Sears 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 Kenmore or Sears 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.

Sears Gas Range or Cooktop Repair

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

Photo: reader cut an access opening to permit replacement of sealed Sears / Kenmore cooktop parts. This procedure is described in detail just below.

[Click to enlarge any image]

 

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Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

On 2022-01-04 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator - Problems with accessing the Sear Kenmore cooktop to make repairs

@tom,

Usually the disassembly we described is sufficient and would also be apparent on the parts explosion drawing.

On 2022-01-03 by tom

@Inspectapedia Com Moderator, I agree completely, which is why i was asking questions..... but i know the pan was firmly attached to glass when i installed it 20+ years ago...

On 2022-01-02 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator - unusual to have to cut access opening to stovetop

@tom,

Nice.

Still, seems odd that you would have to cut your way in.

On 2022-01-02 by tom - cut opening to repair stove top igniters

@Inspectapedia Com Moderator,

here is picture, without tape over slits. round tab holding bent opening flush is electrical box knockout, because it was handy.

[Photo shown above - Ed.]

Yes I made sure I didnt cut into the manifold. I needed access to the screw that tightens the control valve into the manifold.

Wires all above manifold. cut on three sides, bent down so i could bend back, Covered slits with metal tape.

Also screwed a tab in place to hold it up as bend back was less effective than bend down. Actually a drain for spills might be a good idea, wink wink. Thanks for your time looking into this.

On 2021-12-30 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator - reader cuts access opening to fix stovetop

@tom,

I take it you cut an opening in the bottom of the metal pan beneath your range top. Of course you took care not to cut a gas line or wire, right?

Now what can you see? And of course you'll need to patch that hole so that our future spills don't pass right through the bottom and into the cabinet below.

On 2021-12-29 by tom

@Inspectapedia Com Moderator, i cant see that without cutting it free from the counter and disconnecting gas. i decided to bite the bullet & cut an access hole below the valve i needed to replace. used a dremal cut off wheel and considerable care. job is done now.

On 2021-12-28 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator

@tom,

Thanks for that follow-up;

I buy that the glass might be factory-glued to the pan base but that leaves a question of how one could access any components inside the cooktop for repair. Surely every part has to be accessible.

Is there a bead of adhesive between pan and glass that can be cut?

On 2021-12-28 by tom

@Inspectapedia Com Moderator, Well, the pan came 'stuck' from the factory - it was firmly attached to the glass when i installed it.

Looked through install instructions again - just says to install foam tape on underside of glass; and then set into opening resting on metal burner pan lip, not the glass. (and then fasten the straps)

i used a nice bead of clear silicone caulk to seal the edges of glass - otherwise my food spills would certainly have added to the problem. i assume they used some sort of miracle adhesive to attache pan to glass.

On 2021-12-27 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator

@tom,

OK so we're talking about the whole range top drop-in assembly of which #61 is the steel bottom pan. I expect you'll see that the pan has a lip that sits on top of the countertop;

To remove the whole pan - to lift it out, all connections to it have to be removed (gas OFF, gas line removed, power off, power line removed, screws and strapping removed).

At that point if the pan is "stuck" to the countertop that's usually from old food spills - a bit of careful cutting/prying/soaking should free it.

On 2021-12-27 by tom

@Inspectapedia Com Moderator, I may be using terms differently -- the pan i dont know how to remove is part # 61 on the diagram - the bottom cooktop metal pan that attaches to the underside of the glass top along the outer edges.

I have taken the burner pans off - from the top of the glass top - i dont see how they are related to separating the bottom pan #61 from the glass after i lift the whole cooktop assembly from the counter.

On 2021-12-25 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator

@tom,

So I guess we both can see in the parts explosion that you need to remove the burner.

Typically there are a couple of screws or a center nut that is removed.

When you remove the burner that allows the pan to be lifted out and that allows glass top to separate from the base.

On 2021-12-24 by tom

@Inspectapedia Com Moderator, Yes, i dont have the clamp screws., i have the straps - i know about those. what i am puzzled about is separateing the metal pan from the glass after it is removed from the counter.

On 2021-12-23 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator

@tom,

Continuing:

On an older Kenmore glass cooktop, if you don't see the clamps and thumbscrews you might instead find a perforated strap clamp (part # 54 in our parts diagram - we show a more-complete drawing below) that holds the cooktop in place; a screw through a hole in the strap secures the strap to the wood cabinet base; if those are used on your cooktop you'll have to unscrew those fasteners in the straps.

On 2021-12-23 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator

@tom,

Cut the silicone as I described.

Then

BELOW the countertop, find and loosen the clamps that hold the cooktop down to the countertop - there will be at least 4 - as you'll see in the illustration I paste below.

Then you may be able to lift up the cooktop but

Watch out: remember that unless you have turned off the gas supply and then disconnected the gas cooktop from the flexible gas line, you'll have to do that before you can lift the cooktop completely free from the countertop.

Other readers see this

SEARS GLASS COOKTOP (GAS) INSTALLATION MANUAL [PDF] at

https://inspectapedia.com/Appliances/Sears-Kenmore-Gas-Cooktop-Glass-Installation-Manual.pdf

On 2021-12-23 by Tom - concer with cutting stovetop free of counter

This parts diagram is the best I have; the lip of the bottom metal case is against the glass itself; when installed, both this lip and the glass sit on the counter, which is then siliconed in place.

There are no fasteners attaching metal case to glass; however when installed it was all 'one unit' that was dropped into place.

My concern is that if I cut it free from the counter, I am still faced with how to separate the case from the glass. I suspect cutting an access plate from underneath is easier....

On 2021-12-21 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator

@tom,

Do post a high resolution copy of the parts explosion of your Kenmore cooktop and we can comment further.

In general we

• use a single-edged razor blade placed flat on the countertop to carefully cut the silicone sealant between the underside of the cooktop and the tp of the counter - hopefully the installer didn't use excessive glue extending back under the glass, just along its edge.
• lift off the cooktop grates
• lift off burner caps
• unscrew a center nut in each burner - holding the burner top assembly down against the cooktop surface and in essence screwing it against the under-counter portion of the cooktop
  

But take a close look at your specific cooktop to find those connectors.

On 2021-12-20 by tom - how to access Kenmore glass cooktop to replace parts

Kenmore 911.33386890 glass gas cooktop. I have a bad valve, and replacement in hand.

But Im Not sure how to open cooktop up to access the 'works' to do the replacing. one piece stamped bottom metal cover flanges splay out onto glass, appear bonded - both sit on counter that unit is siliconed onto.

i can send image of parts list showing this , or you can find the same on parts suppl websites. Main issue is replacing valve itself requires access to screw installed up from bottom. An access panel on the bottom would have been nice.

On 2021-04-16 by (mod) - Kenore Gas Range Model #79078583407 burner not lighting

@PZ,

Let's try an easy diagnostic experiment. Swap one of the igniters from another burner over to the one that's not igniting well. If that makes a difference, than you know you need to replace the igniter. The other thing to look at it closely is possible presence of food or grease in the spark contact surface between the igniter on the burner edge. Be sure that's very clean.

On 2021-04-16 by PZ

Hi. I have a Model #79078583407 Kenmore gas range. One of the burners is not lighting properly (sometimes, it will ignite but sometimes won't. It does spark consistently though.) but the other 3 burners are igniting fine and consistently. I have already cleaned the problem burner but it still does not light consistently.

The spark does appear orange but will also turn blue/white. I am confused if I need to replace the igniter if the other 3 burners have no issues. Or should I be replacing the spark module? Thanks for any advice you could give.

On 2021-03-22 by Anonymous

@Tom, you can certainly wait on replacing the wiring. From what you described I suspect that you had a wet wire that dried out.

On 2021-03-22 by Tom

So the burner all of a sudden started clicking and working after not working for about 2 weeks. per my post last week. Should I replace the burner switch harness anyway in case it goes out again?
Thanks!

On 2021-03-19 - by (mod) -

@Tom, often the condition you describe tells us that the spark module itself is working but that there's a wiring problem such as a wet wire or a bad connection.

So check first the electrode for cleanliness and damage and then follow the wire between the electrode and the spark module to make sure it's not wet.

Please review the details of diagnosing and fixing this problem in the article

GAS COOKTOP or STOVE IGNITER REPAIR as that's far more thorough than I can re-type here.

On 2021-03-19 by Tom

Kenmore range burner won't spark or click when knob is turned, but I see a spark from that electrode when I turn on a different burner. I can light the broken burner by hand so it's getting gas. What's the problem?

On 2020-12-03 - by (mod) - Kenmore main burner flame too low

Clarence:

If this is a new problem check for food or debris clogging the burner or orifices.

If it's been a problem ever since the stove was installed the gas regulator may be set too low, or the gas piping too long a run for its diameter, restricting gas flow.

On 2020-12-03 by CLARENCE

My main burner on my Kenmore gas cook top want burn at full capacity. The flame when lite is real low.

On 2019-03-07 by (mod) - some stovetop gas burners won't ignite

I'm not sure I understand the situation. What does it mean to say your testing but with no gas?

On 2019-03-06 by Fred

Kenmore 5 burner gas top, only the back center burner will ignite when any of the 5 knobs are turned to lite, the other 4 never ignite. Only testing with plugged in, no gas. What could be wrong, thanks

On 2017-02-27 by (mod) - Kenmore: wrong or extra burners are igniting - look for shorted igniter wires

Elmer

Turn off electrical power to the stove top, then open the top and follow the control wires between the knobs, igniters, and the solid state control module. I suspect you'll find wires that have shorted together, possibly from a spill into the stove top.

On 2017-02-27 by Elmer - Kenmore model 362.75208891 repair

HI we have a Kenmore model 362.75208891. the problem is when I turn on the stove burner knob ( eletronic igniter ) the burner of the broiler also ignites. can someone point me in the right direction where to check first and how to diagnose the problem?, thanks

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