GE Oven F3 Error: Open oven sensor circuit
This guide covers GE oven F3 error in detail to help you diagnose and resolve the issue. What Does GE Oven Error Code F3 Mean? Error code F3 on a GE wall oven means the oven temperature sensor circuit has an open connection — the sensor probe has burned out, or its wiring has broken […]
Quick Assessment
Answer to continue safely
Is it safe to keep using?
No. Without a working temperature sensor, the control board cannot regulate heat. There is a risk of uncontrolled overheating. Do not use the oven until the open circuit is repaired.
Can I reset the code?
Yes. A circuit breaker reset clears the F3 code. If the sensor or wiring is physically broken, F3 returns immediately on the next power-on. The reset only holds after the hardware fault is repaired.
When to stop immediately?
Stop if you notice: F3 returns within seconds of every reset with no cook function active, Burned or melted wiring visible near the sensor connector or oven wall grommet.
Symptoms You May Notice
Oven does not heat or shuts off within 1–2 minutes of starting
The oven may briefly energize the element then cut heat as soon as the control board polls the sensor and receives no valid reading. The preheat phase never completes.
F3 code and alarm at the start of any cook function
F3 appears within the first heating phase when the board requests its first temperature reading. On some models it appears immediately at cycle start during the power-on self-check.
Temperature display shows dashes or reads 0 °F
On GE Profile and Monogram wall ovens that display current cavity temperature, an open sensor circuit causes the readout to show "---" or zero even after extended preheating.
Code returns immediately after every power reset
Unlike transient faults, F3 from a physically broken sensor or wire returns on every power cycle — the hardware defect does not heal with a reset.
Possible Causes
Failed temperature sensor probe (open circuit)
The RTD element inside the probe has burned out. Multimeter resistance across the sensor terminals reads OL (infinite), confirming an open circuit.
DIY PossibleBroken or disconnected sensor wiring
The two-conductor wire between the sensor probe and the control board has a break or pulled free from its connector — common after self-clean or accidental snagging during oven rack installation.
DIY PossibleBurned sensor connector at the control board
Self-clean temperatures can burn the sensor connector pins at the board or at the oven wall pass-through, breaking the circuit permanently.
Requires ProfessionalSafe Checks You Can Do
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1
Inspect and reseat the sensor connector inside the oven
Turn off the circuit breaker. Locate the temperature sensor probe — a 2-inch metal rod at the rear upper wall of the oven cavity, secured by one or two screws. Pull it gently out and confirm the wire connector is firmly attached and shows no burning.
On GE double wall ovens (PT9050), both upper and lower cavity sensors use the same probe style. Confirm which cavity displays F3 before inspecting — check the sensor in that specific cavity.
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2
Measure sensor resistance with a multimeter
With power off, disconnect the sensor wire connector. Set a multimeter to resistance and test across the two sensor pins. Correct reading at room temperature: 1080–1100 ohms. OL or infinite = open sensor, confirm with a replacement.
GE wall oven RTD sensors are part-number specific — use the model number from the oven label (inside door frame) when ordering. Sensors cost from $25.
Tools required -
3
Trace the sensor wiring to the control board
If the sensor tests good, trace the sensor wiring from the probe connector through the oven rear wall grommet to the control board. Look for any break, pinch, or disconnected terminal along the path. A flashlight and mirror are helpful for wall oven cavities.
Wall oven sensor wires typically route through the back of the oven cavity and along the outside of the oven box to the control board. The wiring is usually accessible without pulling the oven from the wall.
When to Call a Professional
Contact a qualified technician if:
- Sensor tests good and wiring is intact, yet F3 persists — control board sensor input failed
- Burned connector pins at the control board require board replacement
Need Professional Help?
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