C-20 — Oven Temperature Sensor Open/Short
The oven temperature (RTD) sensor circuit is open or shorted, so the control board can't read cavity temperature. Oven will refuse to heat to protect itself.
- Keep using it?
- Limited use only
- DIY difficulty
- Moderate
- Verified against
- samsung.com ↗
How to fix it
- Power down at the breaker before working inside.
- Pull the oven from the wall (range) or open the rear access (wall oven) to reach the sensor.
- Unplug the temperature sensor connector and measure resistance — should be roughly 1080 ohms at room temperature.
- If resistance is open, shorted, or off by more than ~200 ohms, replace the sensor.
- Inspect the harness for burn marks and reseat the connector at the main PCB.
- If sensor and harness are good, replace the main control board.
Why it happens
Typical signs: C-20 on display, oven won't heat · Code appears as soon as bake is selected · Cavity stays cold · Code may pair with C-21 if reading is erratic
- Failed oven temperature sensor RTD element has gone open or shorted; should read ~1080-1100 ohms at room temp.
- Broken or burned sensor harness Wire from sensor to main PCB chafed or melted near oven cavity.
- Loose connector at main PCB Sensor plug backed out of header on the control board.
- Failed main control board sensor circuit PCB input stage damaged; rare but possible after a surge.
Parts you may need
If diagnosis points to a failed part, these are the common replacements. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
- Samsung oven temperature sensor (RTD probe) Common replacementAmazon →
More Samsung oven codes
Always unplug an appliance before servicing it. This guide is for informational purposes and is not a substitute for a qualified technician. Verified against manufacturer documentation: samsung.com.