On the covered Whirlpool range, F3 E2 means the oven temperature sensor circuit is shorted, so the control reads an impossibly hot oven and stops heating First, let the oven cool, then turn the breaker off for one minute and back on.
Differential
Likely causes of “Whirlpool range code F3 E2”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A shorted oven temperature sensor
What separates it The oven overheats quickly and the broil element glows
How to confirm Unplug the range and look at the sensor wires
- 2
A spill that bridged the sensor leads
What separates it The code follows a boil-over or a cleaning spray
How to confirm Look for residue where the wires enter the oven
- 3
A pinched sensor harness
What separates it The code starts after the range was moved
How to confirm Check that the wiring was not caught behind the range
- 4
Heat damage to the sensor probe
What separates it F3 E2 on an oven that was run at its highest settings for long periods
How to confirm A probe whose insulation has cracked can short to the oven wall
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Whether the oven got far hotter than set
- Whether a spill or cleaning came first
- Whether the range was moved
- The model number
Try in this order
0 of 6 completedWhat to do first
ReversibleLet the oven cool, then turn the breaker off for one minute and back on.
Correct only the documented fault domain
ReversibleWith the power off, look for a pinched or burnt sensor wire and measure the sensor; replace the sensor first and the oven control only if the sensor and wiring are sound. A power reset is the whole of what Whirlpool publishes for this code: remove power for 1 minute, restore it, and watch whether the code returns.
Let the oven cool
ReversibleAn oven that read a shorted sensor may have run very hot. Let it cool fully before you touch anything.
Reset at the breaker
ReversibleTurn the breaker off for a minute and back on and see whether the code returns.
Test the sensor
ReversibleWith the power off, the sensor is measured against its resistance chart; a shorted sensor is replaced, and the control only if the sensor and wiring are sound.
Check the sensor with the power off
ReversibleThe oven sensor is a thin probe at the back of the cavity. Unplug the range, look for a cracked or burnt lead, and have the probe measured: a good sensor reads about 1,100 ohms at room temperature, and a shorted one reads far lower.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Shown as
- F3 E2.
- Part named
- Oven temperature sensor and its wiring.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !Do not use the oven while F3 E2 shows
- !Call a technician for the sensor and wiring
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
What does F3 E2 mean on a Whirlpool range?+
the oven temperature sensor circuit is shorted, so the control reads an impossibly hot oven and stops heating
How is it different from F3 E1?+
F3 E1 is the open-circuit version of the same sensor fault; F3 E2 is the shorted one.
Is it safe to bake anyway?+
No. A control that cannot read the oven can let it run hot.
Why does an oven with F3 E2 get so hot?+
The control thinks the oven is cold because the shorted sensor reads wrongly, so it keeps heating. That is why you should not use the oven while the code shows.
Can I replace the sensor myself?+
The sensor is a simple part on most ranges, but it should be done with the range unplugged and the oven cool, and the new sensor must match the model.