Home Improvement → Electronic oven control panel died - repair or replace range

I have a Whirlpool gas range with an electronic oven
control on it, and today while preheating the oven, it
just died. I'm pretty sure that it is the oven control, as
the range and oven light still work.

This range was purchased at a local Lowes store about 3
years ago for around $500, and the oven control has been
repaired once about a year and a half ago.

My question is would I be better off buying a new range
(I found a Hotpoint RGB745 model at Lowes, which Consumer
Reports gave a Best Buy rating on), or calling a service
tech to repair it again?

If you watched the tech repair it the first time, repair it yourself. Decide if 1 1/2 years is worth the repair or you want a new range.

List the model/serial, and we can at least look up the price of a new board, assuming that is what it is. But, don't be quick to jump to conclusions.

Is it the same problem as you had 1.5 years ago?

I have to replace the igniter about every two years. The part costs about $70, and takes about an hour to connect the new one to the electric wires. Try looking at one of the web sites to diagnose exact what is the problem, an igniter or a thermostat. With the igniter, the oven will appear to start up, and the igniter will make the oven glow orange, but without enough spark left in it, it does not get hot enough for the thermocouple to release the gas for ignition.

The model is the Whirlpool SF367LEK (white on white). I'm
not sure what the serial number is, as it wasn't recorded
when it was installed.

The entire oven control panel is out (display is off). The
last time, it partially failed where the timer & clock weren't
working correctly, but the oven controls were functional.

my guess, and it's just that, is that heat from the oven (especially if you let it cool with the door open) has caused a little damage. our oven, about twice a year, has some kind of error where it acts as if one of the buttons is sticking. the way i fix it is to open the panel up, remove the power connector, then twist the panel slightly to pop anything that might be sticking. i also remove the thin connector to the button panel and then reseat it. it's totally black magic, but it seems to work.

i remove the power connection (at the board) to be safe, but for completeness, just turning off the breaker to the oven isn't enough to get ours working again. in your case, i would try that first (a little bit of a reboot).

i'm sure if we called a repairman he'd just replace the board, then probably come back and replace the button panel as well. my procedure seems to work just as well.

if you can get into the button panel and clean the button contacts, that might help as well.

either way, be sure that when you let the oven cool (or certainly if you broil anything), you keep the door closed rather than open just a crack at the top. that heat, in my opinion, is the major cause for most of these electronics failures.

The two different boards were roughly $100 each.

The option to fix is up to you-maybe you want a new range.

While I am a fan of electronics for improved reliability (i.g. car EFI), I don't welcome it on simple things such as ranges/dryers/etc.

I don't think I'm going to try and get it repaired. After
work, I'm going to Sears. If there's one thing that
Kenmore appliances are known for, it's their reliability.

Ok-that solves having to fix it. You might wish to find out who truly makes the particular Kenmore model you choose.

While less so now, most KMs are re-badged Whirlpools. However, in the last 10 years, they have brought in other vendors. GE makes some stuff now, and I think Frigidaire-it depends on what appliance, and which model.

I only suggest this, as you may have feel "burnt" (no pun intended) with you Whirlpool.

A review of Consumer Reports might help, although I take their reviews in perspective.

There is no such thing as Kenmore built appliances anymore. Anything with the Kenmore, Sears or Craftsman names are really another manufacturer.

You mean K-smearts

I took a look at Consumer Reports' brand repair history for
gas ranges last night, which tracks the percentage of ranges
bought between 2000 and 2006 that were repaired or had
serious problems which were not repaired.

The major brands of gas ranges, by the numbers:

Hotpoint: 7%
GE: 9%
Frigidaire: 10%
Kenmore (Sears): 12%
Whirlpool: 13%
Maytag: 15%
Amana: 19%
KitchenAid: 20%
Viking: 33%

CR reviewed ranges in Nov. 2006, and the highest rated
gas model was the Hotpoint model I mentioned in my OP.
It is on sale at Lowes for $498, but it has to be ordered
from the vendor, and it takes 8-11 days for it to arrive
at the store.

Thanks for the update. Sorry, I forgot about your mention of the HP in the original post.

I like CR, but as I said, you have to take the numbers into perspective, and I think it shows how more features=more problems.

For example, Hotpoint is a GE, but the "low trim" line. It gets the best score.

KitchenAid, really a Whirlpool loaded with all the bells and whistles, does worse than the middle class Whirlpool line, even though many of these models are the exact same-just with more options.

Kenmore tends to average out-as it sells no frills to high end under the same name.

Sorry for rambling. I think you will be happy with the Hotpoint. While I am a firm believer in sometimes spending more to get better, I don't follow this too much with household appliances. Many are the same darn internals, just with more "features" (i.g. infiniate water level control vs. small, med, large, etc.)

On many appliances, more $$ does not mean a better performer. The only exception tends to be dishwashers. And even with the latter, you run into the same problem after a certain price point.

Well, today I went out and bought the Hotpoint RGB745 model
from Home Depot.

The total price including the delivery charge, a 4 year
extended service plan, gas line (required replacement for
liability reasons) and tax came to $717.

They are going to deliver and install next Friday, Jan 26.
There's also a rebate on right now for the $55 delivery fee.

The only complaint I've seen regarding this model is that
the oven window is somewhat small, but I can live with that.

Also, regarding the extended service plan - I'm usually
against buying these with major items, but this covers
everything, parts and labor included, and starts after
the mfr. warranty expires.