GE Range Error Code F4

The F4 error code on a GE range indicates the control board has detected a shorted oven temperature sensor circuit. Specifically, the measured resistance in the sensor circuit has dropped below 950 ohms, which falls outside the acceptable operating range. The control board continuously monitors the RTD (resistance temperature detector) oven sensor to regulate oven temperature accurately. When resistance drops this low, the board can no longer trust the temperature data and throws F4 to prevent unsafe operation. The three most common hardware sources are contamination or corrosion on the sensor connector terminals, a pinched or chafed wiring harness lead creating a short to ground, or a cold solder joint on the control board itself causing an internal short in the sensor input circuit.

For homeowners, the oven temperature sensor is a probe mounted inside the oven cavity, usually at the upper rear wall, connected by a wire harness back to the control board. When this circuit reads resistance too low, it typically means the wiring or connection between the sensor and the board has been compromised in some way rather than the oven simply being too hot. The range will not allow normal oven operation while this code is active.

A healthy oven temperature sensor reads approximately 1100 ohms at room temperature (around 72 degrees F). Any reading significantly below 950 ohms confirms the fault. Resistance will increase as oven temperature rises, so a shorted circuit will always read abnormally low regardless of conditions.