What F3 Means
F3 is a genuinely well-documented fault on Whirlpool-built Kenmore electric ranges: the oven temperature sensor (RTD) circuit is reading open or shorted, so the control board can no longer trust the cavity's actual temperature and shuts off heating rather than risk overshooting.
Common Causes of F3
- Failed or drifting oven temperature sensor (RTD probe)
- Damaged or loose sensor wiring harness behind the oven cavity
- Control board misreading the sensor signal
🔧 One Safe Check You Can Try
Power-cycle the range at the breaker for a couple of minutes; if F3 returns as soon as you try to bake again, the sensor circuit fault is confirmed rather than a one-time glitch.
⚠ Why You Shouldn't Go Further Than That
- The sensor sits inside the hot cavity, wired straight into the control board — testing it live risks both a shock and a burn.
- On a range, the oven and cooktop commonly share one control board, so incorrect wiring work on the oven side can introduce a cooktop-side fault too.
- Swapping the sensor without confirming the wiring harness first can leave the exact same code showing after the part is replaced.
- Getting behind the cavity to reach the sensor usually means disassembly that a remaining parts warranty won't survive.