What F42 Means
JennAir's F42 page names the Cooktop Power Control Board or the associated wiring, and nothing else. Leaving the touchpad out of the description is what makes this code more useful than the broader board problems nearby.
Common Causes of F42
- An internal failure on the power control board
- A loose or heat-damaged terminal on the board
- Board damage following a supply event
🔧 One Safe Check You Can Try
Power the cooktop down at the breaker for a minute and back up, then leave it a minute before touching anything, so a genuine board problem has the chance to announce itself.
⚠ Why You Shouldn't Go Further Than That
- The power control board switches the full current the cooktop draws, and its terminals can stay hot enough to burn well after the display has gone dark.
- Replacement boards are matched to the model and sometimes to the coil configuration, so ordering one without a serial-plate lookup is a good way to receive the wrong part.
- The board lives in the sealed bay under the glass, and a seal that does not go back cleanly lets the next boil-over onto the replacement.
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.
Technical Reference
- Code
- F42
- Appliance
- JennAir cooktop
- Maker documentation
- JennAir owner manuals and use & care guides
- Checked
- September 2026
Code meanings can change between control generations. Before acting on a code, match the full model number on your appliance's rating label against the manual for that model. We are an independent repair service, not affiliated with Whirlpool Corporation.