Kenmore Oven Error Code F16

The F16 error code on a Kenmore oven indicates a potentiometer failure. The potentiometer is a variable resistor used to detect the position of a control knob, typically one that adjusts temperature or a similar analog setting. The oven's control system reads the resistance output from the potentiometer and translates it into a usable input signal. When the analog board detects a reading that falls outside the expected resistance range, either too high, too low, or completely absent, it triggers the F16 fault to alert the user that the analog input system is not functioning correctly.

The communication path between the analog board and the potentiometer is a common point of failure. Wiring connections in this circuit can loosen over time due to heat cycling, vibration, or corrosion, which can cause intermittent or complete signal loss. The analog board itself receives the potentiometer signal and processes it for the main control system, so a break or short anywhere in that wiring harness will produce the same fault code as a physically failed potentiometer.

Diagnosing F16 begins with a careful inspection of the wiring from the analog board to the potentiometer, checking for damaged insulation, loose connectors, or corroded terminals. If the wiring checks out and connections are secure, the potentiometer itself is the likely culprit and should be replaced. A failed potentiometer may produce no resistance reading, an erratic reading, or a fixed reading that does not change with knob position.