An oven that climbs to around 200–220°F and then stalls is one of the most common faults on Whirlpool electric ranges like the WFE770H0F. The control is still asking for heat, but only part of the heating system is answering.
Why it stops near 220°F
During preheat, this range uses the bake element (bottom) and the broil element (top) together, with the convection element helping on some settings. If one element has burned out, the others can push the oven past 200°F, but they can’t finish the job. The temperature then creeps up very slowly or stops.
Narrow it down in 10 minutes
- Test Broil. Set Broil and look through the window. The top element should glow bright orange within a minute or two.
- Test Bake. Set Bake to 350°F. If you can see a bottom element, it should glow within a few minutes. If the oven floor is smooth, the bake element is hidden underneath it. In that case, after 5 minutes, hold your hand just above the oven floor (don’t touch it). It should feel clearly warmer than the air near the top.
- Check for a code. If the display shows an F3 code at any point, the oven temperature sensor is the likely cause, not an element.
What each result means
- Broil works, bake doesn’t: most often a burned-out bake element. Less often, the bake relay on the control board has failed, or a wire at the element terminal has burned off.
- Bake works, broil doesn’t: the broil element is the usual cause. It is easy to see and replace.
- Both heat, but it still stalls: suspect the oven temperature sensor. It should read about 1,100 ohms at room temperature. A sensor that reads high tells the control the oven is hotter than it is.
Is it worth fixing?
Yes, usually. At 8–12 years old, an element or sensor is an inexpensive part and a reasonable repair. A failed control board costs more, so get that confirmed before ordering one. Unplug the range or switch off its breaker before removing any panel.