Ge Model Number JPK27WOW2WW - when top oven is on bake cycle, the top element comes on (like in broil cycle) and burns food. Has anyone seem this problem? And if so what is the solution to fix it? Thanks

The heating element is either off or on and it should be 220. The issue you are having is the thermostat.

You're actually referring to the "broiler" elements. Most electric ovens have these at the top of the main oven space. (Some gas ovens are set up the same way, but many put the broiler elements in a bottom drawer.)

As their name implies, broiler elements are active only when you're broiling. They will not go on for baking.

Broiling is the process of cooking food by exposing it directly to a high heat source at close range. To broil a steak, for example, you would place the pan holding the steak on an oven rack raised to the top or next to top position in the oven (consult the manual) and set the oven to broil. The top elements will then turn on and cook the meat by direct radiation.

Most people, however, use ovens for baking far more often than for broiling. Baking is the process of cooking food (cakes, casseroles, roasts etc) by indirect heat. In other words you raise the oven to a certain temperature, put the food on a rack more in the middle of the oven, and let the surrounding heat cook it over time. When you bake the top broiler elements usually don't come on at all.

I hope this helps.

The heating element in top unit may be loose or burned out. Push the element toward the back and see if it engages. If it is already engaged, you'll need to replace it. It is simple to remove it.Just give a firm tug and it should come right out. To replace with a new element, simply push it in firmly.
With the bottom unit, are controls set for bake? If they are set for "broil" you are using direct heat and it will cook foods more quickly.Also, is bottom unit a convection oven? If so, foods will cook in 1/4 to 1/2 the time for a conventional oven, so you'll have to adjust your temperature down about 25-50 degrees and shorten your cooking time.

It won't bake or broilIf neither the bake nor the broiler heating elements heat, but the range burners still work, the clock may be set for a timed or self-cleaning cycle. Check to be sure the clock buttons and knobs are set properly. If your clock has a knob that says "push for man(ual)", push the knob in and try the baking and broiling elements again. If it still does not operate properly, you probably have a defect in the thermostat, selector switch, or common wiring.

If the oven does not have a separate bake/broil/etc. selector switch, the problem may be with the thermostat. But it's not easy to check the selector switch or thermostat for proper operation. If you suspect a problem in this area, call a qualified appliance repair technician.

• When the food you're baking is done on top but not on the bottom--or when baking just takes far too long to finish--the bake element may be burned out.


You may get fooled into thinking it's working, because the oven is hot inside. But many electric ovens use the broil element, too, during the preheat and bake cycles. So the food may be getting heated only by the broil element, which causes poor baking results.

If the bake element is burned out, replacing it should solve the problem. Otherwise, you need to further troubleshoot the oven's electrical system to locate the defective wire or component.


• When the temperature is consistent but too high or too low, it could be one of several different things. First check to see if the thermostat sensing bulb has come loose from its holder. It could be lying on the floor of the oven or resting on the heating element. This would cause the oven to not heat correctly.


If the thermostat bulb is not dislodged, it's likely that the thermostat or sensor is either mis-calibrated or defective.

Electronic ovens with a digital display use a sensor to monitor oven temperature. To solve temperature problems for these models, you may need to replace the sensor. On some digital-display models, you can calibrate the temperature using the key pad. See your operator's manual for details.

Ovens without a digital display often use a mechanical system for controlling temperature. On many of these units, you can remove the thermostat knob and adjust the knob itself to more accurately represent the actual setting of the thermostat.

If, when you remove the knob, there's a screw on the back of it with a small calibration plate, you can loosen the screw, adjust the plate, then tighten the screw again. If the knob isn't adjustable, and the oven temperature is off by more than 30 to 40 degrees, you need to replace the thermostat to solve the problem.

It won't broil Usually, when an oven won't broil, it's because the broiler element is burned out. The broiler element in an electric oven is the black, pencil-thick tube at the top of the oven. When the broiler is on, the element glows red. This element has an expected life-span of several years. It may last for only one; it may last for many more. When the element burns out, you need to replace it.

I have a 2yo Kitchenaid oven, and my advice is first, don't use convection for cakes or pizza. Use the thermal oven. For pizza preheat to 500 degrees, then put the pizza on the lowest rack, and bake for 7-8 minutes.This way the bottom browns, and the top doesn't get broiled from the top element coming on during the bake cycle.

As for cakes, again place them on the low rack so that they get bottom heat. I keep my eye on the oven and when the broil element comes on I stick a piece of foil over the cake until it goes off. Otherwise it will set the top and the cake won't rise as much. Even doing that cakes don't rise as much as they did in my old oven, and they brown too much on top.

The convection oven does a good job of cookies, and the broil mode is okay.

I wish I hadn't bought this oven, but I didn't know about the upper (broil) element coming on during the bake cycle until I'd had it for awhile, and it was too late to return it.

If anyone's shopping for an oven, ask questions, and don't get one that maintains the oven temperature by activating the broil element when baking.

Usually, when an oven won't bake, it's because the bake element is burned out. The bake element is the black, pencil- thick tube at the bottom of the oven. When the oven heats, the element glows red. This element has an expected life-span of several years. It may last for only one; it may last for many more. When the element burns out, you need to replace it.

It bakes poorly Here are two instances of when food "bakes poorly:"

• When the food you're baking is done on top but not on the bottom--or when baking just takes far too long to finish--the bake element may be burned out.
  
  You may get fooled into thinking it's working, because the oven is hot inside. But many electric ovens use the broil element, too, during the preheat and bake cycles. So the food may be getting heated only by the broil element, which causes poor baking results.
  
  If the bake element is burned out, replacing it should solve the problem. Otherwise, you need to further troubleshoot the oven's electrical system to locate the defective wire or component.
  
  
• When the temperature is consistent but too high or too low, it could be one of several different things. First check to see if the thermostat sensing bulb has come loose from its holder. It could be lying on the floor of the oven or resting on the heating element. This would cause the oven to not heat correctly.
  
  If the thermostat bulb is not dislodged, it's likely that the thermostat or sensor is either mis-calibrated or defective.
  
  Electronic ovens with a digital display use a sensor to monitor oven temperature. To solve temperature problems for these models, you may need to replace the sensor. On some digital-display models, you can calibrate the temperature using the key pad. See your operator's manual for details.
  
  Ovens without a digital display often use a mechanical system for controlling temperature. On many of these units, you can remove the thermostat knob and adjust the knob itself to more accurately represent the actual setting of the thermostat.
  
  If, when you remove the knob, there's a screw on the back of it with a small calibration plate, you can loosen the screw, adjust the plate, then tighten the screw again. If the knob isn't adjustable, and the oven temperature is off by more than 30 to 40 degrees, you need to replace the thermostat to solve the problem.
  
  

does the bake element come on at all?
if so, try the oven out. do a bake @ 350 allow it to pre-heat, and see if once the pre-heat is comlete, id the broil shuts off.
on many ovens at the beginning of the cycle during pre-heat both bake and broil elements are powered.

other than that it may be a control board, or a burnt and crossed wire in the harness.

When the food you're baking is done on top but not on the bottom--or when baking just takes far too long to finish--the bake element may be burned out.

You may get fooled into thinking it's working, because the oven is hot inside. But many electric ovens use the broil element, too, during the preheat and bake cycles. So the food may be getting heated only by the broil element, which causes poor baking results.

If the bake element is burned out, replacing it should solve the problem. Otherwise, you need to further troubleshoot the oven's electrical system to locate the defective wire or component.

When the food you're baking is done on top but not on the bottom--or when baking just takes far too long to finish--the bake element may be burned out.

You may get fooled into thinking it's working, because the oven is hot inside. But many electric ovens use the broil element, too, during the preheat and bake cycles. So the food may be getting heated only by the broil element, which causes poor baking results.

If the bake element is burned out, replacing it should solve the problem. Otherwise, you need to further troubleshoot the oven's electrical system to locate the defective wire or component.

I have the same problem. Just swap the 2 wires that are marked as 'broil' and 'bake' on the controller board. But sometimes it switches back, then I have to swap the wires again.

You might want to leave the 'broil' post unconnected to prevent burning food..