GE Oven Broil Element Replacement — What This Part Does
The broil element is the upper electric heating element in your GE oven. When you select the broil cycle, power flows to this element and it glows red-hot to cook food from above. Over time the element can burn out or develop breaks in the coil, causing it to fail open and stop heating.
Loose terminal connections at the element can also prevent heating and create a fire hazard. If the element does not glow when broil is turned on, the part itself is usually the problem, though in rare cases a failed oven sensor or control board can prevent the element from receiving power.
Signs It Needs Replacing
- Broil element does not glow red You turn on broil but the upper element stays dark and cold.
- Visible damage on the element The coil shows blisters, burns, breaks, or holes.
- Intermittent broil heat The element sometimes heats but cuts out or fails to reach full temperature.
- No heat on broil cycle Food does not cook or brown from above even though the oven is set to broil.
- Element glows only in spots Part of the coil heats but sections remain dark, indicating an internal break.
- Tripped breaker when broil is selected A shorted element can cause the circuit breaker to trip immediately when broil turns on.
How to Replace It
- Unplug the range or switch off the dedicated circuit breaker at your electrical panel.
- Remove all oven racks to gain clear access to the broil element at the top of the oven cavity.
- Locate the mounting screws or brackets holding the broil element against the back wall of the oven and remove them.
- Carefully pull the element forward a few inches to expose the two terminal wires connected to the back of the element.
- Disconnect both terminal wires from the old element, noting their positions (many terminals are the same, but keep wire routing clear).
- Install the new broil element by connecting the terminal wires to the new element and pushing the connectors firmly onto the terminals so they cannot wiggle.
- Slide the element back into position and secure it with the original mounting screws or brackets, making sure the element sits flat and does not touch the oven walls.
- Replace the oven racks, restore power at the breaker or plug, and turn on the broil cycle.
- Verify that the new element glows red evenly across the coil within a minute or two of selecting broil.
The Part You Need
| Part | Notes |
|---|---|
| GE broil element / upper oven heating element | Amazon | Part number varies by model. Find your model and serial number on the plate inside the oven door frame or on the front frame when the door is open, then use GE’s part lookup or search by model to confirm the correct element (example part WB44T10009 for some models). |
Related Error Codes
If this part is failing you may also see one of these codes:
- Ge Oven F0 error code
- Ge Oven F1 error code
- Ge Oven F2 error code
- Ge Oven F20 error code
- Ge Oven F3 error code
- Ge Oven F350 error code
- Ge Oven F4 error code
- Ge Oven F5 error code
- Ge Oven F6 error code
- Ge Oven F7 error code
When to Call a Pro
If the new element still does not heat after replacement, the problem is likely a failed oven temperature sensor or a defective control board that is not sending power to the element. Both diagnoses require a multimeter and experience with line-voltage appliance circuits. If you are uncomfortable working inside a live range cabinet or if your local code requires a licensed electrician for appliance repairs, call a qualified appliance technician to test the sensor, control board, and element wiring safely. For gas line, burner, or igniter work, or if you ever smell gas, stop and call a licensed technician.