GE Oven Not Heating or Baking Unevenly? Bake Element WG02F05346 – Fix Oven Heat Failure Fast

A burned-out bake element is the most common cause of a GE electric oven that won’t heat, takes too long to preheat, or produces unevenly cooked food. In most GE electric ranges, the lower bake element is the primary heat source for all baking, roasting, and preheating — when it burns out, cracks, or develops a hot spot, the oven either fails to reach temperature entirely or heats unevenly and scorches food on one side. ⚡ Common failure point in GE-built electric ranges after years of high-temperature cycling. Part WG02F05346 is the genuine OEM 3500W replacement bake element that restores full oven heating performance with no modifications required.

❓ Is This the Right Part?

This is the correct fix if ALL of the following are true:

• ✔ Your range powers on and the broil element or surface burners work normally
• ✔ The oven control board has been confirmed functional — temperature can be set and the oven attempts to heat
• ✔ The oven temperature sensor has been tested and reads within spec
• ✔ The oven igniter (gas) or bake element circuit breaker has been confirmed OK
• ✔ ONLY problem is the oven not heating in bake mode, slow preheating, or uneven baking results

Not sure? Send us your model number — we'll confirm before you order.

🔧 Common Symptoms

• Oven won’t heat at all in bake mode — broil still works
• Oven takes significantly longer than normal to reach set temperature
• Food undercooked on the bottom or baking unevenly side to side
• Visible burn marks, cracks, blisters, or holes in the lower element coil
• Element glows only partially or not at all when oven is set to bake
• Burning smell or sparking from the bottom of the oven cavity during operation

✔ If these symptoms match, this is the most likely failed component in the system.

✔ In most cases, replacing this bake element restores full oven heating immediately.

📦 Part Details

• Part Number: WG02F05346
• Type: Oven Bake Element – lower heating coil rated at 3500W / 240V; primary heat source for all baking, roasting, and preheating functions
• Replaces: OEM direct-fit bake element — supersedes WB44M168 (no modification required)
• Brands: GE, Hotpoint, RCA

⚙️ Installation

Skill Level: EASY — 15–25 minutes. Disconnect power at the breaker before touching any element or wiring — this is a 240V circuit. Remove the two mounting screws at the rear of the oven cavity, pull the element forward to expose the spade terminals, disconnect and reconnect the terminals on the new WG02F05346 element, then secure the mounting screws and restore power. Run the oven at 350°F for 15 minutes after installation to burn off any manufacturing residue before cooking.

✓ Compatible Models

Part WG02F05346 supersedes WB44M168 and is confirmed compatible with 100+ GE, Hotpoint, and RCA electric range models including GRCR3840ZWW, GRCR3960ZWW, HRSR3800ZWW, HRML3600ZWW, JB970SB2SS, and many more. Contact us with your model number to confirm compatibility before ordering.

💡 Pro Tip

✓ Model-Specific Repair Pages