CVEX4270B Jenn-Air Cooktop - Overview

1. Killed power and removed the regulator's knob, noted the position of the old control.
2. Took off the cover for the center vent and loosened the two screw holding the housing in place--the screws didn't have to come out completely as it is a U-shaped friction hold.
3. Unscrewed the two screws holding the old control switch in place--lifted the housing enough to get at the old switch and carefully pulled it loose--it was a front burner so the control switch was about as far back as it could be but still wasn't that hard to get at.
4. Turned the new switch to orient the wire connectors, then, using a needle-nose pliers, removed each friction connector, one at a time, and fitted them on the new switch (note: one of the wires fitted best if it went under as opposed to around the base of the new switch).
5. Replaced the control back through the housing and screwed it in place, making sure the orientation of the control matched the way it looked originally.
6. Slide the housing back over the two screws and tightened, replace vent.
7. Replaced the knob and turned on the power.

(The above took me about twice as long to write as it did to make the repair and I write professionally but am not a professional electrician.)

Also, I bought a second control switch because, given the age of the unit, I'm sure another one will go. The second one will assure that it won't happen :-).

First, the Sears repairman diagnosed the switch as broken, and told us that th part, if it were available, would be $150 plus labor. However, he said it was not available, so we'd need to get a new counter top stove all together. Not.

I came to Parts Select, and I found the fan control switch listed here (if you found this story, you've found the right part). In one day, I had the part in my hand...the part that Sears said didn't exist.

First, I turned off the main fuse switch controlling the stove top! Very important! Then I tried to heat up the elements to verify that the electricity was disconnected.
I removed the glass top, then the pan, then removed the side screws that hold the flange in place, the same flange thae holds the knob control area in place. Then I removed the knobs (they just pull right off). Then I removed the knob control area. A small nut holds the fan control switch in place. Remove that, then the switch is loose under the control area. There are 4 wires, but two are connected to each other, so don't panic! Swap them out for your new part, and at this point, very carefully, turn on the main electric again and verify that the switch works. It should.

Turn off the electricity again, then mount the switch up under the control area. There should be a little, bitty tab on the control switch box that fits perfectly into the metal control panel, just to the left of the hole for the stem of the control switch--proof that this switch is meant to be used on this Jenn Air Expressions model CVEX4100/4270/4370 series counter top.

Then reverse the steps to replace all the panels, knobs, pans and elements, and you can cook without smoking up your kitchen, all for thousands less than a brand, new appliance.

Oh, one more thing. The nut around the old switch cannot be used on the new switch. However, you can use a nut from a coaxial cable fitting! It is the same thread count. I used mine from an RCA In Line F Connector 4 pack...part number VH664N.

Lift off blower vent cover. Lift out old filter. Clean walls and bottom of down draft using degrease soap and warm water. Dry. Discovered my grease filter will not install diagonally as shown in unit manual. Decided to drop into downdraft and put in front of fan suction. Found this left a gap at the top of fan suction that was not covered by the filter. Cut piece of wood 1 inch thick and width and length to drop down in the downdraft and lay on bottom. Set filter on top of wood in front of the fan suction. Verified that fan suction would pull filter tight against the opening by turning fan on and off. Put vent cover back over downdraft and told wife I was done.