Broken oven function selector switch, troubleshooting, wiring and how to replace
Selector switch How to Diagnose Fault on oven that is built in or free standing
Oven selector switches that can be referred to as function switches or commutator switches they are the small switch that sits behind the control knob of your oven and switch between the various functions of your oven. the function switch is the component that allows you to switch between various functions - such as the grill, fan heating, etc.
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Understanding your Cooker or oven selector switch
A selector switch should never be switched when the power is on the thermostat as this will wear the it out quickly.
It is a primary component for your cooker and therefore it's vitally important that you replace it as soon as it begins to become faulty or when it became sticky.
We have a terrific selection of Oven Selector Switches and videos to help you but because they come in a whole variety of shapes and sizes, we strongly recommend that you check that the selector you wish to purchase is compatible with your oven. You can do this by selecting the manufacturer and model number of your appliance or use the number on the selector into the search box. You will then be provided with a list of spare parts that are compatible with your appliance. Or email us for help
If you're unsure how to fit your oven selector switch, please follow this video guide.
How to fit an oven selector switch
Safety notice: unplug your cooker or oven before beginning any work.
If your cooker is built-in, you'll need to remove it from it's cavity. To do this, remove the 2 or 4 screws that are holding it to the cabinet. These are situated on the front of your oven behind the door. You can then lift out the oven, and disconnect the power from the back of your cooker.
Next, you'll need to remove the top panel of your cooker. See video for more help.
Next, remove the control knob attached to the selector switch this can be pulled off easily.
Now that you can access the selector switch, you can begin to remove it.
Now it's time to remove the complicated wiring. Before you do anything, we strongly recommend you take a photos of the the switch with the wires attached, so you can re-wire it in the correct way.
Other type of faults (see our videos below)
The oven will not turn on
The first thing you need to check is that the oven timer is not on auto if it is turn it on to manual.
No Heat in Oven
If the fan is running and the thermostat light comes on but you get no heat (or just the thermostat light on in non-fan ovens and cookers) then the probability is that the fan element or oven elements have failed. Find repair guides
The oven is totally dead
First things first, check the electricity supply and make sure it is okay. Find repair guides
The oven overheats and burns everything
Normally this is a simple thermostat failure which would manifest itself as this symptom. Find repair guides
The oven door isn't closing properly
Normally this will be faulty hinges or the hinge runners. Find repair guides
The oven door fell off!
Normally this will be faulty hinges or the hinge runners. Find repair guides
The oven or cooker cuts out after it's been on for a while
This is an overheating problem which can be caused by the main oven thermostat or a faulty safety thermostat that will be causing the problem. It can also be caused by a failure of the cooling fan, where fitted, but usually these go noisy before failing, Safety thermostats are used to prevent the oven or cooker overheating and will shut the oven down. Find repair guides
The oven or cooker is noisy
The fan motor and cooling fan motor are the most obvious causes where fitted. Find repair guides
Fan runs after I switch the oven off?
This is a cool down period and can vary massively from appliance to appliance but if it stays running then you normally have thermostat fault or sensor fault. See video above
The light inside the oven is faulty
Normally this is simply a case of replacing the bulb. Find repair guides
The grill element in my oven or cooker doesn't work
This would usually indicate that the grill element is faulty. Check these Grill element Oven changeover switch Overheat thermostat Main oven thermostat, if used to regulate the grill temperature. Find repair guides
There's smoke from the oven.
Invariably spillage except on a new installation or when a new element is fitted or oven may be overheating. Find repair guides
The oven does not come on, But Hob works but I can't get the oven to come on.
The timer has been activated, possibly when the controls were cleaned. There are so many types of timers used that it would not be possible to go through every one, but if you have the instruction booklet, that will tell you how to turn it off. Normally it is just a case of pressing a button or turning a control knob. Find repair guides
Electricity trips (Rcd) when I turn the oven on or element
This is normally an element that has gone to earth, Well known fault with electric ovens, the insulation breaks down in the elements and trips the RCD , best way is to stick a meter on each element and check they not got earth leaks on them. But can also be a wiring fault. Find repair guides
Hi I have a kelvinator stove with gas top and a electric oven. the selector switch is broken and we cannot get one. in South Africa. the model no is kc6640ss. the serial no is 332717411010203 We think the part no could be pa 210032007 not sure if it is Do you maybe have this switch Thanks Brian email vhendry0133@gmail.com or 0839912733. Thanks for your help.
Hi Paul,
please help me!
I own an AEG oven, model BCE 451350M where, a few months ago, the central heating element burned out. After it was dismantled by a “specialist” and he replaced the element, he also wanted to replace the wires coming from the element and he doesn’t know how to put them back. Can you help me?
Thank you in advance!
Bogdan
hi.ihave an aeg competence single electric oven
model pnc 944181051
sn 837434 19
type 56 baa 38 ga
the power light comes on,but not the elements or fan
i removed the selector switch and theres no visible damage all round
can anything else be the cause.
thank you in advance
tony
It is worth checking the timer as it has a relay that sends power to the selector switch and elements. If this timer relay is either accidentally set to automatic or it has become faulty then no power will go to the elements or the fan motor.
Hello Sir, hope u are well. Let me explain like this. I was fixing an oven that I was told that the temperature keeps on rising above the required. I changed the thermostat but I didn’t change the safety cut-out. I put on the Oven, it’s working but the temperature keeps on rising. I changed the safety cut-out, it started heating till 155ºC the n it cuts. It doesn’t go above 155ºC, safety cut-out will be off until I reset again to make on.
My question, I don’t know which is faulty the safety cut-out or the thermostat. And why the new safety cut-out cuts off at 155ºC. Shouldn’t it be thermostat that stabilizes the temperature..
If you are setting the thermostat in the oven to let’s say 150° C then this should cut the power off to the element when it reaches that temperature via the thermostat but you have not said the model of cooker and make that you have some cookers are controlled, by the thermostat and others are controlled by electronic circuit boards. The safety cutout is only there if the temperature on the external side of the oven ever exceeds the set temperature which you are saying is 155° C. This is only to make sure that no items on the external side of the cooker catch fire and of course, it doesn’t get too hot inside the wooden cabinet the cooker, should be in if it’s built in to assist you properly I will need the full make and model of the cooker