JennAir Downdraft Range Not Broiling: Causes, Element Test, and Fixes

Dinner bakes, but the top stays pale when you select Broil. A JennAir downdraft range not broiling can have a failed upper element, a damaged connection, or a control fault. Buying a heater before checking that circuit can leave the same problem behind.

Does a working cooktop vent tell you anything useful here? The downdraft blower and oven broiler serve different jobs, so the oven needs its own diagnosis.

The checks below cover the likely causes, power-off element testing, and a matching replacement layout. You’ll also find the sensor and control questions that help establish when professional service is the next step.

Quick Facts

Use these details to plan the work:

• Difficulty: Easy to moderate for the element; more advanced for control diagnosis
• Time: About 30 to 60 minutes, depending on access
• Tools: Multimeter, 1/4-inch nut driver, Phillips screwdriver, flashlight, work gloves
• Part cost: About $40 to $250, depending on the failed component
• Skill level: Power-off element work for a prepared DIY reader; live tests for a qualified technician

Why Is My JennAir Downdraft Range Not Broiling?

A JennAir downdraft range not broiling may have a failed element or a circuit that is not supplying power. If bake still works, the fault is more likely limited to the broil path than when the whole oven stays cold.

Compare the symptoms before choosing a part:

The downdraft blower removes cooktop fumes. It is separate from the upper oven element, so a working or failed vent does not by itself diagnose the broiler. A shared electrical or control issue needs its own confirmation.

What Causes a JennAir Electric Downdraft Range Broil Element to Stop Working?

The heater can burn open, or another part can interrupt its electrical path. An open element has a break in the wire inside it, so current cannot pass through normally.

The likely areas to consider are:

• Element damage: A crack, blister, or electrical break can stop heating.
• Burnt terminal: Heat damage at a connection can interrupt power to a sound element.
• Broil relay: This control-board switch supplies the heater circuit.
• Temperature sensor: An incorrect temperature signal can affect control operation.
• Door lock or clean-mode condition: Some control conditions can prevent normal broil operation.

Live voltage tests expose dangerous electrical energy. Have a qualified technician perform them. Let the oven cool and disconnect power before resistance testing, wire handling, or removal work.

How to Test the JennAir Range Broil Element With a Multimeter

Follow these steps to check the element and, when needed, have its live supply tested.

Access and Test the Element With Power Off

1. Disconnect power and confirm the range is de-energized.
2. Slide the range forward carefully.
3. Remove the rear-panel screws.
4. Set the panel aside.
5. Locate the upper broil terminals.
6. Confirm power is off.
7. Disconnect both element wires.
8. Select resistance on the meter.
9. Measure across the terminals and compare with the exact model specification.

JennAir technical sheet W11327467A specifies 10 to 40 ohms nominal between broil test points P4-2 and P15-1. That circuit specification applies only to ranges using that sheet, with its stated test conditions. It is not a universal JennAir element range. An isolated element reading must match its own service data.

An infinite or OL reading means the element is open. An unexpected low or unstable reading also needs evaluation against the model’s specification. A model-specific check for a short to the element sheath can be part of the diagnosis; the sheath is the metal outside of the heater.

Have the Broil Supply Tested When the Element Passes

1. Have the technician reconnect the wires.
2. Restore power.
3. Select broil.
4. Select AC voltage on the meter.
5. Measure across the terminals for about 240 VAC.
6. Switch the oven off.
7. Disconnect power again before further work.

How to Replace the Broil Element on a JennAir Downdraft Range Step by Step

Follow these steps after testing confirms failure on an exposed upper-element design with two rear screws and six upper-bracket screws. Check your model before starting; concealed elements and different brackets require different access.

Phase 1: Cut Power and Remove the Oven Racks

1. Keep power disconnected before removal.
2. Open the door.
3. Remove the racks.
4. Find the upper element.

Phase 2: Unscrew the Element and Disconnect the Leads

1. Locate the two rear screws and six upper-bracket screws.
2. Remove the mounting screws.
3. Pull the element forward gently.
4. Disconnect its two wires, noting their route.
5. Lift out the element.

Phase 3: Connect and Mount the New Element, Then Test Broil

1. Position the replacement.
2. Reconnect its wires.
3. Push it into place.
4. Refit its mounting screws.
5. Refit the upper brackets and screws.
6. Replace the racks.
7. Close the door.
8. Replace the rear panel.
9. Secure its screws.
10. Return the range, checking wire clearance, screws, level, and engagement with its anti-tip bracket.

10. Restore power.
11. Select broil.
12. Wait one to two minutes for a red glow and heat.

Could the Oven Control Board or Temperature Sensor Stop a JennAir Range From Broiling?

Yes, the control and temperature signal can affect broil operation. A sound element will stay cold if the required power does not reach it.

These findings help guide the next check:

• About 240 VAC with no heat: Points back toward the element or its connection.
• No required output: Calls for wiring and control diagnosis before a board is ordered.
• Temperature sensor: Compare isolated resistance with the model’s temperature-resistance chart, using the actual sensor temperature.
• An active fault or lock condition: Needs resolution before normal broil operation can be judged.

The relay board is not the first part to replace simply because the oven is cold. Its supply, connections, and the rest of the circuit all affect what reaches the element.

Should You Repair or Replace a JennAir Downdraft Range That Will Not Broil?

One failed element can be a reasonable repair for a JennAir downdraft range not broiling when the rest of it is sound. A larger group of faults changes that decision.

Compare the full cost and condition:

• Broil element: About $40 to $90 before labor.
• Control board: About $150 to $250 before labor.
• Range over 12 years old: Consider its overall condition and other repair needs.
• Downdraft blower also failing: Include the separate ventilation repair in the estimate.

FAQ

When Should You Call a Technician for a JennAir Range That Won’t Broil?

Call when the element passes but the oven still will not broil, or when wiring is burnt. Live voltage, control-board faults, and unclear slide-in access also justify qualified service.

Can the Downdraft Blower Affect Broiling?

The blower serves the cooktop vent, while the broil element heats the oven from above. A shared control or electrical fault may affect both, but a blower symptom alone does not identify a broil fault.

Why Does the Broil Element Glow Only at One End?

Uneven heating can indicate element or connection trouble. Stop short of choosing a part from the glow pattern alone and use the correct power-off test for the model.

Getting the Broiler Back to Full Heat

A confirmed test makes the repair choice clearer for a JennAir downdraft range not broiling. Match the replacement to the full model number, and leave energized circuit checks to a qualified technician.

Find the compatible broil element or oven control board after the fault is confirmed so your range can brown food evenly again.