Gas cook top igniter repairs: this article explains the cause, diagnosis, and cure of cooktop or gas range igniter problems that cause continuous clicking, or failure to ignite gas burners or a gas oven properly.

How to fix clicking igniters on a gas cooktop.

Watch out: Some of these conditions are dangerous.

The gas igniter troubles discussed here apply to some models of gas appliances including gas stoves, gas ovens, and gas cooktops where an automatic or pilot less gas ignition system is used.

Gas Range Top Igniter Repair: burners won't light

This article begins with 7 easy steps to fixing a gas igniter / gas burner no-light problem.

If none of those steps gets your gas burner working we continue with a detailed case history exploring other less obvious causes of gas burners that fail to ignite when they should.

You can usually get the igniter working, stop igniter clicking, and get the gas burner on without having to do much disassembly and without having to move the gas stove out from the wall or cooktop from its mount.

If none of those steps brings you success then post a comment describing your gas appliance ignition problem along with a photo (one per comment) at the end of this page and we'll reply.

Photo: the igniter module and other key parts inside a Jenn-Air countertop gas cooktop.

[Click to enlarge any image]

We replaced this item as well as the wiring and individual igniters to cure chronic gas burner ignition problems: endless clicking. Details of that repair are found in the article below.

Article Contents

• GAS COOKTOP or STOVE IGNITER REPAIR
• QUICK DIAGNOSTIC TABLE for IGNITER PROBLEMS - summary of common igniter problems
• 7 EASY IGNITER CHECKS - step by step diagnostics
• DETAILED IGNITER DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR - details of how to fix igniters
• IGNITER STRAY CURRENTS & SHOCKS
• IGNITER CLICKING DIAGNOSIS
• IGNITER REMOVAL / REPLACEMENT
• GAS COOKTOP REPAIR, JENNAIR
• GAS COOKTOP REPAIR, SEARS KENMORE

Gas Burner Igniter Repair Quick Diagnostics Table

Notes to the table above

Adapted & expanded from Jenn-Air DUAL FUEL RANGE SERVICE MANUAL [PDF] (2004) PRD3030* PRD3630* & other models, gas cooktop, electric oven

Please continue with the 7 igniter repair steps given below

7 Easy Steps in Gas Igniter Troubleshooting - gas stove or cooktop burner won't ignite

When a gas-fired heating appliance stops working, the problem may be with the igniter, not other gas valve components.

Our photo shows an LP gas stove top burner igniter sparking away.

Watch out: we disassembled the stove top burner to make this photo. But don't turn on your gas stove with burner parts missing - the flame won't ignite properly and you could cause a dangerous gas explosion.

Igniter Repair Step 1. Is there LP gas or natural fuel?

If you don't hear gas hissing out at the gas burner your appliance may be out of fuel - a condition more likely if your fuel is LP gas supplied from a tank.

If your appliance uses piped-in natural gas from a utility company, it's still possible that the gas supply has been shut off. If that's the case then none of the gas appliances in your building will be working.

Igniter Repair Step 2. Is the igniter sparking and clicking?

If you don't hear clicking or a snapping sound and if you do NOT see a spark (like the one in my photo above) then the igniter module could be shot or an igniter wire may have become disconnected.

Watch out: just to avoid embarrassment, if you're unsure about whether or not your cooktop uses electronic ignition at the burners, check the manual for your gas cooktop or range: does it use a continuous or always-on gas pilot light?

If so, your cooktop does not use an electronic igniter and you should not be looking for a sparking or clicking sound. But if your burners won't light, the pilot light could be out.

If none of the igniters spark, check for a power failure. Check that the appliance is plugged in and that its circuit breaker or fuse is on or intact.

If there is electrical power to the stove or cooktop but no igniters spark or click, the igniter module may need replacement. In my experience, replacing an igniter module should be the very last thing you try, because 90% of the time the igniter problem is instead one of those listed in these 7 steps. Usually if the igniter module is bad then none of the igniters will spark or all will spark only weakly.

Less common is weak sparking at one or all igniters. A weak spark may be due to water on the igniter, wet wiring, a cracked damaged igniter or on occasion a failing igniter module.

Be thorough in your inspection for spills into the cooktop. Spills of water or any cooking liquid that leak down into the cooktop assembly may wet the igniter wires or other components leading to igniter malfunction, clicking, sparking, or failure to spark.

Below: spills into the body of this Jenn-Air gas cooktop ultimately shorted out igniter wires.

If all of the igniters spark, that may be normal operation for your gas range or cooktop. For example, on pretty much all GE and MABE gas range burners, all of the burners spark when any one (or more) of them is turned to LITE. The burners should stop sparking when the turned-on burner ignites.

Watch out: GE includes this safety warning:

The electrode of the spark igniter is exposed when the burner head is removed. When one burner is turned to LITE, all the burners spark. Do not attempt to disassemble or clean around any burner while another burner is on. An electric shock may result, which could cause you to knock over hot cookware.

Reference:

• GE NON-SELF-CLEANING GAS RANGES MANUAL [PDF] (2008)
• GAS COOKTOP RANGE & OVEN REPAIR & MANUALS

If the igniter continues to spark continuously after the burner flame has lit, check the following causes:

• Wet or dirty gas burner or igniter parts or wiring
  
  igniters, wet igniter wire, possibly below the stovetop, or grease or burned food on the gas burner edge towards which the igniter spark must jump
• Gas burner igniter wiring error:
  
  electrical power to the appliance has hot and neutral wires reversed or polarity has been reversed at the igniter module
• Electrical ground loss at gas burner igniter module
  
  the ground for the power supply or igniter module has been lost or disconnected

If some burner igniters spark and others do not,

check the non-sparking igniter, wire connections, wire, and the individual burner igniter switch (found at the burner control knob).

Igniter switches, igniters, and wires are all replaceable parts.

Igniter Repair Step 3. Is a gas burner cap askew?

The burner cap may look straight, especially when viewed from above, but in fact it might be improperly placed. This problem can be subtle so check carefully - see if you can rotate the burner cap to assure that it is level and properly seated.

Above: the gas burner cap on this Bosch cooktop is askew - a SNAFU you may miss when you just look at the burner from above.

Below: the same gas burner cap, properly installed, lies flat on the burner and doesn't wobble when I rotate it.

Igniter Repair Step 4. Is there water on the gas burner or burner cap or igniter?

Often after cleaning a stove top or cooktop, we've left water or cleaner on those surfaces.

That can cause shorting of or even suppression of the igniter spark. Remove the burner cap - just lift it off, no un-screwing or other disassembly is needed. Inspect for and dry off any liquid.

Igniter Repair Step 5. Inspect the ceramic igniter & burner & burner cap for clogging, debris, or damage.

Usually a few clogged orifices will not prevent a burner from igniting but it will burn with an uneven flame or flame may be absent at a few (clogged) orifices.

Also check the burner or burner cap notches or orifices for grease or debris clogging.

Use a toothbrush or a wooden toothpick to clean out gunk if necessary.

Watch out: Don't use a metal tool that can break, gouge, or enlarge the burner gaps or orifices.

>

Look at the igniter itself for cracks, chips, grease, soiling, other damage.

If the ceramic igniter itself is actually cracked or damaged, it may be shorting to ground and unable to ignite the gas flame.

To clean the cruddy igniter above (on a Jenn-air cooktop), I used liquid cleaner, a toothbrush, and a wooden toothpick, taking care not to damage the ceramic igniter.

Once the ceramic igniter itself is clean, look closely for dark lines indicating that the ceramic is cracked or chipped. In that case the ceramic igniter itself needs replacement.

On many cooktops, to inspect the entire ceramic igniter, you'll need to remove the cast aluminum burner base - typically by unscrewing a center nut (just visible at the right side of the photo above) or by loosening a couple of screws that hold the burner in place. But on some cooktops the whole cooktop must be disassembled - don't try that before turning off electricity and gas to the appliance.

Details are at IGNITER REMOVAL / REPLACEMENT

Igniter Repair Step 6. Continue by checking the igniter wiring itself.

If the igniter wire connection is loose or damaged that could be the problem. Check:

• the wire connection at the bottom of the igniter
• the wire connection at the other end - at the igniter control module

Check the igniter wire for nicks, shorts, or wetness along its entire length.

We have seen recurrent problems with some stove-top gas igniters whose wires ran across the interior pan of the stovetop where they rested in water or cleaners used to clean that appliance.

The result was a shorted igniter wire and constant clicking that drove the homeowners crazy.

Igniter Repair Step 7. You may need to replace the igniter module

The igniter module on modern gas appliances is a solid state block or cube that contains electronics and wires that connect between the gas burner control knobs and the igniters at each gas burner.

On nearly all cooktops and gas ranges, to access the igniter module you'll need to disassemble the cooktop or range top surface, though some range tops may be hinged and can simply be lifted up from the range base by unclipping some hidden fasteners using a putty knife.

Watch out: do not try to disassemble the range top before

1. Turning off electrical power
   
   to the appliance
2. Turning off the gas supply
   
   to the appliance
3. Consulting the manual
   
   for your specific cooktop or range top to find the location of the igniter module and the location of various fasteners that must be removed to access it.
   
   See GAS COOKTOP RANGE & OVEN REPAIR & MANUALS

Otherwise you may waste time disassembling the wrong parts or worse you may get shocked or cause a gas explosion.

Tip for fooling with electrical wire connections in appliances

Take photos. If you're too lazy (as I am), tag each individual wire and terminal or write down the colour codes (such as "Red Wire to Terminal 11). The photos can help you make the right reconnections later.

If none of the steps above got your gas burner working, continue with the more detailed gas appliance igniter diagnosis and repair steps given next.

Details of Repair of Gas Appliance Igniters

The igniters on the LP gas in-counter stovetop described here had been annoying since shortly after this appliance was installed.

Turning on the gas burner is supposed to cause it to ignite automatically. But instead the burner blows, blasts, or never ignites, and the igniter clicks continuously. Or the burner will ignite, but the igniter won't stop clicking.

There are plenty of explanations about how these gas flame igniters work and how they are smart enough to turn off after the flame ignites.

Below we focus on how to repair igniters that are just maddeningly bad behavers.

Problems & Fixes for Automatic Gas Flame Igniters

We are using a gas range top for this example but these defects or some of them can occur on other automatic or electronic ignition gas fired appliances.

Uneven or yellow gas flame: check for gas burner top that is not properly in place. This is not an igniter problem but a flame problem.

Similarly if the burner ignites the flame should be mostly blue with a yellow tip. If the flame is mostly yellow the air mixture or fuel adjustment or regulator adjustment is improper. This is also not an igniter problem.

The gas burner top is askew as we show in our photographs below, perhaps after it has been removed (say for cleaning) and has not been properly and squarely replaced. Look closely to be sure your stovetop parts are properly seated, especially if they were removed for cleaning.

Notice those two pins sticking up on the burner base in our photo at below right?

Notice those two half-round indentations in the burner cap (shown upside down in the lower portion of the same photo ?

Those tell you how to align the burner top properly. Even a small misalignment can prevent proper gas burner operation, and like many gas appliance defects, may be unsafe too.

...

Above: an askew burner cap and a rather gummy burner base on a Jenn-air gas cooktop that gave us years of aggravation.

More examples of a poorly seated gas burner cap are

at GAS BURNER CAP NOT SEATED - another article in this series.

The gas flame igniter or the gap between the igniter's electrode and the metal surface to which its spark is supposed to travel becomes soiled  with food spillage, dirt, grease - and can be gently cleaned with a toothbrush and perhaps scouring powder.

This is not a product defect, it's a housekeeping problem.

The gas flame igniter becomes cracked 

and short circuits or fails intermittently - the repair solution is to replace the igniter element with a new one.

Cooks who often allow pots to boil over and spill water on the hot igniter may contribute to this failure - we're not sure, but in our opinion it's a poor product design that cannot tolerate typical events that occur in the home.

The gas flame igniter wiring becomes wet 

by using too much liquid when cleaning the stove top. In this case the igniter may fail to stop clicking, or may fail to ignite the burner until the wiring has dried.

Use less liquid and don't spill liquids into the stove top interior. We have seen these wires short and melt inside the stovetop.

The gas igniter wire is loose, broken, shorted, damaged:

If there is no spark at all and if the appliance has power, the problem may be a loose or disconnected wire between the control module and the igniter, or a wire that has shorted.

The gas flame igniter control module has failed:

the igniter control module on modern gas appliances including stovetops is a solid-state device inside the appliance (usually inside the stovetop for cookstoves and ranges) that creates the high-voltage electrical pulse sent to the ceramic-and-metal igniter that you see at the edge of the gas burner.

You should see a strong white spark between the igniter pin and the metal edge of the gas burner.

If you see a weak yellow spark or no spark at all AND if you have already checked the igniter wire and its connections, I suspect that the module has failed and needs replacement.

More gas burner igniter troubleshooting details are

at GAS IGNITER CLICKING DIAGNOSIS in this article and in more detail

at GAS IGNITER DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR - separate article.

Watch out: as our photos below illustrate, water or other liquids spilling onto electrical wiring inside of a range top can cause a short circuit.

...

At above left, we show the interior of this gas range top. The blue box at top center is the control module.

At above right, you can see that one of the stovetop's internal connectors was shorting to the metal body of the range enclosure.

...

Our photo at above left shows the shorted stove wiring connector, and at above right, the arc-burn into the steel of the stove top interior, confirming that the connector was shorting to the grounded stove body. Water leaking into the range top interior caused this failure.

We rewired the appliance (using the proper high-temperature-rated electrical wiring materials) and we made sure that the wiring was supported off of the metal range top interior surfaces to prevent a recurrence of this problem.

Watch out: when disassembling appliance parts - some stove gas burner parts are made of soft case metal. If in disassembly or reassembly you strip the threads on these parts you may not be able to reassemble the gas burners safely and those larger part assemblies will need replacement.

The gas igniter control module may itself fail and need replacement. This is a more costly part, and in our experience is less often the problem than the items above.

Question on stray currents and gas igniter problems on a Maytag Range

8/24/14 Sue Deaunym said:

So, my Maytag gas range was installed about 6 years ago. Its never been exactly "right," and from time to time, the igniter would begin clicking every 10 seconds or so, even when the burners were fully off. (Unplugging the range for a few minutes usually remedied the problem.) The gas range replaced an electric one.

But we've always had some funky electrical problems in the kitchen that we've never before associated with the range. An outlet strip wired into the outlet box into which the range was plugged would occasionally shock people who touched it.

I inspected the outlet box and the strip, and could find nothing wrong with it. Checked with a volt meter, it seems OK.

I installed an underground gas line to a propane tank last week, and the guy hooking it up aid he was shocked on several occasions. So I went under the house and measured 120VAC on the copper pipe leaving the house. Disconnecting the range the stray current disappeared.

Looking at the starter devices at each burner, I see no problem.

Reply: gas appliance or heater flame igniter shock hazards

Sue

Thanks for this excellent tip about gas flame igniters - it's not one I'd considered and it makes perfect sense. Some igniters depend on proper electrical grounding for proper operation including the sensing of when gas or an actual flame is present. I'll add your notes to the article above.

It sounds as if there is a wiring error or accidental short circuit in your range.

Start by turning off power to the range - that will turn off power to any clock, control board, the igniter module, and the igniters and their wiring.

Next, remove the range top burner parts and top itself sufficiently to expose the wiring to the igniters.

• Look for one or more shorted igniter wires. For example, if there have been spills into the range top interior the liquid may have shorted a wire, particularly if the wire, in its routing, is in contact with the metal base or side of the range top.
• Also look for burned or shorted wires connected to the igniter module.
• If all of the wiring is perfect and the clicking problem persists you may need to replace the igniter module and/or the control circuit board.

It's certainly possible that the stray current was a factor in damaging those components.

Sometimes I also see these other problems that cause problems with clicking gas igniters or igniters that in fact don't ignite the gas flame:

• the ceramic surrounding a gas igniter is cracked and is shorting to the metal range top
• food or grease spillage around the igniter pin is insulating it from the flame
• orifices in the gas burner are clogged and not delivering gas around the igniter
• the sides of the gas burner head are corroded or grease or food clogged preventing the igniter spark from creation
• weak igniter spark due to bad igniter module
• weak igniter spark due to damaged igniter wiring

Keep us posted.

Question: gas igniters just won't stop clicking

2016/08/02 LC said:

Hi, my stove top burners light perfectly BUT they wont stop clicking (and I have thoroughly cleaned everything!) help!

Reply: common causes of & repair for gas igniters that won't stop clicking

LC, If a gas flame igniter won't stop clicking, the problem is almost always going to be one of the defects we list in the checklist below. I list these checkpoints in order of ease, leaving the most difficult and most costly (igniter control module replacement) until last.

If the gas flame does not ignite, start your diagnosis by reviewing our gas burner troubleshooting tips beginning

at GAS COOKTOP or STOVE IGNITER REPAIR

If the gas burner ignites and looks normal but the igniter won't stop clicking then check the following:

1. Confirm that the gas burner cap is in place,
   
   not askew; some igniters require sensing a proper flame and/or heat from it to stop clicking (generating a spark)
2. Check for dirt, spilled food, water, around the burner igniter.
   
   These can cause a short circuit or they can prevent the igniter from properly sensing the presence of a good burner flame.
   
   There are photos of this problem earlier in this article.
3. Check for water or liquid spillage inside the burner,
   
   beneath the burner cap.
4. Check for a split, chipped, damaged igniter itself;
   
   inspect the ceramic for fine cracks. This damage can be subtle. Often we just order new igniters and plug them in for all of the burners.
5. Check for an igniter wire that is wet or shorting 
   
   between the igniter bottom connection and the connection of the wire to the control module. To do this you may need to lift the stove top or range top or even to partially disassemble the stove top.
   
   Don't try that before turning off both gas and electrical power to the appliance.
   
   Also check the igniter wire connectors: these small brass connectors clip the wire at one end to the spark igniter module and at the wire's other end a clip will connect the wire to a metal pin at the bottom of the ceramic-insulated igniter element. If the clips are dirty, wet, or loose the igniter may not work reliably.
6. Clean the clips and using needle-nose pliers pinch the clip gently (don't squash it or you'll be sorry)
   
   to tighten its connector, then plug it back onto its connection point.
   
   Also check the wires for continuity - a wire itself, or its connector at either end could be cracked or damaged or broken. It's easy to swap in another wire from a working burner to try this test.
   
   In our photo (above/left) you can see that a wire connector (photo center) between the blue igniter control module (photo upper right) and the gas burner igniter was wet and shorting to the metal surface of the stovetop assembly.
   
   Watch out: don't simply use any handy electrical wire to replace a bad burner igniter wire; you'll notice, perhaps, that the burner wires are insulated with high-heat-resistant wire covering.
7. Check for a defective switch within the burner on-off control knob 
   
   or a loose wiring connection to it.
   
   An easy way to do this is to swap a burner control knob that is working (from a different burner on your stovetop) into the position of the one that just won't behave.
8. Check for and replace a failed igniter spark control module.
   
   Same warning as for the step above.
   
   You'll need to order a matching gas burner igniter control module that matches your specific appliance. You can find the proper part numbers both in the installation manual for your gas appliance and on the igniter module itself.
   
   Check with the manufacturer for a replacement part but also check online vendors. But be sure that the replacement part you order is exactly the proper one for your appliance.

Watch out: make these checks with the gas off and surfaces cool enough that you can touch them without getting burned;

Watch out: if you smell gas and/or suspect there are gas leaks, do not keep trying to ignite the burner(s) as you could risk a gas explosion.

See GAS LEAK DETECTION, LP / NG

Question: How do I Remove & Replace the Gas Burner or Igniter (on a Jenn-Air Cooktop)?

Now found at GAS COOKTOP REPAIR, JENNAIR these instructions will help readers replace the igniter or other gas burner parts on other brands of gas cooktops as well.

Gas Cooktop & Range Appliance Manuals

See GAS COOKTOP RANGE & OVEN REPAIR & MANUALS and also see additional citations atReferences or Citations

...

---

---

ADVERTISEMENT

---

---

Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

On 2023-08-28 by Eric - nomne of the electrodes at the burners ignite

Problem statement: all 3 electrodes (burner) won’t arc so i isolated the problem to common components, battery, battery holder, wiring of battery holder to spark module, spark module itself.

I will try to isolate further using a multimeter and work on the “easier” failure modes above. In the event the spark module is indeed the culprit, could i swap out the spark module for a different module that could accept 1.5V input voltage and support 3 burners?

I did a quick examination of the spark module, appeared to be sealed with no model name or number to be helpful.

On 2023-08-28 by InspectApedia Publisher - all 3 electrodes (burner) won’t arc

@Eric,

Before ordering replacement parts for the stove igniter system I'd be sure to step through the diagnostics given on the page above. It will be disappointing if you order costly replacement parts like the igniter module only to discover wet wires or food-fouled igniters.

On 2023-07-28 by DAve - gas stove burner ignitor won't stop clicking

Ignitor wont stop clicking - stops when power is turned off and seems that power is only used for the ignitor - can gas cooker top be safely used without power and burners lit by lighter ?

On 2023-07-28 by InspectApedia Publisher - can you ignite a gas stove burner with a match or lighter?

@DAve,

Yes, you can ignite a gas stove burner with a match or lighter.

Watch out: however, when burner igniters are not working, that no one leaves a gas burner "on" but un-lit as that has the obvious risk of a fire or explosion.

Read the article above on this page for gas burner igniter diagnosis and repair step by step procedures and let me know how that works for you or ask what questions arise.

On 2023-07-29 by DAve

@InspectApedia Publisher, So the power is only used for the ignition and has no other purpose - think the ignitors are broken so can turn off power and just use a lighter with no other impacts - grateful for confirmation, thanks

On 2023-07-29 by InspectApedia Publisher

@DAve,

No I didn't mean to suggest that. Depending on the appliance particulars, electrical power may be used for example if there is an oven included that uses electric burners or if there is a clock display

On 2023-07-25 by Allen Jacobs - none of the new JennAir gas range igniters work

I just plugged in my JennAir 6 burner range / oven after it was shipped. The convection fan works. The inside light works. But NONE of the igniters will even spark. I’ve got a new tank of propane.

I refuse to believe all 6 igniters went bad at the same time. Any help is appreciated.

On 2023-07-25 by InspectApedia Publisher - all 6 burners don't work on my new Jennair range

@Allen Jacobs

I agree that it would be odd ( not impossible ) for all 6 individual igniters themselves to "go bad" all at once, but there are other snafus that could explain why none of your igniters work, something as simple as a wiring error or a connector that came loose at the igniter module: if the module isn't getting power then none of the igniters would work.

Similarly, IF your new JennAir range installation and wiring do not include a ground connection at the wall receptacle or if that receptacle ground is missing or defective, then other stove features like a light or fan would work (they don't use the ground conductor) but the igniters would not work because they require a good ground.

I'd start by checking the wiring grounding.

On 2023-07-13 by Ad Baby - gas igniter fell down into the stove top - how to fix?

Pls my igniter generator fell into the gas body, will it cause leakages and how can it be fixed?

On 2023-07-13 by InspectApedia Publisher - Accumulated gas can lead to a sudden ignition, fire, or explosion

@Ad Baby,

Someone will need to open or lift the stove top to replace and re-mount the igniter.

Meanwhile, the danger is accumulation of unignited gas if you turn on that burner without first holding a match or lighter at the burner to light it.

Accumulated gas can lead to a sudden ignition, fire, or explosion, so take care when using that burner.

On 2023-07-01 by Dane A Slinkard - burner igniters stop working when the stove top is hot

I get Spark and everything seems fine on my stove top but when I turn on the oven to 400° or higher I stop getting any spark on the stove top.

When the oven cools down the Sparks come back to the stove top. Any suggestions on how to stop this from happening?

On 2023-07-02 by InspectApedia Publisher - when I turn on the oven to 400° or higher I stop getting any spark on the stove top

@Dane A Slinkard, I would check out two things first One is you may have a wire or connector that's getting hot and the connection opens when it's under heat.

The other is that you could have a failing igniter module that fails to work when it gets hot.

The first thing to do is to check the condition of the wires and connections as those are the least expensive parts.

On 2023-05-20 by Don Morris - gas burner igniters keep sparking after they are lit

I have an Older GE Monogram model # ZDP48N6dwss. Why do two of the four keep sparking after they are lit? All four come from same module.

On 2023-05-20 by InspectApedia Publisher - why do two of the four burners keep sparking after they are lit?

@Don Morris,

Usually that's a dirty burner or igniter not sensing the flame, or on occasion wet igniter wires.

If you switch wires and igniters with the other burners, what happens?

On 2023-03-26 by Ned - KitchenAid stove gas flows before the igniters start up

I have a KitchenAid downdraft stove with gas top and electric oven. I have what I consider to be an unsafe condition but I cannt seem to get acknowledgement of this from the retailer or the manufacturer. Also I cannot find any information on line dealing with this subject.

The problem is that on all four knobs, the gas starts flowing before the igniters come on. This means that it is possible to accidentally bump into one of the knobs and inadvertently start the gas flowing without being aware. This has happened twice.

Is there anyway we can get the igniter to come on before the gas flows?

On 2023-03-26 by InspectApedia Editor - the gas starts flowing before the igniters come on

@Ned,

What is the model and what is the age of your KitchenAid stove? We want to look at its operation manual.

What you describe might be a deliberate design by the manufacturer, PROVIDED that the igniters operate automatically whenever a gas range top control is opened to start gas flow.

What I [DF] agree would be a hazard would be a situation in which a gas burner control could be turned on, even wide open, and left that way with no automatic gas burner igniter in operation.

Keep in mind that it's probably not possible to manufacture and sell a gas range or stove top at a price point that's acceptable to consumers, and that has provision for every imaginable snafu or unsafe condition.

For example even on a gas cooktop that uses a fully-automatic igniter that begins to spark whenever a burner's gas valve is open, if the igniter fails to work - perhaps due to a food spill - the gas will continue to flow. The cooktop design and its manufacturer are relying on the consumer to pay attention and act accordingly.

About your worry that it's possible to accidentally "bump one of the gas cooktop knobs and start gas flowing without being aware" - is that actually possible on your cooktop? Usually for the type of cooktop that you describe, one has to both push-in and then turn the knob to open the gas flow. That combination of movements was intended to avoid the "bump-turn-on" problem.

On 2023-03-25 by Nicole - JennAir occasionally gas burner won't ignite

We have a jennair that has two cartridges, two burners per cartridge, making it the total of 4 burners. One of them does not spark time to time. When a lighter is used, it works.

When the cartridges are switched between the two, the burner that does not ignite follows. (Say the top left coner is the faulty one. When the left and right cartridges are switched, the faulty one becomes the top right corner one.)

With this, we think it's something in the cartridge that's faulty. But when the ignitor are switched, or wires are switched, or when the burners are switched, it's still the same spot that the burner does not ignite. (Same top left corne). What could it be?

On 2023-03-25 by InspectApedia Editor - one particular gas burner won't ignite when using the normal burner control

@Nicole,

When there is one particular gas burner that won't ignite when using the normal burner control and igniter components, and when you've swapped out wires, control modules, and igniters and they all work in the other positions, the two most-likely trouble spots are

1. there could be food or debris or burned oil etc. on the surface of the non-igniting burner near the igniter: clean that area thoroughly.

2. there could be a defect in the burner control knob whose job it is to both open the gas supply AND (on most newer stoves or range tops) to switch on the igniter: look for an electrical wire between the burner control and the igniter module and try cleaning contacts or replacing the wire; if that fails and if step 1 above has made no difference you may need to replace the burner control.

On 2023-01-20 by Kevin - Dacor SGM304 (LP) has an ignition problem at one burner

On a Dacor SGM304 (LP), ONLY one burner has an ignition problem...

(1) Turn on (bad) burner's valve, gas flows, no spark.

(2) While problem burner valve is still open, turn on another burner; ALL burner's spark (per design), and both bad burner (1) and good burner (2) ignite.

(3) Extinguish bad (1) burner's flame with gas valve still open and gas flowing, no spark to reignite.

(4) Extinguish good (2) burner's flame in the same way, spark immediately reignites good burner.

On 2023-01-21 by InspectApedia Publisher - Dacor SGM304 (LP) has an ignition problem

@Kevin,

The 1st thing I would try is cleaning everything around that bad burner thoroughly including the igniter and the surface to which the igniter tries to send a spark. The 2nd thing might be to swap wires with one of the other ignitors. But I suspect the problem is going to be traced to a failing Ignition module.

On 2023-01-16 by Ivan - find and fix broken gas burner igniter wire

The igniter wire on my Fagor gas cooktop broke just above the ceramic element. The manufacturer is out of business so replacement is not feasible. Please advise whether repair Is possible, and if so, please recommend a shop? Thank you.

On 2023-01-16 by InspectApedia Publisher - broken igniter wire on Fagor gas cooktop

@Ivan,

I would not assume that replacement is not possible for the ceramic igniter on your Fagor gas cooktop. Even for a manufacturer who's out of business, it's quite possible that there are suppliers of parts for the Fagor cooktop OR that you could remove the igniter and take it to any appliance repair service or supplier to see if there isn't a close match that would work for your cooktop.

What are the country and city of location, what's the age of the cooktop or the building where it's installed, and can you post another photo showing the whole cooktop? With that information we can help you research igniter replacements for older gas cooktops.

On 2023-01-10 by Eric Nippard - Jenn air countertop gas range igniters began sparking

I have a Jenn air countertop gas range (model JGc9536BDS). Five burner. Recently, the igniters began sparking after I had ignited a burner. I replaced the igniter ignition switch on what appeared to be the offending knob.

Now, the clicking will stop when that particular burner is lit, but would not stop if I ignited any of the other four burners. I replaced the igniter control module, thinking that it might be faulty. The clicking continues.

Clicking only stops when previously mentioned burner is lit. Igniting any of the other four burners will not cease clicking. I have thoroughly cleaned the burners, four of which were replaced. All igniters are new. am at my wits end!! Any suggestions would be appreciated.

On 2023-01-10 by InspectApedia Publisher

@Eric Nippard,

I've seen that problem happen when there's an igniter wire that's wet or shorted. Have you changed your Ignitor wires?

On 2023-01-10 by Eric Nippard

@InspectApedia Publisher,

I haven’t replaced any wiring but, now that you mention it, do recall seeing some discoloured wiring when the glass top was removed. I will give the replacement a try. Many thanks!

On 2023-01-10 by InspectApedia Publisher

@Eric Nippard,

Do let us know if that solves the problem with your stove igniters - as that will help other readers.

Daniel

On 2022-11-28 by Jim Perry - where to find new wire for gas burner igniters

Can you suggest a source for the igniter WIRE for a Jenn Air JGS9900CDB range? One igniter does not work and the wire below the connects looks damaged. (I assume the entire set of 4 does not need to be replaced.)

BTW, we have people clean and they apparently put the burner caps on the wrong burners -- that creates for lots of igniter problems. I made a not on my owner's manual of where each should be.

On 2022-11-28 by InspectApedia (Editor) - source for the igniter WIRE for a Jenn Air JGS9900CDB range

@Jim Perry,

Fortunately there is no need to buy a model-specific gas range igniter wire.

Any electrician or other handy person can make an ignite wire by buying stock wire of the proper type and crimp-on wire terminals like the originals.

Watch out: however, it is crucial to buy the proper type of wire that is heat and moisture resistant.

You could take your bad igniter wire to ant electrical supplier to match it. Some of these igniter wires even have the wire manufacturer and type printed on the wire.

But before replacing the wire, confirm that the problem is the wire, not the igniter itself or the ignition module by swapping in a wire from another burner.

On 2022-11-28 by Jim Perry

@InspectApedia (Editor), OK, thanks. Looks like I need to take off the glass top to get at everything. I'm as handy as one gets, but I have only automotive wire, none that is insulated with heat-resistant material.

On 2022-11-28 by InspectApedia (Editor) - use the right wire type

@Jim Perry,

You want to use the right wire type.

On 2022-09-19 by Robert - none of the burners on a Prima oven and hob will ignite

I have a Prima oven and hob. None of the four burners will spark or ignite even although the gas flows on each burner. Any ideas how I can resolve this issue.

On 2022-09-19 by InspectApedia (mod)

@Robert,

Best place to start is to review the diagnostics and repairs in our table above on this page titled

Gas Burner Igniter Repair Quick Diagnostics Table

If none of those steps work, please let us know or ask additional questions.

On 2022-09-05 by Anil Balireddy - Whirlpool gas cooktop GLS3074VS02 burners not igniting

Hello, I have whirlpool gas cooktop GLS3074VS02, i two burners spark comes but burner not igniting, am i getting enough spark?, what is the issue. please let me know.

On 2022-09-05 by InspectApedia (mod) - Gas Burner Igniter Diagnosis

@Anil Balireddy,

You're on the right page. Please take a look at the table above titled:

Gas Burner Igniter Diagnosis Summary

where you'll see your issue is the first one listed in that table. Review the possible causes and check the listed repair steps. The details of those repair steps are then discussed throughout this page.

Let us know if you have additional questions

On 2022-07-30 by Yarno - Kleenmaid 5 burner cooktop: largee burner won't ignite

Hi there, I am having problems with a Kleenmaid 5 burner cooktop, the four smaller burners ignite all ok, however the large Burner does not ignite at all, need to use a match to ignite..

On 2022-07-30 by InspectApedia-911 (mod)

@Yarno,

Did you try going through the diagnostic steps at the top of this page? That's the most complete approach that you might take. There are some other clues.

Assuming that you've got gas at the burner, which you do since you can light with a match, is the igniter clicking or is it silent? If it's silent, then you've got a missing or bad wire or bad module. If it's clicking and you've got a bad or dirty igniter.

On 2022-06-25 by Doug - GE Gas Cook Top burner front left keeps sparking after the burner is lit and control knob moved

GE gas cook top 4 burner - cleaned the cooktop thoroughly. Now, the front left igniter continues to spark after the gas ignites and the control knob has moved past the ignite position. Unplugging the power cord stops it of course, but igniter starts sparking when the power cord is plugged back in.

On 2022-06-25 by InspectApedia (Editor) (mod) - common causes of igniter clicking

@Doug,

Above on this page we list common causes of igniter clicking - such as wet wires.

Was there a liquid spill during your cleanup?

On 2022-04-23 by John Rutkowski - where to find the igniter module on a JennAir cooktop

replacing module on a Jenn aire cooktop where is it located ?

On 2022-04-23 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator - JennAir module location

@John Rutkowski,

Above on this page, see the photo of a Jenn-air cooktop with the various parts labelled.

Also take a look at this page

JENNAIR GAS COOKTOP REPAIR

where you'll also see links to Jenn-air manuals.

Finally, if you can tell us the model of your appliance and post a photo of the data tag, we can try to provide more help.

On 2022-04-22 by Jim - burner clicks but won't light on old GE gas stove

Old GE gas burner has two problems:

(1) it clicks but does not light. It will light if I turn on the gas and then turn one of the other burners to Lite.

(2) it clicks without pushing the knob in or turning it all the way to the "Lite" position. If you just turn it very slightly without pushing it in it clicks. I am more concerned about this problem. Perhaps they are both connected? Thanks.

On 2022-04-22 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator - check stove top for spills and burned food debris

@Jim,

I've seen this problem too. Before we start swapping wires or igniters, tell me if there has been a recent stovetop spill that might have got liquid into the stovetop.

On 2022-04-22 by JIM - oven heat melted shafts on GE gas cooktop burner knobs

@Inspectapedia Com Moderator, There might have been, but I can't say for sure.

What definitely happened recently was that high heat from the oven melted the shafts on several burner knobs so they were too soft to turn. I replaced the knobs and they turn fine now, but this problem came up on one burner.

May have also been an earlier recent spill, but the burner worked ok after that.

On 2022-04-22 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator

@JIM,

Wow that's pretty extreme. It's possible that the control switch in your stovetop burner knob itself was damaged.

If damage isn't obvious by visual inspection and if it's possible to swap one of the other knobs in you could do that test before ordering new parts.

Else I'd try

1. disassemble the burner top to look for damage

2. try swapping igniters and wires.

On 2022-04-23 by Jim - GE gas burner clicks but doesn't light - perhaps due to overheating damage

@Inspectapedia Com Moderator, Thanks, will give it a look and check these parts to see what I can do.

On 2022-04-01 by David boone - Frigidair gas burner won't light, has spark and gas

Have a Frigidaire professional gas top have one burner won’t lite has spark and gas

On 2022-04-01 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator

@David boone,

There are several gas burner diagnostic articles listed in the Recommended Articles list on this page, but first check the obvious like a burner cap that is askew.

And confirm that when you turn on the burner you hear the clicking of the igniter and see the spark at the burner.

On 2022-03-28 by Mercia - identify the parts of a gas burner igniter

Hi. Can you tell me what the small piece of igniter is. See photo.
Thanks

On 2022-03-28 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator - igniter identification

@Mercia,

The white ceramic with a vertical wire?

That is the actual igniter that generates the spark to ignition the gas burner.

The metal piece is the actual electrode that conducts current from the igniter module to the tip of the electrode where a spark is generated that leaps the gap between the wire and the metal edge of the gas burner in order to provide a point of ignition for the gas flame.

On 2022-03-11 by Anonymous - igniters won't turn off

When lighting a burner other burners are trying to ignite at same time on my GE gas stove. They all light but igniters wont turn off.

On 2022-03-12 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator - continuous clicking igniters

@Anonymous,

Best bet is to step through the "continuous clicking igniters" repair steps above on this page: often you'll see it's simply a burner cap askew or a wet wire.

On 2022-02-26 by Richard Titus - new oven control won't adjust flame height

New igniter. switch for oven and new valve for oven get brand but new switch doesn't controll flame hiegth for oven why please

On 2022-02-26 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator

@Richard Titus,

Perhaps I've misunderstood, but the igniter does not control flame height; that function is in the temperature control knob for the oven.

If the burners are working normally, you may not suspect a gas delivery pressure issue; in that case check for a blockage in the gas line or orifice at the burner.

Watch out: check for an improperly-installed gas control or a gas leak - which is dangerous, risking fire or explosion.

On 2022-02-12 by nigel shearing - signs of wet igniter wires at a Rangemaster 110 gas oven/hob

[Re-posted by moderator without link (to protect our readers from potential spam or malware)]

nigel shearing · 3 hours ago

I have a rangemaster 110 all gas oven/hob range cooker. The spark igniters in the ovens appear to be working back to front.

When the oven button is pressed they don't spark. When the gas is lit manually in the oven, they do, continually! Like this, [movie file from which the image below is excerpted by Mod ] Can anyone help?

On 2022-02-12 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator

@nigel shearing,

Look first for a recent spill that may have wet wires or the igniter module.

On 2022-01-30 by Binh - 2 Maytag burner cooktop igniters spark but don't ignite

I have a maytag 5 burner cooktop. 2 of the igniters spark but don't ignite fire. The spark on these 2 spark downward when I have it on Lite and don't jump to metal to ignite a fire. Spark goes down the side of ceramic igniter. The other 3 spark upward and ignite like it should.

What is causing the downward spark instead upward. It started doing this after I cleaned the burners.

On 2022-01-31 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator - caution when cleaning burners

@Binh,

Since this started after you cleaned the burners, it seems likely that it is a result of that cleaning.

In my OPINION when it doesn't seem to be a gas flow problem (since other burners work fine) AND if you're sure that the spark module is intact AND you're sure that the wires between module and igniter connector and all of the electrical connections are clean, dry, tight, sound,

THEN I figure there may be

• subtle damage to the igniter itself, such as a crack that's hard to see, causing a current leak
• electrical resistance that you are not seeing by the naked eye such as a bit of food or corrosion or oxidation on the igniter tip or on the spark-receiving surface

Keep in mind that something embarrassingly simple (as I've tripped over this) like a burner cap that is slightly askew or has water under it can prevent a good burner ignition spark.

On 2022-01-20 by Arnold - adding a missing ground at GE gas burner igniter

Okay to install if ground wire connection is missing on the OEM replacement part for a GE model#JGP636WED2ww part#WB13X32509?

On 2022-01-20 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator - proper ground connection is an important safety step

@Arnold,

If an appliance expects a ground it is, at the very least, less safe, and in some installations unsafe, without providing that ground connection.

And some igniter systems won't work unless the appliance is grounded; the spark is jumping from the igniter to a metal component on the appliance that in turn accepts the spark because the appliance is grounded. Without that connection ignition of burners could be iffy or could fail entirely.

You will see that missing or bad electrical grounding is cited at the very first trouble-shooting line in the gas igniter troubleshooting table found on this page.

Finally take a look at the installation manual for your GE Range

GE 36-INCH GAS COOKTOP INSTALLATION MANUAL [PDF]

where on page 1 and again on other pages (1, 2, 8 and other pages) we have

Note—This appliance must be properly grounded.

GE Gas cooktop photo courtesy of https://www.geappliances.com/

On 2022-01-02 by Blake - Dacor ERD30S06CH range igniter clicking problem on 2 burners

I have a Dacor ERD30S06CH range with a 4-burner gas cooktop. I'm having the "igniter clicking" problem, but only with the 2 burners on the right side of the cooktop.

Specifically, if I use just one of the right side burners then I get the clicking problem; but, if I use both right side burners the clicking stops.

It doesn't matter if I start with the front or back right side burner: I don't get clicking if both right side burners are on, but I do get clicking if only one of the right side burners is on. The 2 left side burners work normally, without clicking.

I've gone through your checklist, inspected and cleaned the igniters, burner rings, etc. Can you suggest a likely cause for the problem I'm having?

On 2022-01-02 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator - bad igniter wires cause varying troubles - try wire swapping to diagnose the problem

@Blake,

I agree the troubleshooting these igniter problems can be tricky. Often bad wire can cause a behavior that varies depending on how many burners are turned on.

If you've double checked that the wires are dry and appear intact, the next thing to try would be swapping some of the wire connections at the control module. If the problem moves to a different burner, then you figure the problem is the control module itself.

On 2022-01-12 by Blake - swapping wire connections at the control module correctly diagnosed gas burner igniter trouble

I just wanted to confirm that your "try swapping some of the wire connections at the control module" suggestion was right on the money. I swapped the wire connections to the two problematic igniters and presto--problem fixed. Thank you very much.

[Some readers may wonder how my "igniter clicking" problem could have arisen in the first place. It's my own fault: I disassembled the cooktop in order to replace a defective relay control board (RCB).

Although I carefully labelled the dozens of wires connected to the RCB, I didn't do that for the igniter wires; I just disconnected those wires and moved them aside so I could get at the RCB.

The "clicking" problem showed up after I replaced the RCB. Lesson learned: label the igniter wires so you can be sure to connect each wire back to its corresponding igniter (at least that's necessary for my Dacor range).]

On 2022-01-12 by Danjoefriedman (mod)

@Blake,

Thank you so much for taking time to give us that feedback on wire swapping as an igniter diagnostic procedure. That will help other readers.

On 2021-11-21 by Paul - front burner controls don't turn on igniter spark

Front rangetop burner controls do not trigger sparks. Only rear controls trigger sparks and permit lighting of gas flow for those front burners.

is it the module or the controls that I should replace?

On 2021-11-21 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator - one range top burner won't ignite

@Paul,

It could be the module but there are a number of other things you should check first that are easier and less expensive to replace.

My best suggestion would be to step through the diagnostics given in the page above. Start with checking and swapping igniter wires and igniter elements between burners that work and those that don't.

Please take a look and let me know what you think.

...

Continue reading at GAS IGNITER DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR - topic home, where we discuss diagnosing and fixing gas ignition problems at LP or natural gas heaters, furnaces, water heaters and other appliances, or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see GAS COOKTOP IGNITER REPAIR FAQs - questions & answers about how to diagnose and repair gas burner igniter problems.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• BANGING HEATING SYSTEM NOISES
• GAS BURNER FLAME & NOISE DEFECTS
• GAS BURNER PILOT LIGHT PROCEDURE
• GAS BURNER POPPING NOISES
• GAS BURNER RUMBLING CHUGGING NOISES
• GAS BURNER SOOT CAUSE & CURE
• GAS COOKTOP or STOVE IGNITER REPAIR
• GAS COOKTOP REPAIR, FRIGIDAIRE
• GAS COOKTOP REPAIR, JENNAIR
• GAS COOKTOP REPAIR, SEARS KENMORE
• GAS COOKTOP RANGE & OVEN REPAIR & MANUALS - download the manual for your gas cooktop, range, oven, or hob
• GAS FIRED WATER HEATERS
• GAS FIREPLACES & GAS LOGS
• GAS IGNITER DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR - home
• GAS PRESSURES LP vs NATURAL GAS
• MANUALS & PARTS GUIDES - HVAC - download the manual for heating systems & equipment

Suggested citation for this web page

GAS COOKTOP or STOVE IGNITER REPAIR at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to APPLIANCE REPAIR

Or use the SEARCH BOX found below to Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia

Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia

Try the search box just below, or if you prefer, post a question or comment in the Comments box below and we will respond promptly.

Note: appearance of your Comment below may be delayed: if your comment contains an image, photograph, web link, or text that looks to the software as if it might be a web link, your posting will appear after it has been approved by a moderator. Apologies for the delay.

Only one image can be added per comment but you can post as many comments, and therefore images, as you like.
You will not receive a notification when a response to your question has been posted.
Please bookmark this page to make it easy for you to check back for our response.
Our Comment Box is provided by Countable Web Productions countable.ca

Citations & References

In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.

---

ADVERTISEMENT

---