How to Repair Your GE Gas Range Oven If the Burner’s Flames Are Too High

If you see smoke or high flames in your oven, turn off your oven immediately. Find the source of the flames to troubleshoot the most likely problem with your gas oven. If you see the flames under the bottom panel of the oven cavity or along the bake burner, then the bake burner’s igniter connection is malfunctioning. Order a replacement range oven bake burner, part #WB16K10043 for GE’s gas range models, and follow these steps to replace the part.

Before you start any appliance repair procedure, make sure you unplug or disconnect the appliance from its power source. It’s not enough to turn the appliance off. You want to remove any chance of an electrical connection that can endanger you and anyone in the work area. Unplug the oven or, if you have a model that wires directly into the house’s power, flip the circuit breaker.

Because you’re dealing with a gas model oven, you also need to shut off the gas connection. During the course of this repair, you will be removing parts that directly connect to the gas and are meant to ignite.

The bake burner is under the oven cavity, so you will need to dismantle the front-facing portion of the oven to get access. Start by removing the oven door.

First, open the oven door to a forty-five-degree angle and grab the sides of the door. Then pull the door up and off the hinges that extend up the sides of the doors. Some models may have hinge locks that need to be flipped open, but most GE models do not. Carefully set the door on a flat, soft surface to protect the door’s glass panel.

Also, remove the oven racks and set them aside.

First, remove the bottom plate, or the “floor” of the oven. Start by locating the two screws at the rear corners of the plate. They may be adhered in place by oil or buildup, so moisten them with a bit of water and scrub visible debris away from them. Next, loosen the two rear screws and set them aside.

After that, put on a pair of gloves and grab the panel by the side cut-outs. Push the panel towards the rear of the oven to slip it free of the front groove, and then lift it out of the oven. Set it aside.

You will need to access the igniter next, which is located at the bottom rear of the appliance. Open the bottom oven panel and pull the drawer open so you can see the parts at the rear of the appliance. Locate the gas valve shield cover, which is the vertical metal panel that stands a few inches away from the back of the appliance. Moisten and loosen the two screws holding it to the bottom of the appliance. Then lift the bottom right corner and slide it out of the left tab. Complete remove the part and set it aside.

Next, loosen the screw holding the small cover plate at the rear of the appliance. Once the small cover is removed, pull the wire harness free and disconnect it by pressing down the locking tabs. One set of the wires comes through the hole in the rear wall. Make sure they don’t fall out through the back so you don’t have to move behind the oven or fish them back through.

Remove the igniter connected to the other set of wires by moistening and loosening the screws. Then pull the igniter out and set it aside.

Along the center of the rear wall is a securing point for the bake burner. Moisten and unthread the two screws at this rear support point. There is a third screw under the front frame. Moisten and loosen this screw, too. Next, rotate the bake burner to one side so you can pull it out of the oven and set it aside.

Position the new bake burner in place in the oven. First, slip the rear of the bake burner over the gas valve orifice. Next, orient the front end of the burner so the part runs straight down the middle of the oven. Slip the front end over the metal support so it stays in place. After that, resecure the one screw at the bottom of the front frame and the two in the area.

Start by installing the igniter. First, position the igniter flush with the rear of the bake burner and hold it in place. Then replace the screws and tighten them firmly. Reattach the wire harness and put through the rear hole.

Replace the cover and tighten the screw to hold it in place.

Also replace the cover shield by sliding the left side in place under the tab and then replacing the two screws.

Before you continue to reassemble the oven, check that the part works. Do this by plugging the oven in and turning on the gas. Then turn on the oven to see how the gas responds. The igniter should turn white from heat and that should make the bake burner ignite within thirty seconds.

Check the flames for consistency and color. The whole of the burner should ignite, and the tips of the flames should not be yellow. If you see yellow flames, that means the heat isn’t properly focused. Turn off the oven and adjust the air shutter at the rear end of the burner when it’s safe to touch.

Continue reassembling the oven by adding back the bottom panel. First, slide the front end under the groove and lower the rear. Make sure the holes in the bottom plate and the frame align so the screws go into place. Thread them by hand at first to make sure everything aligns so you don’t strip the threads or improperly secure the bottom plate. Then fully rethread the back two screws flush with the bottom panel with a screwdriver.

Add the shelves back in and close the bottom door.

Replace the oven door by sliding it down over the hinge arms. Open and close a few times to make sure it locks into position.

Once the oven is fully reassembled, turn on the gas and plug the appliance back in. For more appliance repair procedures or to schedule a repair time, go to Flamingo Appliance Service here.