Alright. Let’s file this one under miscellaneous.
My wife and I have a Sears Kenmore Elite Electric Oven. It has a glass top and it is self cleaning. The model number, if it helps, is 911.99003991. We ran the oven through a self clean cycle a couple of days ago and after the cycle was finished, the door would not open. The “Locked Door” text was steadily lit. We let the unit cool down. Still the “Locked Door” text was lit. The door was indeed locked. My wife is a baker. I had a new item to add to my “honey do” list. So I did the next obvious thing in the developed world… I searched for a solution on the web. I’m writing this post for those that try the solution at the URI listed in the following paragraph.
Several articles pointed to this solution from applianceAid.com:
http://www.applianceaid.com/clean-lock.html.
The article suggests several options for troubleshooting this problem. The easiest was to unplug the unit and then plug it back in again. That did not work — the first time. I unplugged the unit, waited several minutes, plugged the unit back in, set the clock, and pulled on the door. Nothing.
Then I had a flash of insight. What if the mechanism is simply stuck and needs a little help? I tried it again. I unplugged the unit, and waited a few minutes. This time however, I proceeded a bit differently. Rather than plugging it back in immediately, I started pushing and pulling the door handle (vigorously). I reasoned that if the mechanism was controlled by a solenoid and depended on electricity to function, then removing the electric current would release the mechanism unless there was a mechanical lock. If the gizmo was simply stuck because of a layer of baked on oil or grease, then jarring it would release it (perhaps). So I jarred it – repeatedly. Not in a maniacal sort of way, but determined. I felt it starting to give way. I felt it open. Success.
Next, I plugged it back in. The “Locked door” message was flashing. I pressed and held the Clear/Off button. The Locked Door text went out.
Yes!!
My wife is now happily baking again. I think we will investigating an alternate approach to cleaning the oven in the future.