The pilots on top is working fine, but the oven is not getting hot at all

I have this model too and have had to replace two thermocouples because the pilot is so high it frys them. We replaced the whole modulator last time and it still goes out so I have to relight The pilot is at the lowest setting, it's a GE/Hotpoint issue that was not recalled. I do like the hot 125 degree oven for drying sun dried tomatoes and keeping plates warm.

its the hot surface igntior that glows could be cracked might need replacing

Hi, sounds like the the pilots (which are under the top) may be set too high. Open the top and take a look, it is possible to turn down the pilots. Follow the tubing that feeds the pilots and look for an adjustment screw.

The pilot light must be lit and stay lit before you will have any propane coming into the oven. This is a safety feature.

It could be that the safety ($150 to $250) is getting old, or grease filled. It could also mean the thermocouple ($7 to $12) is going bad, or has a bad connection. If the copper jacket of the thermocouple is blackened near the pilot, broken or cracked in anyway, it may not be working properly, as it generates a small voltage when heated, less than100th of an AAA battery, to keep your pilot lit. If the pilot orfice is clogged with dust it produces a smaller, less hot flame, which also lowers the output of the thermocouple. If I was performing the service, you would automatically get a pilot cleaning, and a thermocouple, the safety could still be bad, and confirming this is a 50/50 chance to begin with, but it is a cheaper start. Good luck, ask more if you need too, thank you, an Happy New Year.

the pilot light is there for 2 purposes. number 1 to light the burner and number 2 to heat up the thermocouple, thermocouple is a wire that the flame from pilot suppose to surround by fire. if the pilot is to low it will not reach the thermocouple. you can take the gas line that supplies gas to the pilot and clean it with a safety pin or a small needle. you can test the thermocouple by heating it up with a blow torch on low heat, get it red hot and then turned on the oven. if the oven works clean the pilot, if the oven do not work, replace the thermocouple if separate from safety valve. if thermocouple is part of it replace the safety valve.

Take off the top cover plate inside the oven. Now with the door open turn the oven on does the hot surface glow? If it doesn't glow then you have a bad igniter and needs to be replaced. What ever you do don't touch the surface of the new igniter human oil will shorten the life of the igniter. now if the hot surface glows then the gas valve is bad and need to be replaced. I'm betting it's the hot surface.

There is a cover plate that has two screws holding it down. Inspect the pilot area and you will see a hot surface igniter sitting right next to it.. That is what lights pilot and then the pilot lights main burner. You need a new igniter. Also do not touch any part of the hot surface igniter as human oil will shorten the life of part.

Part of the problem was my own ignorance about this particular Kenmore gas oven. It doesn't even have a pilot light. Instead, there is an electric heating element close to the burner which gets so hot that it ignites the gas. It seems that the heating element also doubles as a temperature sensor, so that it opens the gas valve only when the heating element is hot enough to ignite the gas. This heating element, called the "ignitor", no longer gets hot in my oven even though there is 120VAC applied to it when the oven knob is turned on. Therefore, the ignitor is defective. I ordered a new one on-line from "Appliance Parts of America" for $31.50 plus shipping, and this should fix the problem. If it does NOT, I'll add to this post.

It has a bad oven igniter.