The Whirlpool oven self clean feature is great if you don’t like cleaning your oven manually. In this article, we will show you how to use the self clean feature and fix some problems you may encounter with it.
Table of Contents
How To Use Whirlpool Oven Self Clean
Below, we walk you through the steps you need to follow in order to use your Whirlpool oven’s self clean feature…
Step 1: Open all the windows in your home.
Step 2: Open the door of the oven and slide out the racks. Make sure not to leave the racks in during the self clean feature or they will get warped and discolored.
Step 3: Wipe out any loose food bits from the oven.
Step 4: Shut the door.
Step 5: Press the “Self Clean” button.
Step 6: Choose one of the three self cleaning levels depending on how dirty your oven is.
Step 7: Press the “Start” button. Make sure no one goes close to the oven during the self clean cycle as it will get very hot. Also make sure there are no pots or pans on the stove top. Do not let pets go close to the oven as the fumes can harm them.
Step 8: Once the self clean cycle is over, you should hear a beep. Wait for the oven to cool down before opening the door.
Step 9: Once the oven has cooled down, it will unlock automatically. Open the door of the oven.
Step 10: Wipe out the ash in the oven using a damp cloth.
Step 11: Slide the racks back into the oven
Step 12: Shut the oven door.
Watch the video below for how to use a Whirlpool oven’s self clean feature.
Whirlpool Oven Has No Power After Self Clean — How To Fix
If your Whirlpool oven is dead after using the self clean feature, the thermal fuse has blown. Follow the steps below if you would like to replace the thermal fuse in your Whirlpool oven…
Step 1: Pull the oven away from the wall.
Step 2: Unplug the oven’s power cord from the outlet.
Step 3: Get a Philips head screwdriver.
Step 4: Use the screwdriver to take out the screws holding the oven’s upper back panel in place.
Step 5: Disconnect the wires from the thermal fuse and take out the screw which secures it.
Step 6: Get a new thermal fuse and screw it to the oven.
Step 7: Connect the wires to the thermal fuse and reposition the upper back panel.
Step 8: Hold the panel in place with the screws.
Step 9: Plug the oven back in.
The video below will give you a visual of how to replace the thermal fuse in a Whirlpool oven.
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Whirlpool Self Cleaning Oven Door Will Not Lock — How To Fix
If your Whirlpool oven door won’t lock when you try to use the self cleaning feature, the door lock motor is faulty. Follow these steps to replace your Whirlpool oven’s door lock motor…
Step 1: Pull the oven away from the wall and unplug the power cord for safety.
Step 2: Using a Philips head screwdriver, take out the screws which hold the upper and lower back panels of the oven in place.
Step 3: Lift the panels off and set them aside.
Step 4: Note where each wire goes on the door lock motor.
Step 5: Disconnect the wires from the door lock motor.
Step 6: Take out the screws which hold the door lock motor to the oven’s rear.
Step 7: Remove the motor from the oven and get a new one.
Step 8: Insert the rod into the new motor and secure it to the oven with the screws.
Step 9: Reconnect the wires to the door lock motor.
Step 10: Reposition the upper and lower rear panels of the oven.
Step 11: Hold the panels in place with the Philips head screws.
Step 12: Plug the oven’s power cord back into the outlet.
Also follow the steps above to replace your door lock motor if your Whirlpool self cleaning oven won’t unlock or if you see F5 on your Whirlpool self clean oven.
Watch the video below for a visual of how to replace a Whirlpool oven door lock motor.
Whirlpool Oven Self Clean Not Working — Causes And Solutions
Below, we have listed the possible reasons why your Whirlpool oven self clean won’t work and what to do about them.
1. Door Lock Motor
If the door lock motor fails, the oven door won’t lock. This will prevent the self clean feature from being activated. If your oven shows a “lock” error on the display and it won’t self clean, this is most likely the problem. If you would like to learn how to replace this oven component, read the section above.
2. Too Hot
If the oven is still hot from previous use, the self clean feature won’t work when you try to use it. If your oven isn’t completely cool, wait for it to cool down. Once the oven has cooled down completely, try the self cleaning feature again. If the feature still doesn’t work, keep reading to know the other possible causes of this problem.
3. Thermal Fuse
Since the oven gets very hot during the self clean cycle, it could affect the thermal fuse. If the self clean cycle started but stopped mid process, the thermal fuse may have burnt out. Read the “Whirlpool Oven Has No Power After Self Cleaning” section above to replace the thermal fuse in a Whirlpool oven.
4. Bake Element
Since the bake element is used to heat up the oven during the self clean cycle, it makes sens that the oven won’t work if the bake element is faulty. To determine if your bake element is faulty, follow these steps…
Step 1: Unplug the oven’s power cord and use a Philips head screwdriver to take out the screws which hold the oven’s lower back panel in place.
Step 2: Set the panel aside and disconnect the wires from the terminals of the bake element.
Step 3: Get a multimeter and turn the dial to the ohms setting.
Step 4: Touch the multimeter probes to the terminals of the bake element. If there is no continuity, the bake element should be replaced.
Step 5: Open the oven door and slide out the racks.
Step 6: Use the Philips head screwdriver to take out the screws holding the oven’s bottom panel in place.
Step 7: Take out the screws which hold the bake element’s mounting bracket.
Step 8: Also take out the screw on the oven’s lower back wall as well.
Step 9: Get a new bake element and take it to the oven.
Step 10: Return the screws which hold the mounting bracket and the elements back plate to the oven wall.
Step 11: Reposition the oven’s bottom panel and hold it in place with the screws.
Step 12: Slide the racks back into the oven and shut the door.
Step 13: Go to the oven’s rear and connect the wires to the terminals of the bake element.
Step 14: Reposition the oven’s back panel and hold it in place with the screws.
Step 15: Plug the oven’s power cord back in.
The video below will give you a visual of how to replace the bake element in a Whirlpool oven.
5. Control Board
If you have tested all the above components above and none of them is faulty, the control board is probably the reason your Whirlpool oven self clean won’t work. Read this article: Whirlpool Oven Igniter [How To, Problems & Solutions] to replace the control board in your Whirlpool oven.
How To Clean Whirlpool Oven Without Self Clean
While the self clean feature is effective, it can actually be dangerous. So, if you want to clean your Whirlpool oven manually, we have you covered. Read this article: How To Clean A Whirlpool Oven [Detailed Guide] to learn different effective ways to clean your Whirlpool oven.
How Does Whirlpool Oven Self Clean Work?
The self clean feature uses high temperatures to burn off bake on dirt from the oven walls. When the self clean feature is selected, the oven door locks automatically and begins to heat up. The oven temperature can get as high as 900 degrees F during the self clean cycle. As the oven heats up, the grease and food bits in the oven start to turn to ash. When the self clean cycle is over, it stays locked. Once the oven has cooled down, it unlocks automatically. All you have to do is wipe out the ash in your oven and you’re done.
Whirlpool Oven Self Clean FAQ
Do All Whirlpool Ovens Have Self Clean?
No, they don’t. While almost every new Whirlpool oven model has the self clean feature, most older models don’t have this feature. If your oven doesn’t have a self clean feature, there are other ways to clean it effectively.
