TurboChef Troubleshooting Tips
TurboChef ovens are the preferred choice for many fast food chains, restaurants and other commercial kitchens. With equipment that has the technology to cook sandwiches in a minute and 16-inch pizzas in under 3 minutes, there's no doubt why. When your unit breaks, it can burn your business. But don't worry! We put together a list of TurboChef troubleshooting tips broken down by its popular models like encore, ngo and ngc models.
Rapid Cook and Single-Batch Impingement Oven Troubleshooting
While they slightly vary in size, each of these TurboChef ovens is designed to cook everything from sandwiches and pizzas to appetizers and side dishes quickly. Below are common problems that might pop up on Bullet, Eco, i3 and i5 Rapid Cook Ovens, as well as Single-Batch Impingement Ventless models.
No power
- Not plugged in - If the rapid cook oven doesn't have power, check if the unit is either unplugged or has a tripped main circuit breaker. In some cases, the power cord might be damaged and need to be replaced.
No beeping or a slow/undetected touch response
- Bad boot up - The main culprit is typically due to a bad boot up when the power was cycled. Reset by unplugging the unit for 30 seconds and plugging it back in. If the issue persists, contact a certified service technician.
"Oven Door Open" displays
- Oven door not closed - When the display on your oven shows this message with an audible alarm, look if the oven door is cracked open or if food is blocking it. Try closing and opening the door several times or removing any blockages to correct the issue.
- Door switch alignment - If the above is not the cause, see if the door switches are out of alignment. If so, contact a service company or technician for help.
Not heating up
- Door is open - Check to see if the door is closed properly and the oven is on.
- Circuit breaker tripped - If neither above is the issue, see if the oven is switched off at the main circuit breaker. Reset it by turning the oven off and unplugging it. Wait about two minutes before plugging in the oven, switching on the isolator and pressing the on/off button.
- Thermostat is tripped - A tripped high-limit thermostat also could be the root cause. Reset it by pressing the button in the bottom left corner of the oven's rear wall.
Not cooking properly
- Oven is dirty - A dirty oven filled with large buildups of grease and debris can affect the cooking process, so try to clean your unit routinely.
- Wrong food setting - Choosing the incorrect food group, item or starting state can hinder how something is cooked. For example, cooking a frozen item in a room temperature state won't achieve desired results.
- Air diverter malfunctioning - Poor quality also can occur if the lower air diverter is improperly installed or missing. Correct this issue by having it reinstalled.
Cooling down, shutting down or malfunctioning
- Display is dirty - A dirty display can accidentally activate soft keys, forcing the unit to shut down or malfunction. Cleaning the display should help the problem.
- Firmware needs rebooting - If the display is not the issue, your oven's firmware might need to be rebooted. See your owner's manual for specific instructions.
Steam or smoke is present
- Grease buildup - Large grease buildups and debris can cause steam or smoke to form while cooking. Providing routine maintenance will help prevent buildup.
- Clogged rear vent - Another possible cause is a clogged rear vent (or rear filter on a Single-Batch Impingement Oven). Check out your manual's maintenance instructions to prevent either issue from occurring frequently.
Double-Batch Impingement Oven Troubleshooting
The Double-Batch Impingement oven not only has impressive heat times, but it also has a wide variety of innovative features like smart menu systems and compatibility with Wi-Fi and USB. Here are some common issues you might face.
"Door open" message
- Door is blocked - If this message displays when the door is closed, there could be something obstructing it. If not, check the hinges to see if the door is loose on the hinge arms. Readjust or tighten if necessary.
- Electrical problem - Other causes could be related to an open door switch or wiring issue. In these cases, check your manual for more information. You may need to call a technician to schedule a repair.
Cooling down, warming up or shutting down
If no fault code appears, there are a couple of factors that can cause your oven to change its operation while cooking.
- Door switch alignment - Check if the door switch isn't aligned correctly. Have it adjusted or replaced.
- Faulty display - The other possibility is a faulty display, which will require assistance from a certified technician.
Not cooking properly
Always make sure your food is prepared correctly or cooked in the proper starting state. Uploading a new menu via USB also could help solve the issue. If that doesn't help, it could be faulty wiring, which would need to be repaired by a certified technician.
- Steam during or after cooking – Certain frozen foods can cause steam to build up during cooking. A dirty oven filled with grease or debris also can create steam, leading to clogs in the ventilation hoses or rear vent catalyst. Make sure to clean your unit daily and conduct a thorough cleaning every few months to prevent this issue from happening frequently.
Blank display screen
Before you do a deep dive, unplug the unit for 20 seconds and plug it back in. If the screen is still blank, there could be some electrical issues.
- Display needs resetting - If the LEDs on the back of the display are lit, you'll have to reset or replace the display.
- Power problems - Blown fuses, wiring issues or poor power supplies also could affect the display. Consult your manual for further instructions and contact the proper service technician for repairs.
Touchscreen unresponsive
- Error message - If you see a "Door Open" message, follow the instructions above.
- Air filter dirty - Check and see if the air filter is dirty. Poor ventilation and overheating can affect the performance and touchscreen. If that doesn't help, you might have a faulty display that needs to be replaced.
Soft or no beeping
- Volume settings - See if the volume setting is at 100 percent. If it's at 100 percent, the entire display or the speakers and speaker cable might need to be replaced.
Ventless Conveyor Oven Troubleshooting
Thanks to speedy cook times and a small footprint, High Conveyor models are popular options at bars, convenient stores and other quick service establishments. Follow the troubleshooting tips below to resolve common issues.
Not cooking properly
- Food incorrectly prepared - As with other TurboChef models, always check that your food is prepped properly or cooked in the right starting state.
- Heater/motors/blowers need replacement - In some cases, you may need to clean or replace the heaters or conveyor motors and blowers.
- Wiring is malfunctioning - Faulty wiring also could hinder cooking. Consult your owner's manual or a certified technician for further help.
Not cooling
- Room too warm - Make sure your oven is an area that's cool, at room temperature or not too close to other hot equipment. Being in an environment over 120°F or in close proximity to other hot units can cause overheating.
- Air filter not clean - A dirty air filter or closed cooling fan thermostat also can prevent your oven from cooling. Cleaning or replacing the part should help.
Blank display screen or no keypad input
- Power supply issue - Blown fuses, wiring issues or poor power supply will cause the display screen to be blank. When this happens, consult your owner's manual for specific instructions and contact the proper service technician.
- Keypad wire malfunctioning - If you have trouble using the keypad, you might need to have the wiring reconnected to the control board or have the keypad replaced.
Fire Oven Troubleshooting
Fire ovens are designed to cook 14-inch thin and artisan pizza dough in about 90 seconds. If you notice a rare issue with your pizza oven, below are diagnostic tips to help find and solve the problem.
No power
- No power to unit - First, see if the oven needs to be plugged. If it's plugged in already, check if the main circuit breaker tripped. If so, reset the breaker and turn the power back on.
Not heating up
- Circuit breaker tripped - Start by checking if the oven is in the OFF position. If it's ON, the circuit breaker may be cutting off power to the oven. If this is the case, turn the unit off and unplug it. After two minutes, plug it back in, switch the main power supply on and press the ON/OFF key.
- Thermostat is tripped - The high-limit thermostat might have tripped if the fire oven is not heating up. Reset the high-limit thermostat by pressing the button in the back-left corner of the oven's base.
Er1, Er2 or Ht error codes
If these codes are displayed, it means a component inside the oven isn't working properly. Contact an authorized technician to resolve the issue.
Need more help with your specific unit? Look up additional troubleshooting tips from our library of TurboChef manuals.