One day your oven just stops working right. Maybe it won't heat up. Maybe it shows a cryptic error code on the control panel. That's exactly what happened to my Whirlpool Gold double oven โ€” and what looked like a scary appliance problem turned out to be one of the easiest repairs I've ever done. Total cost: about $30 and 20 minutes. A service call would have been $150 just to walk in the door.

This is a repair literally anyone can do. You need a screwdriver, a replacement part, and about 20 minutes. Let me walk you through the whole thing, start to finish.

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Time Needed
~20 min
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Part Cost
~$25โ€“40
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Tools
Screwdriver
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Skill Level
Beginner
Whirlpool Gold double oven
The Whirlpool Gold double oven โ€” looks fine on the outside, error codes hiding inside

Step 1: Recognize the Error Codes

The first sign something is wrong will be an error code flashing on your oven's control panel. On Whirlpool ovens, a failing temperature sensor typically shows up as E1 F5 or E0 F5. Both codes point to the same culprit: the oven temperature sensor probe.

E1 F5
Oven Sensor Open Circuit
The control board is not detecting any signal from the temperature sensor. The sensor has failed open โ€” meaning the circuit is broken. The oven cannot regulate temperature without this reading.
E0 F5
Oven Sensor Shorted
The opposite problem โ€” the sensor is reading an impossibly low resistance, indicating a short circuit. Either way, the sensor needs to be replaced. Same fix, same part.
E1 F5 error code on Whirlpool oven display
E1 F5 Open circuit โ€” sensor not sending any signal
E0 F5 error code on Whirlpool oven display
E0 F5 Shorted sensor โ€” same fix, same part
Dad's Take

"When I saw that error code, I almost called an appliance repair company. I'm so glad I didn't. One Google search later, I had the part number, ordered it for $28, and fixed the whole thing myself in less time than it would've taken the repairman to drive to my house."

Step 2: Find Your Model Number

Before you can order a part, you need your oven's model number. Don't guess โ€” the temperature sensor is model-specific, and ordering the wrong one wastes time and money. On most wall ovens, the model number label is located on the inside door frame โ€” open the oven door and look along the left or right edge of the oven cavity opening.

Model number label on inside door frame of Whirlpool oven
Model number label โ€” inside lip of the oven door frame
My Model Number

My Whirlpool Gold double oven model number is GMC305PDS09. Write yours down or snap a photo of the label โ€” you'll need it for the parts lookup in the next step.

If you can't find it on the door frame, other common locations include: inside a drawer below the oven, on the back of the unit (for freestanding ranges), or in the owner's manual. When in doubt, check the back โ€” manufacturers are required to put it somewhere accessible.

Step 3: Look Up Your Replacement Part

Head to appliancepartspros.com โ€” this is the best resource for finding the exact OEM (original equipment manufacturer) replacement parts for your specific appliance. Here's how to find your sensor:

1
Go to AppliancePartsPros.com
Visit appliancepartspros.com and look for the search bar or "Model Number Search" option at the top of the page.
2
Enter Your Model Number
Type in your exact model number โ€” in my case, GMC305PDS09. Hit search. The site will show you an exploded diagram of your specific oven with every part labeled and numbered.
3
Find the Temperature Sensor
Look for "Oven Temperature Sensor" or "Oven Probe" in the parts list. Click it to confirm it's the right component โ€” you'll see a photo of the actual part.
๐Ÿ’ก Search "oven sensor" in the parts search box if you don't see it immediately in the diagram
4
Note Your Part Number
Write down the part number. For my Whirlpool Gold GMC305PDS09, the replacement sensor is part number WPW10131825. You can order directly from AppliancePartsPros or search that part number on Amazon โ€” both work great.
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Replacement Part โ€” Whirlpool GMC305PDS09
WPW10131825
Whirlpool OEM Oven Temperature Sensor Probe. This is the exact part for my Whirlpool Gold oven โ€” your part number may differ based on your model. Always confirm with your model number before ordering. Typically costs $25โ€“40 and ships in 1โ€“3 days.

Step 4: Tools You'll Need

This repair requires almost nothing in the way of tools. You probably already have everything you need in your kitchen junk drawer.

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Phillips Screwdriver
For the two mounting screws
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Flashlight
To see inside the oven cavity
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Oven Thermometer
Optional โ€” to verify the fix
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Phone Camera
Snap the wiring before pulling it apart
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Work Gloves
Optional but handy
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New Sensor Part
WPW10131825 or your model's equivalent
Safety First

Turn off the breaker to your oven before starting. The temperature sensor wiring sits inside the oven cavity and the connector is behind the back wall โ€” while there's no high-voltage exposure at the sensor itself, it's always good practice to cut power before working on any appliance. Give it 30 minutes to cool completely if the oven was recently used.

Step 5: Watch the Replacement Video

I filmed the entire repair on my own Whirlpool Gold oven so you can see exactly what it looks like in real life. This isn't a slick YouTube production โ€” it's a real dad fixing his real oven. The important parts are clear, and I've marked the key moments in the chapter list below the video.

Dad's DIY Repair Video
Oven Temperature Sensor Replacement โ€” Real Time
Filmed on my actual Whirlpool Gold GMC305PDS09. Includes finding the sensor, disconnecting the old one, and installing the new probe. Key moments marked below.
0:00 Introduction โ€” The oven displaying error codes
~0:30 Locating the temperature sensor probe inside the oven
~1:00 Removing the two mounting screws (takes a moment โ€” bear with me!) Skip ahead ~1 min
~2:30 โœ… Pulling the sensor out of the mounting hole
~3:00 โœ… Pinching the connector tab and unplugging the old sensor
~3:30 โœ… Connecting the new sensor to the existing plug
~4:00 Fishing the new sensor wire back through the mounting hole
~4:30 Replacing the mounting screws (the tricky part โ€” screws are awkward) Skip ahead ~1 min
~6:20 โœ… Power on โ€” testing the repaired oven

Step 6: The Replacement โ€” What You're Actually Doing

In case the video doesn't load or you want a written reference while working, here's the exact sequence of the repair:

1
Open the Oven & Locate the Sensor
Open the oven door and look at the back wall of the oven cavity. The temperature sensor is a thin metal probe, roughly 8โ€“10 inches long, mounted to the back wall with two small screws. It sticks out from the back wall toward you. It looks like a long metal spike.
2
Remove the Two Mounting Screws
Using a Phillips screwdriver, remove the two screws holding the sensor bracket to the back wall. Set them somewhere safe โ€” a small bowl or piece of tape on the counter works great. These screws are small and easy to lose. Pro tip: a magnetic screwdriver tip is your best friend here.
โš ๏ธ The screw holes are a bit awkward to reach โ€” patience pays off here
3
Pull the Sensor Out of the Mounting Hole
With the screws out, gently pull the sensor toward you. There's a wire connected to the back of it that runs through a hole in the oven wall โ€” pull it out slowly, giving yourself enough slack to work with the connector comfortably. Don't yank it.
4
Pinch the Connector Tab & Disconnect
The sensor connects to the oven wiring via a plastic plug connector. Look for a small tab or clip on the side of the connector. Pinch that tab while pulling the two halves apart. It's like a phone charger โ€” you need to press the release before pulling. Don't force it without pressing the tab first.
๐Ÿ“ธ Take a quick photo of the connector before disconnecting โ€” just in case
5
Connect the New Sensor
Take your new WPW10131825 sensor (or your model's equivalent) and plug its connector into the existing wire harness coming from inside the oven wall. Push until you hear or feel a click โ€” that's the locking tab engaging. Give it a gentle tug to confirm it's seated.
6
Feed the Wire Back Through & Re-mount
Gently feed the new sensor's wire back through the mounting hole in the oven wall, leaving the sensor probe sticking into the oven cavity. Line up the bracket holes and re-insert the two screws. Snug them down โ€” don't overtighten, you're going into oven-wall material, not a stud.
๐Ÿ’ก A magnetic screwdriver is incredibly helpful for getting the screws started
7
Restore Power & Test
Flip the breaker back on. The oven should power up without any error codes. Set it to 350ยฐF and let it preheat. If the error codes are gone and the oven heats up, you've fixed it. For extra confidence, place an analog oven thermometer inside โ€” see if it matches the set temperature within about 25ยฐF.

Verifying Your Repair with an Oven Thermometer

After replacing the sensor, the oven may feel like it's working โ€” but how do you know the temperature is actually accurate? A cheap analog oven thermometer (around $10โ€“15 on Amazon) is the best way to verify the repair truly worked.

How to Test Your Oven After the Repair
โœ“Place an analog thermometer in the center of the oven rack, visible through the door window.
โœ“Set the oven to 350ยฐF and let it fully preheat โ€” most ovens take 15โ€“20 minutes to stabilize.
โœ“Check the thermometer reading. It's normal for oven temperature to cycle 25ยฐF above and below the set point as the heating elements cycle on and off.
โœ“If the reading is consistently off by more than 50ยฐF, the control board may also need calibration โ€” but this is rare after a simple sensor swap.
โœ“Run the oven for at least 30 minutes and check a few times to confirm stable temperature cycling.
The Bottom Line

"A repair technician would have charged me $150 just to show up, plus $80โ€“100 in labor, plus the part markup. Instead I spent $28 on a part and 20 minutes of my time. That's the whole point of this site โ€” not everything requires calling a professional. Sometimes the answer is just knowing where to look."

Safety Note: Always disconnect power to your appliance at the breaker before performing any repair. Allow the oven to cool completely before working inside. This guide is provided for informational purposes โ€” if you are uncomfortable performing this repair or the problem persists after replacement, consult a qualified appliance technician.