How to Install Range Surface Element Receptacle 5303935058 in a Tappan Range
Quick answer: Unplug the range, pull out the coil element and drip bowl, then lift the hinged cooktop to expose the receptacle block under the burner opening. Unscrew the block, transfer the two wires to 5303935058 one at a time, screw it down, seat the element prongs and test every heat setting.
The surface element receptacle 5303935058 is the small terminal block that the two prongs of a coil burner plug into. It joins the range wire harness to the element, so all the current for that burner passes through its two contacts. Over years of heating and cooling the contacts loosen, arc and scorch, and the burner starts working only when you wiggle it, heats on some settings but not others, or shows a burned spot at the base of the coil.
This is one of the easier electrical repairs on a range because everything happens under the lift-up cooktop and there is no need to move the appliance far from the wall. The job is really about doing the wiring transfer carefully, since a loose splice here will simply recreate the same burned contact a few months later.
See part details and every compatible model: 5303935058
- Unplug the range or switch off its breaker before lifting the cooktop. Burner circuits carry high current and both legs are live.
- Let the burners cool completely; a receptacle under a recently used coil can still burn you.
- Wear gloves and keep your fingers clear of the cooktop hinge when lowering it.
- Never reuse a wire with melted or brittle insulation. Cut back to clean copper and use a heat-rated connector.
Tools and Parts You Need
- Phillips and flat-blade screwdrivers
- Quarter-inch nut driver or small socket for the receptacle screw
- Needle-nose pliers for pulling spade terminals
- High-temperature ceramic wire connectors if your harness is hard-wired to the old block
- Wire stripper and cutter
- Work gloves
Step-by-Step Installation
- Kill power and remove the element Pull the range plug or trip the breaker. Lift the coil element slightly and pull it straight out of the receptacle, then lift out the drip bowl and set both aside.
- Raise the cooktop On Tappan coil ranges the cooktop hinges at the rear. Grip the front edge, lift it up and prop it on its support rod or a short board so both hands are free.
- Find and photograph the receptacle The receptacle is the black block clipped or screwed to the burner opening bracket, with two wires leading back into the harness. Photograph it so you know which wire lands on which side and how the block is oriented before you loosen anything.
- Remove the old block Undo the single screw or release the spring clip that holds the receptacle to the bracket and pull the block free. Inspect the bracket for heat damage while it is exposed.
- Transfer the wires one at a time If the wires end in spade terminals, pull one off the old block and push it onto the matching terminal of 5303935058 before touching the second. If the harness is crimped directly to the old block, cut each wire close to the old receptacle, strip fresh copper, and join it to the new lead with a high-temperature ceramic connector, working one wire at a time so they cannot be swapped.
- Mount 5303935058 Set the new receptacle into the bracket in the same orientation as the old one, with the slots facing the burner opening, and secure it with its screw or clip. Tug lightly on each wire to confirm the connections hold.
- Lower the cooktop and reinstall the element Remove the prop and ease the cooktop down. Drop the drip bowl back in, then slide the element prongs into the new receptacle until the coil sits flat and level in the bowl.
- Test all settings Restore power and turn the burner to low, then to medium and high. The coil should glow evenly and respond to every position without flickering or needing to be pressed down.
Fit Checks Before You Call the Job Done
- The element prongs slide fully into the new receptacle and the coil sits level without rocking.
- Both wires are firmly seated on the new block and cannot be pulled off with light finger pressure.
- The receptacle body is flush against the bracket and does not float when you press the element in.
- No bare copper is visible at either splice or spade terminal.
- The cooktop closes fully and no wire is pinched between the top and the frame.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Reusing scorched wire ends The insulation near a failed receptacle is often brittle and the copper is oxidized. Cut back to shiny wire or the new block will overheat at the same spot.
Using low-temperature connectors Standard plastic wire nuts or tape soften under a surface burner. Use only ceramic or heat-rated connectors.
Swapping the two wires Working both wires at once makes it easy to cross them. Transfer one, then the other, matching your photo.
Ignoring a burned element A coil with pitted or melted prongs will destroy the new receptacle. Replace the element if its prongs are damaged.
Troubleshooting After Installation
Burner still does not heat after replacement Check that the element prongs are fully inserted, then look at the element itself for a broken coil or damaged prong. If both are fine, the fault is upstream in the infinite switch.
Burner heats only on high This is usually the infinite switch rather than the receptacle. Verify the wiring transfer first, then test the switch.
New receptacle shows scorching within weeks Either the element prongs are pitted or a splice was loose. Replace the element and redo the splice with fresh copper.
Care Tips After the Repair
- Keep drip bowls clean so spills do not carbonize around the receptacle.
- Do not lift a hot coil by its prongs; let it cool before removing it for cleaning.
- Wipe boil-overs off the cooktop before they run down into the receptacle area.
- Once a year, unplug the range and check that each element seats firmly in its receptacle.
Compatible Models (Sample)
This part is listed for 101 Tappan models in our fitment data. Always confirm your exact model number on the appliance's rating plate.
Repair Difficulty and Time
Difficulty: Easy. Typical time: 20 to 40 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know the receptacle is bad and not the element?
Swap the suspect coil with a working one of the same size. If the problem stays at the same burner position, the receptacle or its wiring is at fault; if the problem follows the coil, the element is bad.
Does 5303935058 fit only Tappan ranges?
It is listed for 101 models in our fitment data across several coil-top ranges, including TEF353AQD, FEF355EQB, MFF351BCWC and LFEF3016NWB. Always confirm your own model number.
Can I splice the new receptacle to the old wires?
Yes, as long as you cut back to clean copper and use high-temperature ceramic connectors. Ordinary connectors and tape will fail under the heat of a surface element.
Final Checklist
- Range unplugged or breaker off
- Element and drip bowl removed, cooktop propped open
- Wiring photographed before disconnecting
- Old receptacle unscrewed and removed
- Wires transferred one at a time with heat-rated connectors
- 5303935058 mounted squarely in the bracket
- Cooktop lowered with no pinched wires