On the covered GE range or wall oven platform, F2, F20 means GE says the oven temperature has exceeded a preset threshold for an unknown reason. First, turn off the heat and allow a safe cooldown. IFixit says a sensor can read abnormally high, such as 1,600 ohms, and cause overtemperature errors; it should read about 1,100 ohms at room temperature.
Differential
Likely causes of “GE range or wall oven code F2, F20”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A temperature sensor reading far too high
What separates it The oven overheats or F2 shows while cooking, which points to a temperature sensor reading far too high
How to confirm iFixit says a sensor can read abnormally high, such as 1,600 ohms, and cause overtemperature errors; it should read about 1,100 ohms at room temperature
- 2
Corrosion in the sensor wiring
What separates it A connector is oxidised or loose, which points to corrosion in the sensor wiring
How to confirm The control reads higher resistance as higher temperature, so a corroded connection can look like an over-temperature condition
- 3
A failed cooling fan
What separates it The control compartment gets hot, which points to a failed cooling fan
How to confirm iFixit says if the cooling fan fails the board can fail and some models show F2
- 4
A control with a welded relay
What separates it F2 shows while the oven is not on, which points to a control with a welded relay
How to confirm iFixit says relay contacts can weld, leaving the board unable to shut off Broil or Bake
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The exact characters shown on the display: F2 or F20
- Whether it appears while the oven is off
- Whether the oven is really overheating
Try in this order
0 of 6 completedWhat to do first
ReversibleTurn off the heat and allow a safe cooldown.
Correct only the documented fault domain
ReversibleGE says a trained service technician should diagnose it. GE says to turn the range or wall oven off at the circuit breaker until it is serviced, and that you may switch the breaker on long enough to use the surface units on a range, then turn it off at the breaker again.
Reset the power
ReversibleDisconnect power for 5 minutes and reconnect; if the error returns, continue, and if not, monitor it, since this error often starts occasionally and grows in frequency.
Test the sensor
ReversibleWith power off, disconnect the sensor and measure its resistance; about 1,100 ohms at room temperature is normal, so replace it above 1,150 or below 1,050 ohms, or if any lead has continuity to the sensor shell.
Check the wiring
ReversibleTrace the sensor wires to the control, check the connectors for corrosion, burns or melted insulation, and remember the control sees values below 900 ohms as a short and above 2,900 ohms as open.
Check the fan and control
ReversibleConfirm the cooling fan runs; F2 appearing while the oven is off points to the electronic range control.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Displayed as
- F2, F20.
- Parts named
- Oven sensor; cooling fan; electronic range control.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If the oven really overheats, cancel the cycle and keep the breaker off until repaired
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Where the manufacturer's article stops. The sensor values are iFixit's, not GE's.
Exact questions
Common questions
What does F2, F20 mean on a GE range or wall oven?+
GE says the oven temperature has exceeded a preset threshold for an unknown reason.
Is it safe to keep using it?+
GE recommends keeping the range off at the breaker until service; using the surface units briefly is acceptable.
What should the sensor read?+
About 1,100 ohms at 77 degrees F, according to iFixit.