Whirlpool RM973PXB User manual

LOWER OVEN
Self-Cleaning Models
rowave Ovens. Trash Compactors. Room AM Condlfloners. Dehumrdtflers. Aulomatlc Washers, Clothes Oryers, Freezers, Refrigerator-Freez

Contents
Paae
Before You Use Your Range.
Important Safety Instructions
Parts and Features.
Using Your Range
Using the Surface Units
Optional Accessory
Canning Kit
Using the Lower Oven
Baking or Roasting
Adjusting the Temperature
Control .
Using the Automatic
MEALTIMER* Clock
Broiling _,.._,,,,..,._.,,,
The Oven Vent.
-2
3
4
5
6
6”
7
8
9
10
11
Page
The Storage Drawer 12
Optional Rotisserie 13
Caring for Your Cooktop and
lower Oven 13
Control Panel and Knobs 13
Surface Units and
Reflector Bowls. 14
Lift-Up Cooktop 15
Using the Self-Cleaning
Cycle 16
Cleaning Chart 20
The Cooktop Light 21
The Lower Oven Light 22
If You Need Service or
Assistance. 22
al985 Whirlpool Corporation
‘Tmk.
Before you useyour range
Read and carefully follow the 661NSTALlATIONINSTRUCTIONS”
packed with your range.
Read this “Use & Care Guide” and your “Cooking Guide” carefully for important
use and safety information, Store these with the Upper Microwave Oven literature
in the Range Literature Pat for future use.
It Is your personal responsibility and obligation to be sure your range:
l Has been installed where it is protected from the elements.
l Has been installed and leveled on a floor strong enough to support its weight.
l Has been properly connected to electrical supply and grounded. [See
“Installation Instructions:‘)
l Is not used by anyone unable to operate it properly.
l Is properly maintained.
l Is used only for jobs expected of a home range.
See your “Cooking Guide” and “Upper Microwave Oven Use 81Care Guide”
for addltional safety and operating instructions.
2

IMPORTANT
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
1. DO NOT allow children to use or
play with any part of the range, or
leave them unattended near it.
They could be burned or injured.
2. DO NOT store things children
might want above the range.
Children could be burned or
injured while climbing on it
3. DO NOT allow anyone to touch
hot surface units or heating ele-
ments. Dark colored units and
elements can still be hot enough
to burn severely.
4. KEEP children away from the
range when it is on. The cooktop
and oven walls, racks and door
can get hot enough to cause
burns.
5. DO NOT use the range to heat a
room. Persons in the room could
be burned or injured, or a fire
could start.
6. KEEP pan handles turned in, but
not over another surface unit to
avoid burns, injury and to help
prevent the utensil from being
pushed off the surface units.
7. DO NOT use water on grease fires.
The fire will spread. Cover fire with
large lid or smother with baking
soda or salt.
8. DO NOT wear loose or hanging
garments when using the range.
They could ignite if they touch a
hot surface unit or heating ele-
ment and you could be burned.
9. DO NOT heat unopened con-
tainers. They could explode. The
hot contents could burn and con-
tainer particles could cause
injury.
10. MAKE SURE to open the oven
door all the way when adding or
removing food to prevent burns.
l FCR YOUR SAFETY l
DO NOT STORE OR USE GASOLINE OR OTHER FLAMMABLE VAPORS AND LIQUIDS
IN THE VICINITY OF THIS OR ANY OTHER APPLIANCE. THEY COULD IGNITE
CAUSING EXPLOSION AND/OR FIRE.
- SAW THESE INSTRUCTIONS -

Parts and features
Models RM973PXB and RM978BXP
COOKTOP AND LOWER OVEN
hhm MODEL AND
COOKTOPLIGHT
COOKTOP LIGHT
/ SWITCH
- SERIAL NUMBER
PLATE
ONE-PIECE CHROME
REFLECTOR BOWL
UTOMATIC OVEN
LIGHT SWITCH
COOKTOP AND /; zq/- _ /=&& BROIL ELEMENT
OVEN RACK GUIDE
BAKE ELEMENT
FIBERGLASS
SELF-CLEANING
STORAGE DRAWER
Copy your Model and SeTial Numbers here...
If you need service, or call with a question, have this
information ready:
1. Complete Model and Serial
Numbers (from the plate located
behind the microwave oven door).
Model Number
2. Purchase date from sales slip.
Copy this information in these
spaces. Keep this book in the Range Serial Number
Information Center with your war-
ranty and sales slip.
Purchase Date
There is no warranty reaistration to
return. Proof-at-purchase% all that is
required for in-warranty service.
Service Company/Phone Number

Using your range
START TIME KNOB
km to
sefflng. I
H STOP TIME
KNOB
LOCK
- LIGHT
m CLEAN
LIGHT
OVEN
TEMPERATURE
CONTROL
LOWER OVEN
- INDICATOR
LIGHT
- OVEN
SELECTOR
Surface unit control knobs must be
pushed in before turning. Turn either
way until setting you want shows in
window Set them anywhere between
HI and OFF.
When a surface unit is on, its indicator
light will also be on.

Using the surface units
Until you get used to the settings, use the following as a guide:
Use Hi to start Use MED-Hi Use MED for Use MED-LO
foods cook- to hold a gravy, pud- to keep food
ing or to rapid boil or dings and cooking after
bring liquids to fry chicken icing, or to starting it
to a boil. or pancakes. cook large on a higher
amounts of setting.
vegetables.
CAUTION: The use of the Hi setttng for long periods of time
can damage surface units and discolor chrome reflector
bowl&Start cooking on Hi and turn control down to
continue cooking.
Use LO to
keep food
warm until
ready to
serve. Set the
heat higher
or lower
within the LO
band to keep
food at the
temperature
you want.
Use only flat-bottomed utensils for best cooking result and to prevent damage
to the cooktop. Specialty items with rounded or ridged bottoms (woks, ridged
bottom canners or tea kettles) are not recommended.
See the “Cooking Guide” for important utensil information.
Optional accessory canning kit
(Part No. 242905)
The large diameter of most water-bath or pressure canners combined with
high heat settings for long periods of time can shorten the life of regular surface
units and cause damage to the cooktop.
If you plan to use the cooktop for canning, we recommend the installation
of a Canning Kit. Order the kit from your Whirlpool Dealer or Tech-Care’ Service
Company.
See the “Cooking Guide” for important canning information.
Using the lower oven
The lower oven is always set with two knobs:
-The Oven Selector
-The Oven Temperature Control
Both must be on a setting for the oven to heat.
6

Baking or roasting
1. Position the rack(s) properly
before turning on the oven.
To change rack position, lift
rack at front and pull out.
2. Set the Oven Selector on BAKE
4. When the Lower Oven Indicator
Light goes off, the oven is pre-
heated. Put food in the oven.
Note: Oven racks, wails and
door will be hot.
Rack(s) should be placed so the
top of the food will be centered
in the oven. Always leave at least
1Y2to 2 inches (4-5 cm] between
the sides of the pan and the oven
walls and other pans. For more
information, see the “Cooking
Guide:’
3. Set the Oven Temperature Con-
trol to the baking temperature
you want.
5. During baking, the elements will
turn on and off to keep the oven
temperature at the setting. The
Lower Oven Indicator Light will
turn on and off with the elements
The top element helps heat
during baking, but does not
turn red.
When baking is done, turn both
the Oven Selector and the Oven
Temperature Control to OFF.
7

Adjusting the Oven Temperature Control
Does your oven seem hotter or colder than your old oven? The Temperature of
your old oven may have shifted gradually without your noticing the change.
Your new oven is properly adjusted to provide accurate temperatures. But, when
compared to your old oven, the new design may give you different results.
If after using the oven for a period of time, you are not satisfied with the
temperature settings, they can be adjusted by following these steps:
1. Pull the Oven Temperature Control
Knob straight off. 2. Loosen the locking screw inside
the control knob. Note the posi-
tion of the notches.
3. To lower the temperature, move
a notch closer to LO.Each notch
equals aboutlO”F (5°C).
4. To raise the temperature, move
a notch closer to HI. Each notch
equals aboutlOaF (5°C).
Tlghten the locking screw and
replace the control knob.
B

Using the automatic MEALTIMER* Clock
The automatic MEALTIMER Clock will turn the lower oven on and off at times you
set-even when you are not around.
Automatic baking is ideal for foods which do not require a preheated oven such
as meats and casseroles. Do not use the automatic cycle for cakes, cookies,
etc ...undercooking will result.
To start and stop baking automatically:
‘Tmh
1. Position the oven rack(s) properly,
and place the food in the oven.
3. Push in and turn the Start Time
Knob clockwise to the time you
want baking to start.
t
2. Turn the Set Time Knob until the
Start and Stop Time Dials show the
right time of day.
4. Push in and turn the Stop Time
Knob clockwise to the time you
want the oven to shut off.
5. Set the Oven Selector on TIMED
BAKE. 6. Set the Oven Temperature Contro
on the baking temperature you
want. The oven will now start and
stop automatically.
After baking is done or to stop
the oven before the preset time,
turn both the Oven Selector and
the Oven Temperature Control
to OFF

To start baking immediately and stop automatically:
1. Position the oven rack(s) properly, and place the food in the oven.
2. Turn the Set Time Knob until the Start and Stop Time Dials show the right
time of day.
3. Push in and turn the Stop Time Knob clockwise to the time you want the
oven to shut off.
4. Set the Oven Selector on TIMED BAKE.
5. Set the Oven Temperature Control on the baking temperature you want.
6. After baking is done, turn both the Oven Selector and the Oven Temperature
Control to OFF
To stop the oven betore the preset time, turn both the Oven Selector and the
Oven Temperature Control to OFF
Broiling
1. Position the rack properly for
broiling. See broil chart in the
“Cooking Guide” or a reliable
cookbook.
2. Put the broiler pan and food on
the rack.
10

3. Close the door to the Broil Stop
position, (open about 4 inches,
10.2 cm]. The door will stay open
by itself.
Custom Broil
4. Set the Oven Selector and the
Oven Temperature Control to
BROIL.
When broiling is done, turn both
the Oven Selector and the Oven
Temperature Control to OFF.
l If food is cooking too fast, turn the Oven Temperature Control counterclock-
wise until the Lower Oven Indicator Light goes off.
l If you want the food to broil slower from the start, set the Oven
Temperature Control between 150” and 325°F (65.5 and 162.7”C). The
lower the temperature, the slower the cooking.
The Oven Selector must be on BROIL for all broiling temperatures.
CAUTION: The oven door must be partly open whenever the oven
is set to BROIL. Leaving the door open allows the oven to maintain
proper temperatures.
The Oven Vent
Hot air and moisture escape from the
oven through a vent under the right
rear surface unit. You can cook on the
unit, or keep food warm on it while
the oven is on.
CAUTION: Plastic utensils left
over the vent can melt.
Do not block the vent. Poor baking
can result.

The storage drawer
The storage drawer is for storing pots and pans.
Removing the storage drawer
1. Pull drawer straight out to the
first stop. Lift front and pull out to
the second stop.
Replacing the storage drawer
1. Fit ends of drawer slidzails into
the drawer guides on both sides
of opening.
2. Lift back slightly and slide drawer
all the way-out
2. Lift drawer front and push in until
metal stops on drawer slide
rails clear white stops on drawer
guides. Lift drawer front again
to clear second stop and slide’
drawer closed.
Use & Care Guide storuge
Store this booklet, along with your
‘Cooking Guide:’ sales slip and
warranty in the Literature Pat, inside
the storage drawer.
12

Optional Rotisserie
If you would like a rotisserie for your lower oven, you can order a kit
[Part No. RCKBI -242985) from your Whirlpool Dealer. The kit includes easy
installation instructions.
Caring for your eooktop and lower oven
Control Panel and Knobs
1. Pull knobs straight off. NOTE:
Surface unit control knobs have
a collar and a spring behind
them.
2. Use warm soapy water or spray
glass cleaner and a soft cloth to
wipe the control panel. Rinse and
dry well.
3. Wash control knobs and surface
unit collars in warm soapy water.
Rinse well and dry.
4. Push control knobs straight back
on. Make sure they point to OFF.
Make sure the collar and spring
behind the surface unit control
knobs are put together as shown

Surface units and reflector bowls
Removing
2. Lift the edge of the unit, opposite
the receptacle, just enough to
clear the reflector bowl.
4. Lift out the reflector bowl. See
Cleaning Chart on page20for
cleaning instructions.
3. Pull the surface unit straight away
from the receptacle.
Replacing
2. Line up opening in the reflector
bowl with the surface unit
receptacle.

3. Hold the surface unit as level as
possible with the terminal just
started into the receptacle.
4. Push the surface unit terminal into
the receptacle. When the terminal
is pushed into the receptacle as
far as it will go, the surface unit will
fit into the reflector bowl.
CAUTION: Reflector bowls reflect heat back to the utensils on the
surface units. They also help catch spills. When they are kept clean,
they reflect heat better and look new longer.
If a reflector bowl gets discolored, some of the utensils may not be
flat enough, or some may be too large for the surface untt. In elther
case, some of the heat that’s meant to go into or around a utensil
goes down and heats the reflector bowl. This extra heat can discolor
It. See “Cooklng Guide” for further Information.
Lift-Up Cooktop
1. Lift front of cooktop at center and
swing-up the support rod.
2. Carefully lowerthe cooktop onto
the
support rod.
3. Wipe with warm soapy water.
Use soapy steel-wool pad on
stubborn spots.
CAUTION: Do not drop the cooktop or let it bump the upper oven
when llftlng. Damage can result to the porcelain and the cooktop
frame.

Using the Self-Cleaning cycle
The self-cleaning cycle uses very high heat to burn away soil. Before you start,
make sure you understand exactly how to use the cycle safely.
Before you start
1. Clean the shaded areas by hand.
They do not get hot enough dur-
ing the Self-Clean cycle for soil to
burn away. Use hot water and
detergent or a soapy steel-wool
pad on...
l the frame around the oven.
l the inside of the door, especially
the part outside the oven seal.
DO NOT clean the fiberglass seal.
DO NOT move It or bend It. Poor
cleaning and poor baklng will result.
2. Remove the broiler pan and any
pots or pans you may have stored
in the oven. They can’t stand the
high heat
3. Wipe out any loose soil or grease.
This will help reduce smoke dur-
ingthecleaning cycle.
4. If your oven has a rotisserie, make
sure the motor socket cover is
closed.
5. Put oven racks on the second
and fourth guides. During the Self-
Cleaning Cycle they will darken
and become harder to slide. See
tips on page 18. If you want the
oven racks to remain shiny, clean
them by hand.
Clean Frame
Chrome reflector bowls must not be cleaned in the oven. They will discolor.
Turn on the vent hood or other kitchen vent during the cleaning cycle.
This will help remove smoke, odor and heat that are normal during the cycle,
SPECIAL CAUTIONS:
DO NOT use commercial oven
cleaners in your oven. Damage to
the porcelain finish may occur.
DO NOT force the Lock Lever, you
could bend or break it. The lever is
designed to stay locked until the
oven is cool enough to safely open.
Wait until it moves freely.
DO NOT use foil or other liners in the
oven. During the cleaning cycle foil
can burn or melt and damage the
oven surface.
16

1. Set Oven Selector to CLEAN.
Turn Oven Temperature Control
through CLEAN until it stops.
3. Push in the Stop Time Knob and
turn the hand clockwise 2 or 3
hours. (2 hours for light soil:
3 hours or more for heavier soil.)
2. Turn the Set Time Knob until the
Start and Stop Time Dials show the
right time of day.
4. Move the Lock Lever all the way
to the right. The Clean Light will
come on only when the lever is all
the way over.
5. The Lock Light comes on when the
oven temperature exceeds nor-
mal baking temperatures. The
Lock Lever must not be moved
and the door can’t be opened
when this light is on.
6. After the Clean Cycle is com-
pleted, turn the Oven Selector
and the Oven Temperature
Control to OFF.
7. Move the Lock Lever back to the
left. Do not force it. Wait until it will
move easily. This turns off the
Clean Light.
After the oven is cool, wipe off any
residue or ash with a damp cloth.
If needed, touch up spots with
cleaner or soapy steel-wool pad.
17

Special tips
Keep the kitchen well aired dur- Clean the oven before it gets
ing the cleaning cycle to help get heavily soiled. Cleaning a very
rid of normal heat odors and soiled oven takes longer and
smoke. results in more smoke than usual.
Ifthe cleaning cycle doesn’t get
the oven as clean as you ex-
pected, the cycle may not have
been set long enough or you
may not have prepared the oven
properly. Set the cleaning time
longer the next time and hand
clean areas noted on page 16.
Oven racks lose their shine, dis-
color and become harder to slide
on their guides when they are left
in the oven during the cleaning
cycle. To make them slide easier,
polish the edges of the racks and
rack guides with a soapy steel-
wool pad, rinse well, and wipe on
a thin coat of salad oil
To stop the cleaning cycle at
any time:
1. Push in and turn the Stop Time
Knob clockwise until it points to
the right time of day.
2. Turn the Oven Selector and Oven
Temperature Control to OFF.When
the Lock Light turns off, move the
Lock Lever back to the Cook
Position. DO NOT FORCE IT. Wait
until it moves easily.
18

How it works
During the self-cleaning cycle, the oven gets much hotter than it does for baking
or broiling...approximately 875°F (468°C). This heat breaks up grease and soil,
and burns it off.
The graph shows approximate temperatures and times during a self-cleaning
cycle for 3 hours.
SELF-CLEANING CYCLE - THREE HOUR SEITING
(Approximate Temperatures and Times)
1000-F
800°F
600°F
A009
200°F
53aac
A2J”C
316°C
204°C
93°C
START Vzhr. 1hr. 1vz hrs. 2 hrs. 2 Yzhrs. 3 hrs. 3 VZhrs. STOP
Notice that the heating stops when the J-hour setting is up, but that it takes longer
for the oven to cool down enough to unlock.

Cleaning Chart
PART
Exterior
surfaces
WHAT TO CLEAN HOW TO CLEAN
Soft cloth and warm soapy
l Wipe off regularly when cooktop and
water. lower oven are cool.
Nylon or plastic scouring
l Do not allow food containing acids
pad for stubborn spots. (such as vlnegar, tomato, lemon
juice or milk) to remain on surface.
Acids will remove the glossy finish.
l Do not use abrasive or harsh
cleansers.
Surface units No cleaning required. l Spatters or spills will burn off.
l Do not immerse in water.
Chrome Automatic dishwasher or l Wash with other cooking utensils.
reflector bowls warm, soapy water and l Clean frequently.
plastic scrubbing pad.
l Do not use abrasive or harsh
cleansers.
Broiler pan
and grid
Control knobs
Control panel
Warm, soapy water or steel
l Wash with other cooking utensils.
wool pad.
Warm, soapy water and
l Wash, rinse and dry well.
soft cloth.
l Do not soak.
Warm, soapy water or
l Wash, rinse and dry well.
spray glass cleaner.
l Follow directions provided with
cleaner.
Oven racks Self-Cleaning Oven cycle;
l Leave in oven during Self-Cleaning
warm, soapy water or cycle.
soapy steel wool pads. 9 Wash, rinse and dry. Use soapy steel
wool pads for stubborn areas.
NOTE: The oven racks will discolor and be harder to slide
when left in the self-cleaning cycle. it you want them to stay
shiny, remove them horn the oven and clean by hand.
lower oven
door glass Spray glass cleaner; warm,
l Make sure oven is cool.
soapy water or
l Follow directions provided with
plastic scrubbing pad. cleaner.
l Wash rinse and dry well with a soft
cloth.
Self-Cleanlng
Oven For areas outside Self- . Follow directions starting on page lo,
Cleaning area use warm, “Using the Self-Cleaning Cycle:’
soapy water or soapy
l Do not use commercial oven
steel wool pads. cleaners.
l Do not use foil to line the bottom of
your Self-Cleaning Oven.
20