Jenn Air Range Surface Burner Won’t Light Up

by | Jan 31, 2022 | Jenn Air Range Repair

If your Jenn Air gas range has a cooktop surface burner that’s not lighting, use the following five troubleshooting steps to help you locate the problem, so you can fix or replace the defective part or parts and get all of your range’s surface burners working properly again.

WARNING – If you are attempting to repair any range yourself, be aware that you are working with potentially dangerous electrical currents that can cause serious bodily injury or death.  Always remove the electrical power source from the appliance before you ever begin working on it.  If you are attempting to repair any household gas appliances yourself, always be sure to turn off the gas that is designated to the appliance before you ever begin to repair it.  Be aware that ranges have extremely sharp edges and hot parts that can cause serious bodily injury or death.  Be aware that there are many other dangers and precautions involved with a range repair besides those listed above.  We strongly suggest that you please read our DISCLAIMER before any further actions are taken or proceeding any further.  Think safety first!

Jenn Air Gas Range

Burners Won’t Light

Step – (1.) No Gas

If your top burner is clicking but not igniting check to make sure that the gas supply to the range is in the open position and that you have gas going to the burner.

Safety Note – Please keep in mind that just because a range’s cooktop burner doesn’t look hot, does not mean that it isn’t hot, it can still burn your hands or other body parts.  You will want to give your range plenty of time to cool down and be sure to wear safety gloves while inspecting, troubleshooting, removing or replacing any of your range’s parts.

Step – (2.) Burner Cap

If your Jenn Air range is equipped with a burner cap and you hear clicking but the surface burner won’t light, check to make sure that the burner cap is centered correctly on the base of the range’s burner.  If the burner cap isn’t positioned correctly on the burner head the burner will not be able to light.

Step – (3.) Clogged Burner

A clicking sound will occur if the burner ports on your range’s cooktop are clogged, this may prevent the gas burner from lighting and the ignitor may continue clicking.  If this is the problem, you can clean out the debris and buildup from the ports using a fine metal pin.  If moisture is in the burner ports from cooking spills the ranges surface burners won’t ignite.  (Turn off the gas supply to the range first!) then use a hairdryer set on the cool cycle to dry the burners out.

Step – (4.) Spark Electrode

A weak or damaged range spark electrode can be the cause of a rapid clicking sound, but the cooktop burner will not light.

Step – (5.) Electronic Ignition Switch

Some Jenn Air gas ranges use an electronic ignition system that does not use a pilot light, instead it uses an ignition switch attached to the burner control knob.  When the burner control knob is turned to light the surface burner, electricity is supplied through the ignition switch creating the spark to light the gas burner to flame. The ignition switch can break causing the switch to just click continuously or it may not even click at all.  When one ignition switch becomes defective, they will all fail being that they are all wired together.

 

 

Troubleshooting a Jenn Air range surface burner not lighting – (video)

Jenn Air Range Won’t Broil

by | Jan 6, 2022 | Heating Elements, Jenn Air Range Repair

If your Jenn Air range is not broiling, Use the following troubleshooting steps to help you locate the problem and repair or replace the faulty parts so you can broil with your range again.

WARNING – If you are attempting to repair any range yourself, be aware that you are working with potentially dangerous electrical currents that can cause serious bodily injury or death.  Always remove the electrical power source from the appliance before you ever begin working on it.  If you are attempting to repair any household gas appliances yourself, always be sure to turn off the gas that is designated to the appliance before you ever begin to repair it.  Be aware that ranges have extremely sharp edges and hot parts that can cause serious bodily injury or death.  Be aware that there are many other dangers and precautions involved in range repairs besides those listed above.  We strongly suggest that you please read our DISCLAIMER before any further actions are taken or proceeding any further.  Think safety first!

Jenn Air Electric Range

Step-1. Broil Element

The broil element is located on the inside of the range, at the top of the oven compartment and is used for broiling.  Quite often the broiler element is used to help preheat an electric ranges oven faster.  If your range won’t broil you will need to visually inspect the broiling element for signs of damage, such as burn marks, bubbling or blistering, burnt or melted terminal ends or even a broken element.  A broiling element can be tested for continuity using a digital or analog multimeter.  If the test shows no continuity, the broil element will need to be replaced to fix the problem.  If the test shows the element has continuity, it is good and more troubleshooting will need to be performed.  Safety reminder – Please be mindful that just because a broiling element does not glow red hot, doesn’t mean that it isn’t hot, it can still burn you.  You will want to be sure to give your range plenty of time to cool down and wear safety gloves while inspecting or troubleshooting any of your range’s parts.

 

Step-2. Temperature Sensor

The temperature sensor is used on newer model electronic control ranges, it is used to sense the temperature inside of the oven compartment.  The sensor communicates with the ranges electronic control board which adjusts the temperature as necessary.  On newer model Jenn Air ranges, a fault code should display on the control panel if the temperature sensor has failed.  You will need to refer to your Jenn Air owner’s manual, under range fault codes to see if the temperature sensor is the problem.

 

 

Step-3. Relay Control Board

Some Jenn Air electric ranges have a relay control board that’s separate from the electronic control board. The relay control board has the electrical relay that controls the voltage going to the broiling element.  Inspect the relay control board and replace it if you detect any burnt spots, melted relays or any other obvious signs of damage on the board.

 

Step-4. Electronic Control Board

You will need to Inspect your ranges electronic control board.  The control board is a very difficult part to test.  You can visually inspect the control board for a loose wire harness connection or a burnt or melted component on the control board.  If any of the mentioned damage is found, the control board may be faulty.  The control board is a very intricate electrical part, sometimes a hairline fracture in a solder spot can cause the board to fail, you won’t even be able to see the fracture in the solder with the naked eye.

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Step-5. Blown Range Fuse

On some Jenn Air range models an internal fuse is used to shut the range off to prevent any further damage to the appliance.  If the fuse has blown, the range will not turn on.  The fuse should be tested using a test meter, if the fuse does not have continuity, the fuse is faulty and will need to be replaced.  Troubleshooting tip – If you do not have access to a test meter, a digital meter can be purchased reasonably cheap from one of your local hardware stores, a test meter is a real time and money saver while troubleshooting the various electrical parts on a range.  Electrical parts can be diagnosed either good or bad instantly, instead of just assuming that an electrical part might be faulty and replacing it, only to find out after installing the part that it wasn’t bad after all.  the problem is with another broken range part.  Before replacing the fuse with a new one, you will need to inspect or troubleshoot the various components within the range to determine what caused the fuse to blow in the first place.  Visually inspect the internal and external range components.  You should look for burnt wire connectors, burnt wires, damage on the bake, broil and surface elements as well as the elements terminal connections.

 

Troubleshooting a Jenn Air range that won’t broil – (video)

Jenn Air Gas Range

Step-1. Range Oven Igniter

The ranges oven igniter, also known as the glow bar is used in some free standing and wall Jenn Air gas range models.  It is located under the burner shield inside the bottom part of the range’s oven compartment, mounted right next to the gas burner tube.  The igniter is used to open the gas valve and to ignite the gas to flame for heat.   As the igniter draws electrical current it will heat to a high temperature and glow red hot, as well as cause the bi metal in the ovens safety valve to warp and open the valve releasing the gas to be ignited into flame.  The igniter can become weak over time.  If you can see that your igniter is glowing but will not light the gas too flame it may need to be replaced.  If the igniter does not glow at all, it is faulty and will need to be replaced to fix the problem.  You can test the igniter for continuity using a digital meter or multimeter, if the test shows no continuity, the igniter will need to be replaced, if the igniter has continuity, it is good and more troubleshooting will need to be performed on your range.

 

Step-3. Thermostat

The thermostat is used on some gas range models to control the temperature inside of the oven compartment.  When the desired temperature has been reached, the thermostat will turn off the heat source.  When the ovens temperature begins to fall, the thermostat will cycle the heat back on.  The most common symptoms of a faulty thermostat are undercooked food or an oven that either won’t turn on or turn off.  Safety Warning – Please be sure that your range has had plenty of time to cool down before testing or removing any internal or external parts.  Some range parts can hold heat for quite some time and will still burn you long after the appliance has been shut off.

 

Step-3. Thermostat

The thermostat is used on some gas oven models to control the temperature inside of the oven.  When the desired temperature has been reached, the thermostat will turn off the heat source.  When the ovens temperature begins to fall, the thermostat will cycle the heat back on.  The most common symptoms of a faulty thermostat are undercooked food or an oven that either won’t turn on or turn off.  Safety Reminder – Please be sure that your oven has had plenty of time to cool down before testing or removing any internal or external parts.  Some oven parts can hold heat for quite some time and will still burn you long after the unit has been turned off.

Step-4. Safety Valve

If the oven’s igniter comes on, glows red hot for 90 seconds and does not light the burner, you will need to test the safety valve for continuity.  You can test the safety valve for continuity using a digital meter or multimeter.  If the test shows no continuity, the valve will need to be replaced, if the valve does have continuity, it is good and more troubleshooting will need to be performed.  Safety Note – You will need to be sure to turn off the gas that is dedicated to your gas oven before you begin to remove this part.

Step-5. Range Electronic Control Board

You will need to Inspect your ranges electronic control board, the control board is a very difficult part to test, you can visually inspect the control board for a loose wire harness connection or a melted or burnt component on the control board.  If any of the mentioned damage is found, the control board may be faulty.  The oven control board is a very intricate electrical part, sometimes a hairline fracture in a solder joint can cause the board to fail, you won’t even be able to see the fracture in the solder with the naked eye.

 

Troubleshooting a Jenn Air range that isn’t broiling – (video)
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