When a Thermador broiler is not working, the usual suspect on a wall oven is the broil element, the heating element at the top of the oven cavity. Our oven guide gives a simple test: if the oven bakes but will not broil, the broil element is the likely failure, and the oven error code pages list E5 as a broil element open circuit. A broiler that does not work is not an emergency, but a broiler that will not stop heating is, and the two need different responses.
Why is my Thermador broiler not working?
Our Thermador wall oven not heating guide says that when a wall oven will not heat, the cause is usually a failed heating element, a faulty temperature sensor or a control board relay that is not sending power to the element. For the broiler specifically, that points first to the broil element at the top of the cavity. It also says to test bake against broil: an oven that bakes but will not broil has a problem with the broil (top) element, whereas an oven that does neither is more likely a control board or sensor problem.
Before you assume a failure, check whether the oven is in a mode that prevents heating. Our guide lists Sabbath mode, demo mode and delay start as modes that stop heating and are sometimes switched on by accident. Check the display against your owner’s manual. Also check that you selected the broil function the manual describes for your model, because the exact steps and names differ.
What can you check safely yourself?
With the oven off and completely cool, look at the broil element at the top of the cavity. Our guide says a burned-through element has a visible crack, a hole or a blister, and that visible damage confirms the diagnosis. Use a flashlight and look only; do not touch, bend or pull on the element, and do not take off any panel or cover.
Then check the circuit breaker. Our guide says Thermador wall ovens need a dedicated 240V circuit. If the breaker has tripped, do not keep resetting it, because a breaker that trips again points to a fault that needs a technician. Do not run the oven while you wait.
What do the oven error codes say about the broil element?
Our error code pages list several codes for the broil side of a wall oven. E5 is a broil element open circuit, meaning the element has broken its own circuit and nothing reaches it. E206 is a partial broil element failure with reduced output, which would show up as a broiler that is weak or slow. E218 is a broil element relay stuck, with continuous top heating.
Check your own model before assuming a code applies. The range pages list their own codes, and the range list includes F6 for a broil element failure with overheating detected. If your display shows a code, write it down exactly, and read Thermador oven error codes or the range error codes guide. A code means the board has already made a diagnosis, which makes it useful when you call us.
What if the broiler will not turn off?
This is the dangerous direction. Our E118 and E218 guide explains that a stuck relay keeps the element connected to power regardless of what the display says. If you see E218, or you can feel heat from the cavity with the oven switched off, go to the electrical panel and turn off the oven circuit. Do not just press cancel. Leave the door closed while the cavity cools, keep the breaker off and call us. Do not reset it and carry on cooking. Read Thermador oven E118 and E218 for the explanation.
If there is smoke, or grease catches fire in the oven, keep the door closed and turn the oven off at the breaker. Do not open panels and do not pour water in.
What about a gas range with a broiler that will not light?
Many Thermador ranges are gas, and our site does not describe a lighting procedure for each broiler. Follow your owner’s manual for how the broiler is meant to start, and do not try to light anything with a match unless the manual says so. If you smell gas at any point, do not switch anything on or off and do not light anything. Leave the house and call the gas utility or 911 from outside. A broiler that will not light, clicks without lighting or lights and goes out is a job for a technician, and adjusting gas parts yourself is not safe.
When should you call a technician?
Call if there is any error code, if the breaker keeps tripping, if the element is visibly damaged or if the oven also fails to bake. Our oven guide says all of those require professional service. Our Thermador oven repair page explains how a visit works, and if the oven is old and has other problems, Thermador oven repair or replace can help you weigh the options.
