How to Fix a Gas Stove Top Igniter Not Working

Can’t get your gas stove top to ignite? This guide will walk you through the most likely causes of the problem and provide step-by-step instructions on how to fix them.

Whether your gas stove top is clogged with grime, the igniter has a loose connection, or the igniter itself is faulty, you can normally fix this issue yourself with some simple troubleshooting steps.

Here’s how to fix a gas stove top igniter that is not working:

Solution 1: Clean the burner, igniter, and cap

Food particles, grease, and grime can build up on and around the burner, igniter, and cap, preventing the igniter from sparking or gas from reaching the igniter.

If this is the cause of the problem, cleaning the stove top is an effective solution. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Shut off the gas and electricity to the stove top for safety.
2. Remove the grate and burner cap on the burner that doesn’t ignite.
3. Clean the burner cap with a soft brush and warm, soapy water.
4. Remove the burner head and clean it thoroughly with a soft brush and warm, soapy water. Also, unclog any holes, grooves, and ports on the burner head with a needle. The burner head may lift off or need unscrewing.
5. Clean the igniter and the area around it where the burner head sits with a damp, soapy cloth or soft brush. The igniter looks like a small ceramic component with a metal tip.
6. Check if the gas orifice is clogged with food or grime and unclog it with a needle or toothpick if required.
7. Allow all the cleaned components to air dry for 30 minutes.
8. Put the burner head, cap, and grate back on.
9. Turn the electricity and gas back on, and test to see if the burner now ignites.

Solution 2: Make sure the burner and cap are aligned

A misaligned burner head or burner cap can also cause ignition problems, as the gas may not flow where it needs to. It’s easy to accidentally knock the burner cap while cleaning or cooking on the stove top. The burner cap should sit centrally and flush with the burner head, with minimal side-to-side movement.

The burner head can also be accidentally positioned incorrectly after cleaning the stove top. On some gas stove tops, it’s easy to misalign the burner head without noticing.

The central hole in the burner head should sit over and align with the gas orifice on the stove top, allowing proper gas flow. It also needs to be positioned correctly in relation to the igniter—there are usually notches, pins, or markings on the head and stove top that can guide you.

Solution 3: Check wiring and replace igniter if needed

If you know that the burner heads, caps, and igniters are all clean and correctly positioned, but one or more of the burners on your gas stove top still won’t ignite, there’s likely an issue with an igniter or its wiring.

One sign this is the problem is if you can hear gas coming through but there’s no ignition, yet you can manually light the burner with matches or a lighter and it stays lit.

You can check an igniter’s wiring by following these steps:

1. Shut off the gas and power to the stove top.
2. Remove the grates, burner caps, and burner heads on the stove top to access the screws beneath. On some models, you may also need to remove the control knobs.
3. Unscrew all the screws securing the stove top panel. There are typically between 1 and 3 screws beneath each burner head, but there may be other screws you also need to remove. They often require a Torx bit.
4. Lift up the stove top panel, revealing the wiring underneath.
5. Inspect the entire length of the wire connected to the igniter that isn’t working, looking for cuts, loose connections, burn marks, corrosion, or other signs of damage.

If the wiring appears damaged, you’re best off replacing the full igniter assembly, which includes the wire and the igniter attached at the end. However, if the wiring appears fine, you can try replacing just the igniter, which is a simpler, cheaper fix. Keep in mind that not all wiring issues are easily spottable, so you run the risk of this fix not working and needing to replace the full igniter assembly anyway.

Here are the steps involved in doing both:

1. Search online for the model number of your stove top to find the correct replacement parts.
2. Lift up the stove top panel, revealing the wiring underneath, following the same steps we previously outlined.
3. Remove the small metal clip holding the igniter in place.
4. Disconnect the igniter from the wire it’s attached to in order to remove it.
5. If just replacing the igniter, at this point, you can connect the new igniter to the existing wiring.
6. If replacing the full igniter assembly, you will need to disconnect the wire where it connects to the spark module at the other end. There may be additional panels and screws you need to remove to do this.
7. Once the igniter or full assembly is replaced, reassemble your stove top and test to see if it now ignites.

Other possible solutions

We’ve already outlined how to fix the most likely causes of an igniter not working, but if you’re still having issues after trying these fixes, you may want to consider the following:

• Check that the gas supply is not turned off. However, if this were the case, none of the burners would ignite.
• Check there are no kinks in the gas line.
• Test the spark module with a multimeter for continuity and replace it if it’s faulty.  
• On older model stove tops, the pilot light may have gone out and needs reigniting.
• Check if the burner switch is faulty. You can find the switch under the control knob of the igniter that is not working.
• Call in a professional technician to diagnose and fix the issue.