Kenmore Range Surface Burner Won’t Light Up
If your Kenmore gas range has a surface burner that is not lighting, use the following five steps to help you troubleshoot the problem, so you can repair or replace the faulty parts and get all of your range’s top burners to light 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!
Kenmore Gas Range
Burners Aren’t Lighting
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 Caps
If your Kenmore range is equipped with a burner cap and you hear a rapid clicking sound, but the surface burner isn’t lighting, you will need to make sure that the burner cap is centered correctly on the base of that 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 newer model Kenmore 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.