Kitchenaid Range Oven won't turn Off

[TechnicianBrian]

Model # GERA205PWH4, all the functions on this range would operate properly, but when the customer was finished cooking, pressing the 'OFF' button would not respond to touch. The only way the customer was able to turn off any of the oven functions was to cycle the power at the circuit breaker. Not the safest situation to have in your house, so this one needed to get fixed right away.

Many appliances will utilize a touch pad membrane switch to accept user inputs to the electronic control boards. These switch arrays consist of buttons that look like bubbles in the membrane material. Each switch will have electrical contacts mounted to the top and bottom of each button that are separated by the raised bubble of the switch. When the button is pressed, the two contacts will touch and close an electrical circuit to the control board which responds based on the keypad pressed.



Because touch panels can have many buttons mounted within the membrane, a keypad matrix will be used to reduce the total number of wires required by the control board to monitor each button. In the example above, we would need 18 wires to complete the circuits of these 9 switches, or if a common neutral was used, 10 wires. But when a switch matrix is used, 6 wires will accomplish the same task. A very effective method but it does come with one significant fault, which we can use to our trouble shooting advantage. If any one wire in the matrix were to become damaged or no longer make an electrical connection, all switch contacts connected to that wire would no longer function.



Back to the range I was working on, all the buttons were functioning properly with the exception of the 'off' key. Because I didn't know the pattern for the matrix (sometimes it's printed in the tech sheet) I had to use my meter to take some readings in order to located the pattern myself. What I found on this key pad was the off button is not a part of the matrix like the rest of the buttons, but rather has two dedicated wires running to it. And when I did a resistance check between the two 'off' button contacts, I had an infinite resistance reading whether it was pressed or not. So this key was definitely bad requiring the entire membrane to be replaced.

With a new switch membrane installed in this unit, all the buttons works as expected, and the customer no longer needed to run to the garage to shut off the breaker.

Membrane Switch Part # 9762104

[nycupperes]

The problem with the Kitcheaid Switch Membrane is well known by the manufacture but so far they refuse to recall or redesign the part.  It is very common for the OFF BUTTON to stop funtioning on both the gas and electric stoves that have this part.

I'd recommend reporting in this to U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commision:

http://www.cpsc.gov/about/contact.html

They can be reached at Toll-free Consumer Hotline: 800-638-2772.

My model is the "KGRK806PSS00" but any model that used the part "P1-SWTCH-MEMB" will most likely have the same problem of the "OFF" button that stops funtioning.

This is a serious safety issue (OVENS THAT DON'T TURN OFF), and Whirlpool / Kitchenaid should come forward and recall the item and replace it with a working one.

[JWWebster]

Brian what did you have to do just peel off the old one and stick the new one on?

[krazytech]

No JW, There is a metal backing that bolts on to the control panel, You have to remove the control panel one screw on each side.  four screws on the bottom.  I have done four of them in the last 6 months. Kitchenaid will sent the part under warranty...but not labor.

[Kenton]

Brian - have similiar problem with off button while other buttons appear to work fine.  Can I test my panel on my own with a multimeter?

[AJ]

Hi Kenton,

Please start a new topic and include the model number of your range.
If you feel this topic is related to your problem simple post a link to it in the new topic you start.

Thanks,

[olga3]

My mother in-law unit started with this problem. She had to plug it out to turn it off. One day while cooking it started to smell like burned plastic and smoke started to come out. It turns out one of the circuit boards was burning off. We ordered the part and replaced it. We still have the problem with the off button and that's how I ended here.
Thank you for your suggestion, we will try it.

[aogilmore]

there is a workaround which is to turn on the oven timer for a short period for like 1 minute, and then it should count down and shut off.  it is annoying though

[domain]

Very IMPRESSIVE OP! Very informative as well. THANK YOU!