Kenmore Gas Range Sparking

kenmore gas range sparking

jon -- Tuesday, 7 January 2003, at 9:06 p.m.

the broiler does not work on my oven. i can hear the spark. the bake does work and the top burners work. is it li9kely the spark ignition module or the gas valve or something else?

Re: kenmore gas range

Dan O. -- Tuesday, 7 January 2003, at 9:36 p.m.

: the broiler does not work on my oven. i can
: hear the spark. the bake does work and the
: top burners work. is it likely the spark
: ignition module or the gas valve or
: something else?

Do the oven burners use a spark ignition system?

Just because the top burners use a spark ignition system, doesn't mean the oven does too. A spark ignition oven design is relatively rare, the most popular electronic oven ignition system is a hot surface (glow ignitor) ignition system.

If you post the exact model number off the range, we'll try to determine which it is if you're unsure.

Dan O.

Re: kenmore gas range

jon -- Tuesday, 7 January 2003, at 9:52 p.m.

i sure think i hear it sparking, the model number is 665.75002101. i have a brochure that shows teh spark module and it shows spark output for top burners, broil and bake. im wondering if it is either the spark module or the valve. the oven seems to work so i would assume it is not a thermostat. sincere thanks for your help.

Re: kenmore gas range

Dan O. -- Tuesday, 7 January 2003, at 11:02 p.m.

: i sure think i hear it sparking, the model
: number is 665.75002101. i have a brochure
: that shows teh spark module and it shows
: spark output for top burners, broil and
: bake. im wondering if it is either the spark
: module or the valve.

On spark ignition models, even a dirty spark plug can cause lighting problems, a cracked spark plug insulator is also a possibility causing it to spark to ground instead of where it is suppose to. Can you determine exactly where it is sparking?

Dan O.

Re: kenmore gas range

jon -- Tuesday, 7 January 2003, at 11:14 p.m.

believe it or not, i just went to check it and the burner worked. so i tried it again and it didn't, then i tried it few more times and got it to work again. i tried it again about 6 more times and wouldn't work. when it doesnt work - i can hear the sparks 8 times and then the sparks stop. strange huh?

Re: kenmore gas range

jon -- Tuesday, 7 January 2003, at 11:16 p.m.

:i should have mentioned that the sparks are loud but i canntot see any spark. maybe hidden by parts.

Re: kenmore gas range

Dan O. -- Wednesday, 8 January 2003, at 2:24 p.m.

: believe it or not, i just went to check it and
: the burner worked. so i tried it again and
: it didn't, then i tried it few more times
: and got it to work again. i tried it again
: about 6 more times and wouldn't work. when
: it doesnt work - i can hear the sparks 8
: times and then the sparks stop.

: strange huh?

Not really, intermittent problems occur all the time in appliance repair. Unfortunately, the actual cause is usually the hardest to determine.

On a spark ignition model, an improperly polarized or improperly grounded outlet or loose connection in the power supply somewhere can even cause intermittent sparking problems. As can a defective spark module or the other things I mentioned.

Dan O.

Re: kenmore gas range

jon -- Wednesday, 8 January 2003, at 11:37 p.m.

a sears tech was here 6 months ago to reground the range when we were getting fault messages.

what is my best avenue? is it likely i have a weak spark igniter or should i replace that and the spark module? thanks again for your help.

Re: kenmore gas range

Dan O. -- Thursday, 9 January 2003, at 8:33 p.m.

: a sears tech was here 6 months ago to reground
: the range when we were getting fault messages.

That doesn't necessarily mean it hasn't happen again or elsewhere on the range.

: what is my best avenue? is it likely i have a
: weak spark igniter or should i replace that
: and the spark module?

The spark ignitor could be dirty or have a cracked insulator, they do not normally get weak (that's mainly oven *glow* ignitors). Spark modules do fail much more often than the spark ignitor so if you're going to guess, the spark controller would likely be as good a choice as any. To bad it is usually the most expensive part as well.

Dan O.

Re: kenmore gas range

jon -- Thursday, 9 January 2003, at 9:00 p.m.

thanss Dan, is there a high probability that it is one of the two things? the igniter looks good i looked closely at it tonite. tried the broiler again and it started 2 times in about 20 tries. i guess im leaning toward buying a spark module? looks like about $85. is that what you would do? again thanks and i will quit bothering you. you have probably saved me a lot of cash.

Re: kenmore gas range

Dan O. -- Friday, 10 January 2003, at 1:58 p.m.

: is there a high probability that it
: is one of the two things?

It could be caused by improper ground/polarization, a defective spark electrode or spark module. Since you apparently have had a problem with grounding previously, I would tend to think that could be causing the problem again. If that's not it, the spark module would be most suspect, then the spark electrode.

: the igniter looks
: good i looked closely at it tonite.

You often can not tell just by looking at a spark electrode whether it is good or not. Often they can not even be tested as they may only fail under the conditions present during operation. They are often just assumed to be defective if everything else check out Ok.

: i guess im leaning toward
: buying a spark module? looks like about $85.
: is that what you would do?

*I* would have a technician check all possible causes then have him replace the component he thought was most likely to be the trouble. If you're not able to do the proper testing and want to try it yourself, replacing the spark module might be the component to start with as it is the mostly likely component to be the source of any trouble.

Good luck!

Dan O.

Re: kenmore gas range

jon -- Saturday, 11 January 2003, at 11:25 a.m.

Dan, i am famiar with electricity and meters. might i find the problem is the spark module if i put a mter to the broil burner spark output on the spark module and compare it to the output from the bake spark output? according to the tech sheet i have there should be 110 ac there. could grounding cause a problem with just the broil spark? the polarization could not have changed, could it? thanks again

Re: kenmore gas range

Dan O. -- Saturday, 11 January 2003, at 2:01 p.m.

: i am famiar with electricity and meters.
: might i find the problem is the spark module
: if i put a meter to the broil burner spark
: output on the spark module and compare it to
: the output from the bake spark output?
: according to the tech sheet i have there
: should be 110 ac there.

Your range appears to use Whirlpool's DSI (Direct Spark Ignition) system. I don't know test procedures for that spark system, sorry. You could try checking the 'tech sheet' which most electronically controlled appliances have which should be with the unit's wiring diagram to see if there are any test procedures listed.

: could grounding
: cause a problem with just the broil spark?
: the polarization could not have changed,
: could it?

Both grounding and polarization problems can cause very unexpected symptoms. I wouldn't rule any behavior out. But no, the polarization of the power supply to the appliance would not have changed without someone physically altering it.

BTW. Both improper grounding and polarization problems can materialize years down the line, even if the range has operated properly on the same power supply until that time.

Dan O.

Re: kenmore gas range

jon -- Sunday, 12 January 2003, at 11:46 a.m.

well I went ahead and replaced the spark control unit and it hasn't acted up again. I'll keep my fingers cross and let you know if the problem returns. thanks for your help.

Re: kenmore gas range *LINK* *PIC*

Dan O. -- Sunday, 12 January 2003, at 1:13 p.m.

: I'll let you know if the problem returns.

Please do, I'm always interested in hearing how these things turn out.

BTW. others can see the control module used on yours and other Kenmore/Whirlpool DSI ignition system ovens at the link below. Looks to be quite complicated. :(

Whirlpool/Kenmore DSI Control Board