Kenmore Oven Model 790 Identification and Parts

Quick Answer

To find your model number, look for a silver or white sticker on the oven frame behind the bottom storage drawer or along the side of the door opening. The 790 prefix confirms your appliance was manufactured by Frigidaire for the Kenmore brand.

Here's why this matters more than you'd think: if you order parts without confirming the exact model number, you're probably throwing money away. The 790 series covers hundreds of different builds over about 20 years, and a bake element for a 790.74333310 won't necessarily fit a 790.96112408. Five minutes finding the right sticker saves you a $40 return shipping headache and three days of waiting for the wrong part to arrive.

KenmoreOvenSeverity: low

Time to Fix

5–10 min

Difficulty

beginner

Parts Cost

$0 (no parts needed)

Tools Needed

Flashlight, Phone camera

Kenmore Oven Model 790 Identification and Parts

So you've got a Kenmore oven with 790 on the sticker and you need a part or some answers. Good news: Frigidaire built these, which basically means you've got one of the most part-friendly ovens on the market. I sourced a bake element for one of these last Tuesday and had it at the door same day from a local appliance house. Parts are cheap, they're everywhere, and the repair community knows these ovens cold.

Common Causes

Bake element burned out and you need to order the right replacement, which requires your exact model number to make sure it fits your specific 790 variant and not just any 790.
Igniter stopped glowing on a gas model and you're trying to figure out if it's a round style or flat style before you buy, because ordering the wrong one is a frustrating waste.
You bought the oven used or inherited it from a previous homeowner and have zero documentation, so you're starting from scratch.
The oven threw a fault code and you're trying to pull up the service manual, which is specific to your exact model sub-series since control boards varied a lot across the 790 lineup.
Control board died and you're hunting for a compatible replacement, because these boards are surprisingly different even within the same 790 family.

Symptoms You May Notice

Sticker on the drawer frame is there but partially peeled or covered in grease, making the numbers basically impossible to read without cleaning it first.
You found a number starting with 790 but aren't sure if that's the model or the serial number since they're both on the same label.
Parts you already ordered showed up and don't fit, which is the classic sign you had the wrong model number to begin with.
The service tag has multiple number sequences on it and the label isn't clear about which one is actually the model.
Label is completely gone, burnt off, or scrubbed away from years of cleaning around the drawer area.

Tools Required for Diagnosis

FlashlightPhone cameraPaper towels or damp cloth for cleaning grease off the label area

Diagnostic Checklist

Follow these steps in order. We start with the easiest external fixes before opening up the machine.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the 790 prefix mean on my Kenmore oven?

It's a manufacturer code Sears used to track who actually built the appliance. 790 means Frigidaire made it, which is part of Electrolux. Honestly this is great news because Frigidaire ovens have a massive parts ecosystem. You can find bake elements, igniters, temperature sensors, and control boards from dozens of suppliers, and prices are usually pretty reasonable. I've sourced 790 parts from local appliance shops, Amazon, and direct from parts distributors, and they're almost always in stock same week. Way better situation than if you had some boutique brand nobody's heard of.

Where is the model number on a Kenmore 790 wall oven?

Wall ovens are a little different from freestanding ranges. On a 790 wall oven, look on the left side of the oven frame, visible when you open the door. It's usually right there on the inner trim, maybe 3 or 4 inches from the bottom. If it's not there, check the underside of the control panel at the top of the unit. Some models have it on the interior side wall too, about halfway up. These labels actually hold up better on wall ovens because they're not sitting near the floor getting scrubbed every time someone cleans the kitchen.

Can I use Frigidaire parts in my Kenmore 790 oven?

Basically yes, but always confirm with your exact model number first. The 790 series and the equivalent Frigidaire models share the same internal components, so a bake element listed for a Frigidaire FGEF3055MF will very likely fit your matching Kenmore 790. What you can't do is grab any random Frigidaire part and assume it fits your unit. The 790 lineup spans about 20 years and dozens of configurations. Match the part number to your specific model digits and you'll be fine. Most parts sites let you enter both brand names and will show you the same component under both.

Why is my model number not showing up in parts searches?

A few things could be going on. First, make sure you're typing the full number including the 790 prefix and the period. Second, some parts databases list these as 79074333310 without the period, so try it both ways. Third, the last digit or two might just indicate a color or finish variation, not a functional difference, so if your exact number returns nothing, try dropping the last digit and searching again. You might also be accidentally reading the serial number instead of the model number. The model is usually labeled 'Model' and the serial is 'Serial' or 'S/N'.

What if the model number sticker is completely gone?

Happens constantly, honestly. A few options. First, check if there's any paperwork tucked in a kitchen drawer from the previous owner. Second, look up the home's purchase records or appliance age to narrow down which 790 generation you're dealing with. Third, call a local appliance parts store and describe the oven to them, they often match physical layouts to specific model ranges. Fourth, post a photo to one of the appliance repair forums online. Techs there can usually identify a 790 variant from the control panel style and burner configuration pretty quickly.

Is there a diagnostic or service mode on Kenmore 790 ovens?

Some 790 models have a diagnostic mode but it varies a lot by control board generation. On many of the newer electronic control versions, you can access fault code history by holding certain button combos, usually something like Bake and Broil held together for 5 seconds. But the exact sequence depends on your specific sub-model, which is yet another reason getting that model number right matters. Without it, you can't pull the correct service sheet to find the right diagnostic sequence for your specific control board version.

Models Known to Experience MODEL-790-GUIDE Errors

This repair applies to most Kenmore ovens with this error code. Common model numbers include:

790.74333310, 790.96112408, 790.46613502, 790.7866340H, 790.94102310, 790.71363702

Written by

Mike Sullivan

Lead Appliance Repair Technician · 20 years experience

Last verified for technical accuracy on May 22, 2024