describe the problem to a parts rep. over the phone,You will be told it is the switch,or most likely is,but it is.A new one is about $.25.00 bucks. Shut off the circuit breaker before you remove/replace the switch.
I seem to recall you had a problem with yer circuit breaker some time ago.

So make the call to the appliance parts store, you will find those people very helpful. You call Sears parts , they tell you nothing.
Go with the independents.

And your right, Sears for example will charge you $65.00 for ringing yer door bell ,than for every minute after that. OK so the cost of that repair. plus the part would be between $165.00 and $250.00 all for a $25.00 part and of course yer screw driver !
Or about half the cost of a new stove.
That's how it works.

[Warpy]

2. Excellent advice, but my advice would be that unless you're

absolutely in love with that old stove, take this opportunity to get one you do love.

Well, unless you want to pick it apart to get the old part out and the new part in and just hope that's the problem and not something worse.

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

3. Actually ,when he finds out how easy a fix that is

he will be mad at himself for not asking or looking into it a year ago ! Think about it, used appliances stores make their money by changing out switch's and burners ,replacing connection terminals ,minor wiring . there is really not much to a stove ,or a washer or a dryer. I mean whats a washer, a agitator and a pump motor. -than switch's. Dryers are simple too. As are dishwasher,unless it's a GE. GE's are service unfriendly.

And I get the impression he really doesn't cook all that much so $500.00 fer a new stove could be used for more important things like golf clubs !

Or $250.00 for a used stove plus $75.00 bucks for delivery and take away of the old stove which could bring the used appliance salesman a return on the resale of his old stove.

Fact is there is not a whole lot to replacing a simple rotating pod switch. And the problem is never what you would imagine at the worst.

If you got the time ,you can save yerself some money because on the repair bill ,time is money. And a appliance parts store is a good place to get to know your way around if you like to save yourself money,that's if you got the time.

[Warpy]

4. I know, been there done that

but if anything died on my Monkey Ward stove, I'd be shouting hallelujah and getting rid of it tout de suite. The same thing goes for the 1970s POS side by side fridge, an energy hog and the configuration gives poor storage on both sides.

Oh, I'm grateful that the used appliance guy was there and willing to put in the new compressor into the fridge and the new thermostat into the stove and sell them to me cheap when I was poor, but it's time to move on.

They just won't die.

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

5. I see your point Warpy

I fixed our washer twice with new switch's ! Her father bought her that washer and she wanted it fixed every time. The last time I took it apart ,I made sure it was finished for good!
I made the mistake of going down into appliances twenty years ago or so back when I was doing apartment renovations. It's been more a pain in my ass than anything else.

The only reason I fix those things is because I have people that don't call anyone else period,no matter what the problem is. Appliances are just a courtesy thing. If I tell them it's time,than they ask what kind should they buy.

It seems to me Synarix would rather save a few bucks than pay a repair bill at this time.
And swapping out can also be a pain in the ass.

If it won't shut off, the switch is fried.

[MajorChode]

7. For old appliances, that is true

With old appliances, it's generally one or two relatively cheap parts which are easily changed. With newer appliances everything is electronically controlled and the parts are very expensive. I replaced the electronics board in my oven only to have it go out again a few weeks later. Come to find out the cooling fan had gone out so I had to replace the fan and the electronics board again, both of which were expensive. Who would have thought that electronics and heat don't go together? The fan is an electro-mechanical device which has a finite life span which pretty much negates any advantage that an electronics control gives you. Older ovens lasted forever and in the rare instances when they would break, the repairs were relatively cheap and easy. Ironically when you get into the high end commercial ovens, they go back to mostly mechanical controllers.

[Syrinx]

6. that makes sense

Thanks!