What Broiler Not Working means on your Kenmore wall oven (kenmore oven broiler not working)
A kenmore oven broiler not working problem means the bake function may work normally, but selecting broil produces little or no heat from the upper element (electric) or upper burner (gas). A failed broil element is the most common electric-oven cause and is usually visible as a section that does not glow; a weak broil igniter is the gas-oven equivalent.
Symptoms
The signs below help confirm you are dealing with this condition rather than a different problem on your Kenmore wall oven. You may notice one of them or several together, and they can appear gradually or suddenly after a power event, a wash or cook cycle, a spill, or recent installation or service.
- The upper broil element does not glow when broil is selected
- A gas broil burner does not light, or lights only after repeated attempts
- Bake works normally while only broil has failed
- Food does not brown or crisp under broil the way it used to
Common causes
Several different problems can produce these symptoms. Working through the most likely causes in order separates a quick owner-level check from a problem that needs trained service and the correct Kenmore parts.
- Failed broil element (electric models) — the upper element is not heating at all or only partially glows
- Weak broil igniter (gas models) — the igniter cannot reliably light the upper burner
- Faulty control selector or relay — the oven is not routing power to the broil element or burner when selected
- Blown thermal fuse specific to the broil circuit — on some platforms broil and bake are protected separately
Troubleshooting steps you can try
Work through these checks in order before calling for service. Stop wherever you are unsure, or where mains voltage, gas, a hot oven cavity, water, or a sealed component is involved, and hand the rest to a qualified technician.
- Visually inspect the broil element for a section that does not glow evenly (electric models), without touching it while hot.
- On a gas oven, watch whether the broil igniter glows and whether the burner actually lights within a reasonable time.
- Confirm bake still works normally, which narrows the issue to the broil circuit specifically.
- Avoid repeated broil attempts on a gas oven that will not light.
Parts a technician may replace
Depending on what the diagnosis shows, a technician may inspect, test, or replace the broil element, broil igniter (gas models), and oven control selector. The correct part for your Kenmore wall oven is matched from the model and serial number, and genuine OEM components are fitted through trusted parts suppliers rather than generic substitutes so performance, safety, and the appliance long working life are all protected. Confirming the failed part before ordering avoids replacing more than the problem actually requires.
When to call a technician
A broiler that will not heat needs an experienced technician to test the broil element or igniter and the control selector for your Kenmore’s specific OEM platform. This condition is rated Medium severity, so there is no emergency — but if the same Broiler Not Working keeps returning after the checks above, a technician should confirm the cause before any part is replaced. As an independent repair service we are not affiliated with the manufacturer, and we work only with experienced, skilled technicians and genuine OEM parts from trusted parts suppliers, with our workmanship backed by a 30-day labor warranty. When you book, have your Kenmore wall oven model and serial number ready so the right part for your exact build can be matched before the visit and the Broiler Not Working condition resolved in as few trips as possible.
Related help and Kenmore resources
If the Broiler Not Working condition keeps returning after these checks, book Kenmore wall oven repair, browse our wall oven error-code guides and step-by-step repair guides, or schedule service in your area on our locations page. See also the related not heating symptom. For full manufacturer specifications and model lookup, visit kenmore.com.
