Self Clean won't start

Hi Anonymous, this is AP!

I understand you are interested in the self-clean process for your Frigidaire slide in range, model FES355ASF. Start by removing all excess spillovers in the oven cavity before starting the self-cleaning cycle. To clean, use hot soapy water and a cloth. Large spillovers can cause heavy smoke or fire when subjected to high temperatures. Clean any soil from the oven frame and the door liner, but avoid cleaning the oven door gasket. These areas heat sufficiently during self-cleaning cycle to burn soil on. Clean with soap and water. Remove the oven racks, broiler pan and insert, all utensils and any foil. These items do not withstand high cleaning temperatures

Make sure the clock shows the correct time of day. Push the CLEAN button "---"will appear on display. Push the up arrow button until "3:00" appears for a 3 hour clean cycle or push the down arrow until "2:00" is displayed for a 2 hour clean cycle. Once the time is selected and released CLn will appear on the display. The door will then automatically lock and the LOCK indicator light will flash. Do not open the door while the indicator is flashing, usually about 15 seconds. The LOCK display will stay until the cleaning cycle is complete or cancelled, and the oven temperature has cooled to a safe temperature.

In the event you need to stop the cycle at any point, simply push the CLEAR OFF button and the door will automatically lock once the oven has cooled, usually about an hour.

Best of luck,

From the manual: The main oven and companion oven are equipped with heavy-duty, porcelain - coated racks which are designed to remain in the oven during the self-clean cycle.
So they have nothing to do with your problem. From what you describe it appears that as the thermostat button is turned it either simply powers down the oven because the command wire for the clean cycle is disconnected or it trips some kind of overheat safety that is functioning incorrectly.
The oven will have to be extracted from its place, its back removed to access the thermostat button (and its wirings) and the control board which will have to be tested. This isn't the simplest of jobs so if you have never done something like this before then you will have to call a pro. The parts won't cost much (less than $100) but the labor will so shop for the most affordable one.

Door Panels REMOVAL & INSTALLATION 1989–91 Vehicles

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. On 1990–91 vehicles, remove the speaker grille.
3. Remove the retaining screws from the door inside handle cup.
4. If equipped with armrest courtesy lamps, remove the lens, detach the bulb and wiring assembly from the pull cup and remove the pull cup.
5. Working through the pull cup opening, disconnect the remote lock rod from the lock knob.
6. Remove the retaining screw and the remote mirror bezel nut from the power window regulator housing switch plate, if equipped.
7. Raise the plate to expose the window switch and power door lock switch and disconnect the switches.
8. Remove the retaining screws from the armrest finish panel.
9. Remove the retaining screws from the armrest and remove the armrest.
10. Using a suitable trim pad removal tool, carefully pry the trim panel plastic push pin retainers from the door inner panel. NOTE: Do not use the trim panel to pry the clips from the door inner panel. Replace any bent, damaged or missing push pins.
    
11. Disconnect the radio speaker wiring, if equipped.
12. Remove the trim panel and watershield. To install:
    
13. If the door panel is to be replaced, transfer the plastic push pins to the new panel. Make sure that the watershield is positioned correctly to the door sheet metal. Remove the door pull handle from the old panel and transfer to the new one.
14. Position the door panel loosely to the door belt opening and route the wiring harness through the appropriate access holes in the panel.
15. Connect the radio speaker, if equipped.
16. Align the plastic push pins on the door panel to the holes in the door sheet metal and press the pins into place.
17. Install the armrest and route the window regulator, remote mirror cable and power lock harness through the access hole.
18. Install the armrest finish panel.
19. Install the power window regulator switch plate housing to the armrest connecting the power window switch, power door lock switch and remote mirror bezel nut, if equipped, prior to securing the retainer screw.
20. Connect the lock remote rod to the lock knob retainer boss. NOTE: Make sure that the remote rod is fully seated into the retainer boss, then function manually or with the power switch to ensure smooth operation of the lock knob.
    
21. Install the bulb and wiring assembly.
22. Install the lamp lens, if equipped, and the pull cup.
23. On 1990–91 vehicles, install the speaker grille.
24. Connect the negative battery cable. Fig. 1: Front door panel — 1990–91 vehicles
    Fig. 2: Rear door panel — 1989–91 vehicles
    

1992–98 Vehicles

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. If removing the driver's door panel, remove the nut from the outside rearview mirror control switch.
3. Remove the window regulator switch housing by gently prying up, starting at the front. Fig. 3: Front door panel — 1992–98 vehicles
   Fig. 4: Rear door panel — 1992–98 vehicles
   Fig. 5: Remove the window regulator switch housing by gently prying up, starting at the front
   
   
4. Detach all connectors from the switch housing.
5. Remove the door inside handle cup.
6. Remove the push pin from the door trim panel upper front extension and remove the screw.
7. Remove the lower self-tapping screw retaining the door trim panel to the door inner panel. Fig. 6: Detach the switch housing electrical connector and remove the housing
   Fig. 7: Remove the door inside handle cup
   Fig. 8: Remove the screws from the door panel in the front and on the upper extension
   
   
8. On Grand Marquis, pry up the screw covers from the door pull handle and remove the screws and handle.
9. Lift the door panel upward and snap out the panel. Fig. 9: There are also retaining screws located in the map pocket as well as . . .
   Fig. 10: . . . along the bottom edge of the door panel
   
   
10. Disconnect the necessary wire harnesses and remove the panel. To install:
    
11. Connect the wire harnesses to the door panel, as necessary.
12. Install the door panel by pushing in and down until it snaps into place.
13. Install all self-tapping screws retaining the door trim panel to the door inner panel.
14. On Grand Marquis, install the door pull handle, tighten the screws and install the screw covers.
15. Install the push pin covering screw on the panel upper front extension.
16. Install the inside door handle cup.
17. Install the window regulator switch housing and install the nut on the outside rearview mirror control switch, if removed.
18. Connect the negative battery cable. Fig. 11: Lift the door panel upward and snap out the panel to remove it from the door
    Fig. 12: Rotate the door marker lamp bulb and remove it from the door panel
    Fig. 13: Detach the connectors for the trunklid and fuel door release switches
    Fig. 14: Slide the relay connector off of the door panel and remove the door panel from the vehicle
    

The oven door must be closed and all controls set correctly for the cycle to work properly. 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 TIMER/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.

Using the self-cleaning oven.

How to Delay the Start of Cleaning

Make sure the clock shows the correct time of day. If your model has a latch, latch the door. Touch the SELF CLEAN pad. Using the + or – or 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 + or – or 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. n 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. n 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.

I was getting the remove rack error until I finally figured out what it wanted me to remove. When you say you removed the rack supports, do you mean just the sliding parts or the whole side metal rack support? At first I thought they were bolted in, but I read somewhere that they come out, too. Upon further investigation, I found the rack supports just slide into the side walls at 4 points. I had to use a little force to pull them out, but they came out and my oven is self-cleaning as I write this. I just thought I would share in case you or others haven't figured it out yet. Now I will just have to see how hard it is to get them back in...

is not actuallly physically closing??? perhaps the lock/ latch has partially engaged prevetning door from closing, and with the door oopen it cannot do anything for safety reasons. can you see a door /light switch thtyou can depress by hand??? if so push and hold it in the light should go out, and at this point continue to hold in switch and try starting a self clean cycle ( dont worry it wont actually start cleaning right away)it then should activet the latch assy to fully engage and suppoedly lock door, still depressing the button then press thecancel button and the latch should return to the normal resting position and you can close the door

make and model??
is not actuallly physically closing??? perhaps the lock/ latch has partially engaged prevetning door from closing, and with the door oopen it cannot do anything for safety reasons. can you see a door /light switch thtyou can depress by hand??? if so push and hold it in the light should go out, and at this point continue to hold in switch and try starting a self clean cycle ( dont worry it wont actually start cleaning right away)it then should activet the latch assy to fully engage and suppoedly lock door, still depressing the button then press thecancel button and the latch should return to the normal resting position and you can close the door

after the three hour prompt comes up hit start while the door lock light is blinking and let me know what it does

You've probably already read pages 34 through 37 of the owners manual for this oven. We had this stove in the house we bought and the owner wrote in his own directions, which seem to work fine:

1. Turn knob selector to clean.
2. Turn temp knob to clean.
3. Close and lock door.
4. Push enter button and turn dial clockwise to desired time.
5. Push enter button again.

You've probably already tried this, but just in case I figured I'd pass it along.