What Lo or Pre Means
Maytag explains this one plainly: if the display reads Lo or Pre after you have turned the oven on, it is simply showing that the oven temperature is low, below 170F, or that it is preheating. On some models the display changes once the temperature reaches 170F. Neither is a fault.
Common Causes of Lo or Pre
- Normal display while the oven is below 170F
- Normal display during preheating
- Oven genuinely not heating, if the message never clears
🔧 One Safe Check You Can Try
Wait. The display will move on as the cavity warms. If Lo or Pre never clears and the oven stays cold, that is a genuine heating problem rather than a display message, and the thing to check is whether the elements glow - on an electric range you can see the lower element through the door, and on a gas range you should hear and see the burner light. Note which, because a range that never leaves Lo is reporting a real failure to heat.
⚠ Why You Shouldn't Go Further Than That
- Let the cavity cool before reaching inside to inspect anything.
Opening a panel to inspect or repair something yourself doesn't automatically cancel your manufacturer's warranty — but it can risk accidental damage, and some manufacturers do have specific service conditions. Check your product's warranty terms, or ask us, before deciding.