Caloric Prestige Series Wall Oven

Caloric Prestige Series Wall Oven

Dan -- Wednesday, 13 March 2002, at 12:05 p.m.

I just purchased a house with a Caloric Prestige Series wall oven/broiler (model no. RWD212) which appears to date back to the mid-1980s. Recently, the oven has failed to ignite on occasion and if left at a degree setting for a brief period of time without igniting, there is a faint odor of gas emanating from the oven cavity.

I removed the interior base plate located in the upper section of the oven and observed the igniter glow when the oven is turned on. However, the inverted triangular shaped element at the center of the ceiling of the lower broiler compartment does not produce a flame at times.

Based upon this information, would you suggest replacing the igniter, or does the problem appear to be more extensive requiring repair by a professional? If replacement of the igniter is only necessary, can you provide me with the correct item number for the replacement part. In addition, would you recommend a so-called "original" part, which may no longer be made by the original manufacturer of the igniter, or do you think that a non-OEM part would suffice for this approximately 15-year old oven.

Any assistance you may provide would be appreciated.

Re: Caloric Wall Oven *LINK*

Dan O. -- Wednesday, 13 March 2002, at 1:25 p.m.

: I just purchased a house with a Caloric
: Prestige Series wall oven/broiler (model no.
: RWD212) which appears to date back to the
: mid-1980s. Recently, the oven has failed to
: ignite on occasion and if left at a degree
: setting for a brief period of time without
: igniting, there is a faint odor of gas
: emanating from the oven cavity.

: I removed the interior base plate located in
: the upper section of the oven and observed
: the igniter glow when the oven is turned on.
: However, the inverted triangular shaped
: element at the center of the ceiling of the
: lower broiler compartment does not produce a
: flame at times.

: Based upon this information, would you suggest
: replacing the igniter, or does the problem
: appear to be more extensive requiring repair
: by a professional?

Your symptoms do sound likely to be caused by a defective oven ignitor. It is possible for them to glow but not produce the proper resistance to open the gas valve and/or not get hot enough to light the gas once it is eventually released.

: If replacement of the
: igniter is only necessary, can you provide
: me with the correct item number for the
: replacement part.

I do not have a parts list for that particular 1987 model so I am unable to provide the part number of that component. Caloric often prints reference numbers right on the old part. It you can read it, that number may be traceable to a current replacement part number.

You should however be able to purchase a replacement at the site linked below. If your model is not listed in their online catalog, you may have to contact them with the model information for them to manually look up the proper replacement part.

: In addition, would you
: recommend a so-called "original"
: part, which may no longer be made by the
: original manufacturer of the igniter, or do
: you think that a non-OEM part would suffice
: for this approximately 15-year old oven.

I always recommend genuine factory replacement parts as a first choice. Only if the original is not available at all or priced prohibitively would I recommend a generic or after market replacement. There should be no reason that a genuine factory replacement ignitor is not available for your oven. It's not that old as far as appliances go.

Dan O.

Repair Clinic

Re: Caloric Wall Oven Igniter *LINK* *PIC*

Dan -- Friday, 22 March 2002, at 10:56 a.m.

Thank you for your speedy response to my questions.

As a follow-up, I received the Amana igniter (see below) for the Caloric oven and have two quick questions if you can oblige me.

1. The igniter is a typical flat ceramic igniter with two wire leads which are to be attached to the oven electrical supply. Does it matter which of the two igniter leads is attached to the green and white wires which provide the electricity?

2. The metal element protruding from the igniter is coated on both sides with what appears to be a semi-metallic substance. The coating on one side of this element is more "irridescent", if you will. Does it matter which side should be facing the ceiling of the oven?

Thanks for your assistance.

Amana Ignitor

Re: Caloric Wall Oven

Dan O. -- Friday, 22 March 2002, at 1:39 p.m.

: As a follow-up, I received the Amana igniter
: for the Caloric oven

That is because Amana purchased Caloric/Modern Maid quite some time ago. Amana incorporated their stove designs into their own Amana product line. Many parts will be similar between those brands.

: 1. The igniter is a typical flat ceramic
: igniter with two wire leads which are to be
: attached to the oven electrical supply. Does
: it matter which of the two igniter leads is
: attached to the green and white wires which
: provide the electricity?

I don't know about "green" as that is normally only used for ground connections but it should not matter which side each of the connecting wires attaches to of the ignitor leads.

: 2. The metal element protruding from the
: igniter is coated on both sides with what
: appears to be a semi-metallic substance. The
: coating on one side of this element is more
: "irridescent", if you will. Does
: it matter which side should be facing the
: ceiling of the oven?

The ignitor tip is silicon carborundum and should heat uniformly when power is applied to it. To my knowledge it should not matter which side faces the gas flow as long as it is oriented and positioned the same as the original was. Of course, if marked "this side up" (or anything like that), those instructions should be followed. The open side of the protective 'cage' must face the burner ports.

Dan O.
Appliance411
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