My kenmore W&R locked to start the cleaning process and never turned on, but now won't open. It's been 4 hours.

we have a sears kenmore model and this is how we do it. remove everything from stove including the racks, close oven door, slide door lock latch to the right till it locks the door. turn knob to clean. when it is done cleaning it will turn off by itself. on some models the door latch will not slide open when done. just wait for it to cool if this is the case. it should tell on the touch pad on stove the hours that it takes to clean it. good-day !

Articles on the internet suggest not using the self cleaning feature of modern ovens, becuase fuses and other parts may easily burn out due to the high temperature.

Suggested methods to open a locked Kenmore oven at the artlcle at the link below:

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/clear-oven-lock-mechanism-kenmore-stove-71754.html


How to Clear the Oven Lock Mechanism on Kenmore Stove

Hi,

At the bottom of this is a link to the manual, it shows details starting on page 22 of how to clean.

Remove the racks and pans from the oven.

1. Move the Lock Lever to the right-the Clean position.
When the oven temperature goes above normal baking/roasting temperatures, the door cannot be opened and the Lock Lever must not be moved.

2. Set the Oven Selector and Oven Temperature Control Knob to
CLEAN.

3. Make sure the clock and Start and Stop Times all have the correct time of day.
4. Push in and turn the Stop Time Knob clockwise two or three
hours. The OVEN HEATING Indicator Light will come on. l Use two hours for light soil. l Use three hours or more for moderate to heavy soil.
NOTE: Make sure the Start Time Knob is not pushed in.

5. After the Self-Cleaning cycle is completed and the oven has
cooled enough, the Lock Lever can be moved back to the left.
DO NOT FORCE the Lock Lever. Wait until it moves easily. Turn the Oven Selector and Oven Temperature Control Knob to OFF.

6. After the oven is cool, wipe off any residue or ash with a damp cloth.
If needed, touch up spots with a soapy steel-wool pad.


Manual

Hi.

the oven may have locked in consequence of the self cleaning cycle.

After unplugging, allow the oven cooling down for few hours.

If the is still locked, then the high temperature generated in self cleaning cycle may have damaged temp probe, door latch, or electronic control.

Parts must be tested to discover the fault.

Call Kenmore at the number listed on the owners manual.

Regards.

you might try the following, although it is the instructions for an old model, it may be relevant;

"The actual self-cleaning process is initiated by a simple 5 step procedure: 1. Set the range clock to time of day. Note: on models not equipped with an automatic oven timer, the self-cleaning cycle is preprogrammed for a 21/2 hour cycle. Use Steps 3, 4 and 5 only. 2.Establish the length of cleaning time by:
A. Setting the start time. Press and turn the start dial of the automatic oven timer clockwise to the desired starting time. B. Set the stop time. Press and turn the stop dial of the automatic oven timer clockwise to the desired stop time. Max time is 3 hours miniumum 1/12 hours. 3. Set the oven selector dial on the control panel to "Clean" 4. Set the temperature control dial to "off". If you temperature control dial has a "Clean" position, then set the dial to "Clean" instead of "Off". 5. Remove oven racks, broiler pan and broiler grid from lower oven. Close and lock the oven door by moving the latch lever as far right as it will go - into the locked position. If the lever is accidently dislodged restore it to the locked position. Otherwise, the self-cleaning process will not take place. Shortly after the cleaning cycle has begun, the oven temperatur reaches a degree in excess of the normal broiling temperature. The red "Clean" light will come on and the clean cycle will start. In a few minutes the door lock lever, which you have placed in the locked position, will automatically be secured to prevent the oven door from beging opened during the cleaning cycle. This latch remains locked until the clean cycle is complete and the oven temperature reduces to normal baking and broiling temperaturs. NOTE: Prior to self cleaning cycle operation, the oven and surface lights must be turned offed. The upper oven can be used."

I found this here; http://www.appliance411.com/archive/21155_caloric_oven_lost_cleaning_manual.shtml

Normal self-cleaning time is between 3 and 4 hours.

Hi,

Yes you could clean it.

Check few details :-

t the bottom of this post you will find the web address for your ranges manual and the self clean system is in side this manual.

How to self clean
If your model has a door latch, never force the latch handle. Forcing the handle will damage the door lock mechanism.
The oven door must be closed and all controls set correctly for the cycle to work properly.
Before a Clean Cycle
For the first self-clean cycle, we recommend
venting your kitchen with an open window
or using a ventilation fan or hood.
Remove any broiler pan, broiler grid, all
cookware, probe and any aluminum foil
from the oven—they cannot withstand the
high cleaning temperatures.
NOTE:
If your oven is equipped with nickel oven
shelves, remove them before you begin
the self-clean cycle.
If your oven is equipped with gray
porcelain-coated oven shelves, they may
be left in the oven during the self-clean
cycle.
Soil on the front frame of the range and
outside the gasket on the door will need to
be cleaned by hand. Clean these areas with
hot water, soap-filled scouring pads or
cleansers such as Soft Scrub®. Rinse well
with clean water and dry.
Do not clean the gasket. The fiberglass
material of the oven door gasket cannot
withstand abrasion. It is essential for the
gasket to remain intact. If you notice it
becoming worn or frayed, replace it.
Wipe up any heavy spillovers on the oven
bottom.
Make sure the oven light bulb cover is in
place and the oven light is off.
IMPORTANT: The health of some birds
is extremely sensitive to the fumes given
off during the self-cleaning cycle of any
range. Move birds to another well ventilated
room.
NOTE: Use caution when opening the upper
oven after the self-clean cycle has ended.
The oven may still be hot.

How to Set the Upper Oven for Cleaning
On models with Gas/Control Lockout,
touch and hold the Gas/Control Lockout
pad for 3 seconds to turn it off.
NOTE: The surface burners must be turned
off prior to the self-clean start time.
If your model has a latch, latch the door.
Touch the Self Clean pad.
Using the number pads, enter the
desired clean time, if a time other than
4 hours is needed.
Clean cycle time is normally 4 hours. You can
change the clean time to any time between
3 hours and 5 hours, depending on how dirty
your oven is.
Touch the Start pad.
On models without a door latch, the door
locks automatically. The display will show
the clean time remaining. It will not be
possible to open the oven door until the
temperature drops below the lock
temperature and the LOCKED DOOR
light goes off.
The oven shuts off automatically when the
clean cycle is complete.
When the LOCKED DOOR light is off,
slide the latch handle to the left as far
as it will go and open the door. If your
range does not have a latch, the door
will unlock automatically.
The words LOCK DOOR will flash and
the oven control will signal if you set
the clean cycle and forget to close the
oven door or forget to latch the door
on models with a latch.
To stop a clean cycle, touch the Clear/Off
pad. When the LOCKED DOOR light goes
off, indicating the oven has cooled below
the locking temperature, unlatch the door
(on models with a latch) and open the door
The oven door must be closed and all controls set correctly for the cycle to work properly.

How to Delay the Start of Cleaning
Make sure the clock shows the correct time
of day.
On models with Gas/Control Lockout,
touch and hold the Gas/Control Lockout
pad for 3 seconds to turn it off.
NOTE: The surface burners must be turned
off prior to the self-clean start time.
If your model has a latch, latch
the door.
Touch the Self Clean pad.
Using the number pads, enter the
desired clean time.
Touch the Delay Start pad. The earliest
start time you can set will appear in the
display.
Using the number pads, enter the time
of day you want the clean cycle
to start.
Touch the Start pad.
On models without a door latch, the door
locks automatically. The display will show the
start time. It will not be possible to open the
oven door until the temperature drops below
the lock temperature and the LOCKED DOOR
light goes off.
The oven shuts off automatically when the
clean cycle is complete.
When the LOCKED DOOR light is off,
slide the latch handle to the left as far
as it will go and open the door. If your
range does not have a latch, the door
will unlock automatically.
The words LOCK DOOR will flash and the
oven control will signal if you set the clean
cycle and forget to close the oven door or
forget to latch the door on models with
a latch.
To stop a clean cycle, touch the Clear/Off
pad. When the LOCKED DOOR light goes
off, indicating the oven has cooled below
the locking temperature, unlatch the door
(on models with a latch) and open the door.


After a Clean Cycle
You may notice some white ash in the oven.
Wipe it up with a damp cloth after the
oven cools.
If white spots remain, remove them with a
soap-filled scouring pad and rinse thoroughly
with a vinegar and water mixture.
These deposits are usually a salt residue
that cannot be removed by the clean cycle.
If the oven is not clean after one clean cycle,
repeat the cycle.
You cannot set the oven for cooking until
the oven is cool enough for the door to
unlock.
While the oven is self-cleaning, you can
touch the Clock pad to display the time
of day. To return to the clean countdown,
touch the Cooking Time pad.
If the shelves become hard to slide, apply a
small amount of vegetable oil or cooking oil
to a paper towel and wipe the edges of the
oven shelves with the paper towel.

Hope i helped you.

Thanks for using ' Fixya ' and have a nice day!!

you would have to disassemble the cook top in order to get the the locking mechanism to manualy unlockit

Left it running for 3.5 hours, then turned it off and wa la, it was cleanned.

Press the self-clean button.  The panel becomes blank(---), then press the up arrow( ^ ).  The panel will appear 3:00 (indication for the duration of self-cleaning). The oven will lock on its own and start the self-cleaning.  Good luck, ya'll!